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A Quick Weekend Trip to Sequoia National Park in California

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Hello hello! I have always loved visiting National Parks, and recently, I made the trip to visit Sequoia National Park.

If you are interested in also visiting Sequoia National Park, then keep reading.

Firstly, if you are planning to visit during the winter season, then check the website to look at which areas of the park are open. Also, make sure you have chains with you, regardless if you’re planning to use them or not. Our visit became a two day trip. Since the weather was snowy and rainy, we felt that it was unsafe to move deeper into the park. On the second day, the weather was beautiful and sunny. We kept chains in the car despite the beautiful weather.

FIRST: On the drive up, there are many lookout points for people to stop at. We stopped at Tunnel Rock and the visitors center.

Image taken at the Overlook on the drive into Sequoia National Park. Image by Susan Lei.

NEXT: We stopped at various lookout points. Pictured below is the Overlook. They all have a small parking area to make quick stops, making it really convenient to stop throughout the drive into the trailhead area.


FINAL: We embarked on a couple trails. The Big Trees Trail and the Congress Trail. They are all walking distance from one another, and include the General Sherman Tree. I was genuinely shocked by how big these trails are. I think it’s even more mind blowing that these trees grow at such high elevations. When I was standing at the base of the General Sherman Tree, I could not even see the top. It was one of those moments that really put into perspective how small humans are! As of 2022, the General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world by volume.
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My first impression of Sequoia National Park is of course, the TREES. They were massive redwood trees, and to think these have been here for thousands of years is incredible. It was truly breathtaking, and it really is amazing how resilient they are especially to fire!

Because we visited during the winter season, there were some trails and areas that were closed off. I hope to visit again one day and be able to check out the other areas of the park.

Tips for visiting sequoia national park: 

  • GO EARLY. As with all national parks, go early. Parking can get tricky, and sometimes, lines can get long at the entrance.

  • Buy your park pass online. If you buy it online, then you don’t have to be in line to pay in person and can go straight into the park. (**life hack: go before 7am to avoid the daily park fee)

  • During the winter, make sure to have some chains in your car because the incline and be pretty steep and the roads get icy. It’s alway better to be safe than sorry!

  • Double check the national park website to make sure that the roads are open. For example, during the winter season, the North entrance is typically closed but the south entrance is open.

  • Check to see if the shuttle is operating. We happened to visit during the weekend when the shuttles were open. So we parked, and relied on the shuttle to get around.

  • Can you visit Sequoia National Park in one day? I would say yes, but keep in mind that you may be more rushed and not have enough time to fully enjoy each area.

 

 

About Susan Lei