Sequoia National Park - travel tips by Howard Hillman

Sequoia National Park

travel wonder in America

Why the

Sequoia National Park

is special

This California wonder has the world's grandest sequoia groves. One tree - the General Sherman - measures 83 meters (275 feet) high and 31 meters (103 feet) in circumference, making it the earth's largest living tree in terms of volume.

Sequoia National Park

tips & insights

If you visit only one grove, make it the one named the Giant Forest. The General Sherman tree lives here, as do many other massive specimens.

The Giant Forest has a one-hour paved trail for exploring the towering trees. Some are 2,000 years old.

The park has other interesting attractions, including:

Tunnel Log

Drive through a tunnel carved through a giant tree that fell across a road.

Crescent Meadow

The famous 19th century conservationist John Muir called Crescent Meadow the "Gem of the Sierra". It's still unspoiled.

Moro Rock

Climb 400 steep steps up this domed rock for a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.

Tharp's Log

A 19th century settler built his cabin inside a fire-hollowed fallen sequoia.

Crystal Cave

Tour a cavern composed of marble, complete with stalagmites and stalactites.

Tidbits

The sequoia covered much of North America until most were toppled over by glaciers 10,000 years ago during the last ice age.

These trees have an unusually shallow root system for their size.

Nearly all the existing ones are still growing, including the largest, General Sherman.

During the second half of the 19th century, loggers cut down some of the majestic sequoias in an area called Big Stump Basin that lies northwest of the park. They were sprouting seeds when Rome was in its glory.

The Sequoia and Redwood National Parks, both Hillman Silver Medal winners, are 800 kilometers (500 miles) apart. Their skyscraping trees are close relatives, but have unique features. The sequoias live longer and have a larger girth and volume. The redwoods are taller, and have a fluted instead of a motley bark pattern.

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