Sequoia National Park is one of my favorite national parks in California, and is definitely a place I recommend everyone visit at least once in their lifetime! This park is filled with huge trees the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else in the world, and there are so many amazing things to do here that you will likely find yourself wanting to return again and again.
Even if you only have one day in Sequoia National Park, you can make the most of your time and see some of the best sights in the park. This Sequoia National Park day trip itinerary will help you find the spots you won’t want to miss while you’re here!
About Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is one of nine amazing national parks in California. This park is filled with mountains, caverns, and of course also some of the world’s largest trees—known as the Giant Sequoias (aka Sequoiadendron giganteum).
Interestingly, Sequoia National Park was the first national park created to protect a living organism…and we’re so grateful that this means we still have living giant sequoias today! Before Sequoia was established, loggers were cutting down tons of giant sequoias for their wood. But thanks to President Benjamin Harrison creating Sequoia National Park in September of 1890, these trees still survive today and you can experience them for yourself!
Just a couple of fun facts about Sequoia for you: the largest sequoias are as tall as a 26 story building. In fact, Sequoia National Park is home to the largest trees in the world when measured by volume! If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, just wait until you see them in person.
When you visit Sequoia National Park, you’ll find it is located adjacent to Kings Canyon National Park and they are connected in that you pay one entrance fee and can access both parks. Plus, the roads through Kings Canyon and Sequoia are also connected, which makes it easier to visit both parks while you’re here. However, I believe that if you only have one day to spend in Sequoia then you should make the most of your time in this park and come back another time to visit Kings Canyon so you aren’t overwhelmed and don’t spend all your day driving to places instead of getting out and exploring.
What to See on a Day Trip to Sequoia National Park
Here is the perfect one day itinerary for a trip to Sequoia National Park. Even though you have limited time, you can still see plenty of amazing places within this beautiful park!
1. See Sequoia Seedlings at the Giant Forest Museum
When you visit Sequoia National Park in one day, the perfect first stop on your route is the Giant Forest Museum. This is especially true if you are interested in learning more about the different forest sections in Sequoia, as there’s some really cool information about the various groves across the park and where you’re likely to see the biggest trees.
This museum is also one of my favorite stops as you can see some baby sequoia seedlings here. It is so strange and fascinating to see these delicate seedlings and think that they will grow to be the size of the enormous trees you see throughout the park!
This is also a good stop as you can speak with a ranger at the information desk to ask any questions you may have about the park or about their favorite places in the park. The rangers are so helpful and fun to talk with and can give you information on any special events or ranger talks happening as well.
2. Hike the Big Trees Trail
To get the exploration part of your one day trip to Sequoia National Park started off right, I recommend heading to the Big Trees Trail right after leaving the Giant Forest Museum. There is no parking at the trailhead unless you have a disabled parking permit, so you can simply leave your car at the museum parking and take a short hike to get to the nearby trail.
This is one of the most popular trails in the park and is a place you won’t want to miss! It’s a 1.2 mile loop trail that takes you through beautiful forest areas on a wheelchair accessible boardwalk. And as the trail’s name suggests, this is where you’ll see some really BIG TREES.
While this is an easy and short hike, walking here will certainly give you a greater appreciation for just how big these giants are. Until you stand next to one of these huge trees, you really can’t comprehend how massive they truly are! So be sure to add this to your Sequoia National Park day trip itinerary.
3. See the General Sherman Tree
If there’s one thing you absolute must see during your Sequoia National Park one day itinerary, that one thing is the General Sherman tree. So go ahead and add it to your Sequoia National Park itinerary now to make sure you don’t miss it!
Why should this be the number one thing you do at the park? Because General Sherman is the largest tree in the world! Yes, you read that right. You have the opportunity to see the largest tree in the world. You can’t pass that up!
Don’t get confused, this isn’t the tallest tree in the world (that honor belongs to a coast redwood that also grows in California). However, it is the largest which means it has a greater volume than any other tree in the world. And if you’re wondering its precise measurements, General Sherman stands at least 275 feet tall with a 36-foot diameter at the base! If this sounds remarkable, just wait until you see it in person. You’ll be left in awe when you see how imposing it is as you stand next to it.
To get to General Sherman, you’ll park nearby and take a 0.8 mile out and back trail. Since this is one of the most famous trees in Sequoia and in the world, you’ll likely see plenty of other people out on the trail with you and may even have to wait in line to take your picture with General Sherman. But it is so worth it!
4. Visit the Auto Log
Another interesting stop on your Sequoia National Park 1 day itinerary, the Auto Log has long been a popular attraction within the park.
This log is a giant sequoia that fell in 1917, but not long after it fell the park superintendent authorized construction of a driveway allowing horse-drawn carriages and automobiles to drive across the fallen trunk. You can see a black and white picture here of old automobiles and people on top of the Auto Log.
Because of the novelty of driving on the fallen log, the Auto Log quickly became a popular attraction and has been so ever since. However, the log has continued to rot over the years and can no longer support the weight of cars. But if you visit, you can see the site and can still walk across the log for the fun of it!
5. Climb Moro Rock
While the huge trees in the park are certainly the stars of the show, your one day in Sequoia National Park wouldn’t be complete without something a little different—hiking up Moro Rock!
