sequoia national park.

Sequoia National Park was the third leg in our Eastern California National Parks trip. Sequoia is a much more popular park than King Canyon so I recommend getting their early. In the summer, Sequoia operates shuttles that will take you from stop to stop. We parked near the Grant Grove shuttle stop. The shuttles help minimize traffic and help with lack of parking. The only negative is you are on the bus’s schedule so make sure you are on time. The positive note is that the buses run every 15-20 minutes. Plan ahead and be careful not to spend your day waiting for the bus!

We have also visited Sequoia in March which was still very much winter time in the park. The park still had a lot of snow but the roads were cleared. We experienced rain, snow, hail, and plenty of sunshine, all in one day! My biggest recommendation is to dress in layers. Keep in mind, the shuttles do not operate in March even though most trails are still open.

The Big Trees Trail in Sequoia is a beautiful and serene trail that is towered with famous Sequoia’s along the way. The base of this trail near the shuttle drop off gets very busy, but if you continue on the trail, the crowds thin out. Towards the end of the trail, we decided to make a detour and hike to Crescent Meadow. This trail led us to a quiet area and a beautiful meadow. Just as we were turning the corner to leave the meadow, we saw a black bear standing in the bushes eating berries. This made the whole hike worth it!

After this trail, we took the shuttle back and moved our car to the Visitor Center parking lot. This lot was really busy but luckily we were able to find a spot. Beware of crowds here. The visitor center has a beautiful shop, lodge, and restaurant. Normally we pack our lunch but after a week of hiking, we decided to splurge and eat lunch at the Peaks Restaurant at the Wuksachi Lodge. The food was good, nothing fancy, but the views surpassed the taste of the food. We had a great conversation and enjoyed the air conditioning.
After lunch, we hiked to Tokopah Falls. Along the way, there were several natural swimming holes. We also came very close to a friendly, mule deer! This was a good, moderate hike. The ending was a bit rocky with little to no shade. Unfortunately, when we got to the end, the waterfall was dried up due to the heat but the hike was still a good trail.

We moved our car again to the Moro Rock shuttle drop off. By this time, it was nearing dusk so the park was becoming more empty. The Moro Rock trail was my favorite part of Sequoia. I’m all about conquering fears and pushing ourselves, but if you are afraid of heights, this hike may not be for you. The trail is literally up a rock with a small, railing to hold onto. Logan and I had so much fun climbing this rock and the best part was, we were the only ones there! We spent so much time on this climb that we missed the last shuttle back for the night. We hiked our way back to our car and ended up really enjoying the trail. The sun was setting behind the mountains and we had beautiful views all around. Logan, of course, was searching for bears! They say the best time to see a bear is during sunrise and sunset. Though, every time we have seen a bear, it’s been in the middle of the day.

After hiking back to our car, we drove through the Tunnel Log. This was a really neat experience and something you can only do in Sequoia. We also drove past a tree that had fallen and been uprooted. The tree’s roots were bigger than our car! While in Sequoia, we learned that these trees share roots with other Sequoia trees and they help each other stand up and grow as tall as they do. Trees are amazing.

Where We Stayed:

We stayed in Tulare, CA, at the same Air Bnb we stayed at to visit King Canyon National Park. Our home was only about 45 minutes from Sequoia’s entrance. I highly recommend staying here if you plan on visiting the park.

The second time we visited, we stayed in Three Rivers which was nice because we didn’t have to drive much past the park entrance to get to our hotel. We stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites. The hotel is older and a bit outdated, but they did have a great breakfast the next morning! I would stay here again, especially since we don’t spend much time in the hotel anyways.

Where We Ate:

You know those places that you go to that stay in your mind? Sometimes when you are working or driving, they come to mind and make you smile? Well I don’t know if it was exhaustion, hunger, or if it really was that special of a place but on our way back from the park we stopped at Ol’ Buckaroo. The restaurant was right outside of the park in Three Rivers, CA. The ambiance and outdoor patio was amazing. If you go to Ol’ Buckaroo, prepare to pay $20 for a burger but it is one of the best burgers you will ever have. Make sure to walk through the restaurant and eat outside. The patio is full of string lights, creative furniture, and lots of sweaty hikers.

We also ate at The Pizza Factory. This was a casual, order at the counter restaurant, where a lot of locals go to hang out. This would be a good family spot!

Sequoia Coffee Company is a local coffee shop you can support while in Three Rivers!

Breweries:

Next door to the Ol’Buckaroo is the Three Rivers Brewing Company. The brewery was similar to the restaurant, with a small inside and large, outdoor area. I drank their Key Lime Pie brew and it was fantastic. We have a pint glass from the brewing company and every time I drink from it, it brings me back to this magical place.

Three Rivers Brewing Company, March 2020

Best Time To Visit:

Spring
Summer
Fall

sequoia national park.

yosemite national park.

king canyon national park.