Sequoia National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

The first stop on the tour is home to the historic Welcome to Sequoia National Park Sign and a trail that leads down to the river. If you’re not in the mood for a hike yet, the view from the parking lot is amazing on its own.

The Foothills Visitor Center is a great place to get even more of an idea about what the day ahead has in store for you. It features common visitor center finds like a souvenir shop, displays about park history and wildlife, restrooms, and a water bottle filling station.

Tunnel Rock is a park highlight that you can’t miss on the left side of Generals Highway. The highway used to go right under it, but was redirected and the rock now served as a popular spot for photo ops. Visitors can climb on the rock, or walk under it.

Potwisha Campground is located on the left side of Generals Highway, but it’s the overflow parking lot across the street that’s a stop on our tour today. The riverside dirt parking lot is the trailhead for the Hospital Rock Trail, which is 5 miles (8km) round trip, moderately difficult, and follows the Kaweah River to Hospital Rock. There’s also the Potwisha Riverwalk, which is an easy half-mile round trip along the river.

This popular stop features Potwisha Native American rock art on a huge riverside rock. Nearby are the grinding mortars, where it’s believed Potwisha women ground acorns into flour. Picnic tables and restrooms are also available for use here.

This is a wonderful, panoramic scenic spot. Visitors can see Moro Rock looming on the top of a cliff, and other peaks and ridges. This is one of the best views in the park.

Another great, roadside view of Sequoia’s Beauty. Just pullover, and take a few minutes to take in the view. It kinda sneaks up on you, so keep an eye on the map on your way.

This isn’t exactly a stop, but you can pull over on the right side of the road if you’d like. Otherwise, slow down as you drive between the four giant sequoia trees that line up across the highway welcoming you to the Giant Forest.

Aptly named, the Giant Forest is home to so many big beautiful, giant sequoias, including the famous General Sherman Tree. We stop at the Giant Forest Museum, which is a good launching point for area hikes. Our favorite is the Big Trees Trail, which is an easy half mile hike past a meadow and sequoias.

350 concrete and steep steps lead visitors to the top of Moro Rock, a granite dome. The trail may be short, but thanks to its incline, can be pretty tiring. The view from the top of the rock really can’t be beaten, and it feels like you’re standing on top of the world.

This log is another park feature that was in the way of traffic, so workers carved right through it. Today, cars eight feet tall can drive in it, while others must drive around. Another fun photo opp.

Crescent Meadow Picnic Area is home to Crescent Meadow, dubbed “the Gem of the Sierras” by naturalist John Muir. It’s also the starting point for several trails. An easy, 1.5 mile hike loops around the meadow. It’s also about 1.5 miles to Tharp’s Log, on an easy trail. Lastly, you’ll see the trailhead for the long and strenuous High Sierra Trail. You can’t do the whole thing today, but just over a mile and a half round trip takes ya to the stunning Eagle View.

This is the star of the park! The General Sherman Tree’s claim to fame is being the world’s largest living tree, by volume. An easy, paved 1-mile trail takes you there from the parking area and weaves through a giant sequoia forest, with benches and other notable trees along the way. If you have time, you can continue from the General Sherman Tree on the Congress trail. It’s also paved and easy, just under 3 miles round-trip, and takes you to two groups of mature sequoias.

By the time you arrive here, you may be ready for a relaxing break browsing the visitor center’s presentations on the park’s natural and human history. Lodgepole Market is right next door as well, where you can find food and other necessities.

The Tokopah Falls Trailhead is at the end of the road near the campsites. The trail is a mix of shady forest and open mountain views, all the way to a gorgeous waterfall. The hike’s almost 4 miles (6km) with an easy incline. The waterfall is a whopping 1,200 feet, or nearly 400 meters tall, and really flows heavily in early summer from glacial melt. But by late summer, it might be down to a trickle.

Wuksachi Lodge is the place to hang out and take it easy if you need a break from all the hiking. There are two restaurants with full menus and a wonderful outdoor deck and seating area and a souvenir shop with grab-and-go snacks.

Halstead Meadow is a restored wetland that rests just off the side of Generals Highway. Its picnic tables and expansive greenery is easily accessible and is a wonderful place to relax and ponder your next steps when the tour ends.

This trail is a favorite with many visitors because of its amazing views at the top of the dome. The trail’s just over three miles, or five kilometers, round-trip climbing a couple switchbacks to the top. It’s considered moderately challenging. At the end, you’ll get to take in panoramic views of the Great Western Divide and beyond.