Moro Rock is an excellent hike as it takes you up to some breathtaking views over the park. While the hike itself is short, the trail takes you straight up the rock through a series of steps (some of which have handrails and some that don’t). Both adults and children will enjoy this hike, but be sure to keep an eye on kids if you bring any with you…especially when climbing the parts without railings!
This is a great hike at any time of day, but if you have the time to skip this and drive back later in the day then hiking it at sunset is absolutely perfect. With 360° panoramic views, there really is no better place for watching the sky turn to brilliant shades of orange and pink!
6. Drive Through a Tree at the Tunnel Log
If you found the Auto Log interesting but want to see another sequoia and car attraction, then you should add the tunnel log to your Sequoia National Park one day trip itinerary!
The tunnel log is simply a fallen sequoia tree with a hole that you can drive your car through. This is a quick stop as you don’t even have to get out of your car to see it, but is still a fun sight and is on your way to your next stop (Crescent Meadow) so you might as well see it along the way.
At busy times, you may have to line up with other cars to get your chance to drive through this unique fallen tree, so be prepared for a bit of a queue. But if you’re lucky and go at a less busy time, you just might get it all to yourself!
7. Hike the Crescent Meadow Trail
When you’re considering what to see in Sequoia National Park in one day, Crescent Meadow is a place that definitely deserves a spot on your list. The Crescent Meadow area is a perfect place to go hiking, and the Crescent Meadow Loop is a nice short hike to take on a day trip.
This hike is only 1.8 miles with very little elevation gain, but takes you to picturesque views of the meadow itself (beautiful in spring with wildflowers!). This trail also takes you around to Tharp’s Log, which is an odd little log cabin made from a hollowed out sequoia tree. You can’t go all the way inside the cabin to the hollowed log end of the building, but you can take a peek inside the more traditional log cabin portion to see what the interior looks like.
You’ll also find one of the more unique and unusual things to see in Sequoia along this trail—the Chimney Tree! This tree was burnt in a fire several years ago, and because of this it is hollowed out from the inside and open at the top…giving it the appearance of a chimney. It is still standing, however, and you can actually walk inside the tree to see what a sequoia looks like from the inside! This is a stop you won’t want to miss.
8. Other Activities If You Have Extra Time
While the above activities will likely fill up your Sequoia day trip, if you find you have extra time or are looking to substitute one of the above activities for something else then you have a few other good choices.
There are plenty of other amazing hikes in the area that you might like to check out, one of which is the popular Tokopah Falls. Or if you’re looking for a more unique activity to enjoy, then Crystal Cave is an excellent choice!
Crystal Cave isn’t open all year, but is only open from around the end of May until the end of September. You can visit on a guided 45-minute tour to take the 1/2 mile loop leading through the marble cavern, but between travel time to the cave and taking the actual tour a lot of your day will be taken up with this activity. You should allot about half a day to visiting the Crystal Cave to make sure you’re on time for your tour…so while the cave is amazing, if you only have one day then this does take a good chunk out of your time to see the rest of the park.
Getting to Sequoia National Park
When going to Sequoia National Park, you have two main options for entering the park: the Ash Mountain Entrance and the Big Stump Entrance.
The Ash Mountain Entrance takes you directly into Sequoia National Park via Highway 198. Meanwhile, the Big Stump Entrance takes you into Kings Canyon National Park (and you can then proceed to the Sequoia area to follow this day trip itinerary). The Big Stump Entrance is from Highway 180 and enters from the west by Fresno, and this is the preferred entrance if you are driving in a longer vehicle.
When you are visiting Sequoia National Park, be prepared to drive narrow and winding mountain roads. If you’re in an RV or have a trailer, you may have some limits on which roads you can travel as length limits and advisories are in effect. You can check out detailed driving directions from nearby/popular California cities or find detailed maps of the park to help you navigate once you are inside.
If you are visiting during the winter, keep in mind that tire chains may be required (especially if it is snowy), so plan accordingly.
Tips for a 1 Day Trip – Sequoia National Park
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass: If you like national parks and plan to visit at least 3 different parks within a year, then buying an America the Beautiful pass will more than pay for itself. Entry to Sequoia on its own is $35 for a 1-7 day pass, while buying a year-long pass for unlimited entry to all the US national parks only costs $80. If you want to buy the annual America the Beautiful Pass, you can get one here.
- Gas Stations: There are no gas stations within the park, so be sure to fill up before going inside Sequoia. If you accidentally run out of gas, you can get emergency gas at Wuksachi Lodge…but clearly this is not ideal. There is also a gas station at Hume Lake, but this is only open from May-September so it is best not to rely on these options but instead to fill up before you enter the park.
- Phone Service: Phone service is minimal to non-existent within Sequoia, so if you use your phone/Google Maps to navigate then be sure to download the map area of Sequoia so you can navigate offline. If your group is splitting up at any point throughout the day, be sure you have well-defined meeting times and places or some way to contact each other to meet up again as well.
- Food: There are several places to eat within the park, but if you only have one day to explore then you may want to bring your own food along for lunch, snacks, etc. so you can continue with your day trip itinerary instead of having to take time out of exploring to go find food. This is what I do, and I find it’s a lot of fun to eat a picnic while on a hike!
Read next: Extraordinary Things to Do in Kings Canyon National Park
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