Sequoia National Park Itinerary: Your Ultimate Guide to Day One

Walk amongst the giants and use our Sequoia National Park itinerary to plan an unforgettable trip of your own. Having spent 2 days at this park, these are the top sights to see during your visit.

Spend your first day hiking the Moro Rock Trail through the forest and climbing Moro Rock. Then, visit Tunnel Log on your return to the Giant Forest Museum. Finally, take the shuttle north on Generals Highway and hike to Tokopah Falls. For day 2 activities, go here!

A visit to Sequoia National Park is a must-do on our 16-day national park road trip through California.

Need to Know Info

• Sequoia National Park is a fee site. Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
• Arrive early at Sequoia National Park to get a great parking spot. Arriving before or around 8 am is the best way to secure parking. We arrived around this time each day, and we were able to park across the street from the Giant Forest Museum in the front row!
• If you stay outside the park in Three Rivers, CA, the road to the high-elevation areas of Sequoia National Park is steep, winding, and narrow. It includes multiple hairpin curves and will take about an hour, depending on traffic. Not going to lie, we love roads like these!
• Plan on using the free shuttle system at Sequoia National Park at the Giant Forest Museum each day and utilize the shuttle to reach the northern areas of the park along Generals Highway. This is a fast and amazing service!

Safety and Weather in Sequoia National Park

• Cell phone coverage at Sequoia National Park is okay near the visitor center areas, but you may not have service as you travel away from populated areas.
• Don’t forget to bring your bug spray. Get our favorite here!
• Water: It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Ditch those water bottles and carry a water bladder!
• Food: There are limited food options at Sequoia National Park. If you are looking for food here, your best bet is the Lodgepole Market & Grill near the Lodgepole area of the park.
• Restrooms: There are restrooms located in and around Sequoia National Park near the visitor center locations. Some have running water, and some do not.
• The weather can vary depending on your location in the park. Higher elevation areas will be cooler, especially in and around the forested and shady areas of the park.
• Temperatures in the summer months range from an average of 61°F to 97°F, depending on your location. In the Sequoia Groves, temperatures were in the 70s during our visit. Perfect!
• Be aware of forest fires: fire and smoke may be present in the park at any time.
• Poison oak will be present.  Familiarize yourself with what this plant looks like.

Animal Safety in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park has a diverse range of animals living in the park. Black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, rattlesnakes, and marmots are just a few of the animals you might see. Review the steps to take if you encounter a black bear or mountain lion along the trail. That being said, it’s unlikely that you will encounter an aggressive animal, but always be prepared. Do NOT leave food in your car!

Map

Use the map above to help plan your route and follow along below for all the details on our experience.

Moro Rock Trail – 2 miles – moderate, point-to-point

Your Sequoia National Park itinerary starts with a great hike to Moro Rock. Start by parking near the Giant Forest Museum and cross the street toward the building. From here, head to your right (south) to reach the trailhead.

From here, it’s about 2 miles to Moro Rock. On this trail, you will be surrounded by towering giant sequoias, so be sure to spend some time here enjoying their beauty. Sequoias really can’t be described in words – you need to see them to believe how big they actually are!

At about 1.4 miles, you will reach a quick spur trail on your right. Take this to see an amazing view of Moro Rock. Here, you will also find Hanging Rock.

Finally, head back to the main trail and take the Moro Rock Trail across the road. Eventually, you will reach Moro Rock. This location also serves as a shuttle stop, so theoretically, you could take the shuttle back to the Giant Forest Museum after the hike up Moro Rock.

Moro Rock

After your 1.75-mile journey from the Giant Forest Museum, it’s time to climb Moro Rock. Be advised that if you don’t like heights, you might not like this hike up the rock. There are some areas that are very skinny, but railings are present on the trail. We never felt unsafe. Another word of caution is to skip this hike if it’s wet or if there is a chance of lightning. It is quite exposed.

The ascent to the top of Moro Rock is steep but worth it. There are amazing views from the top! From the parking area, it’s a 150-foot gain in about a quarter mile. After you spend some time enjoying the views and learning about the history of the park, head back to the parking lot and continue hiking on the Soldier’s Trail across the road.

➡️ Read next: How to Visit General Sherman and More: Sequoia National Park

Soldier’s Trail – 1.6 miles – moderate, point-to-point

After a great climb up Moro Rock, it’s time to head back toward the Giant Forest Museum to see Tunnel Log. A Sequoia National Park itinerary isn’t complete without a visit here! To get to the Tunnel Log, take the Soldier’s Trail. This is right across the road from the Moro Rock parking area. When you reach the junction, head to the right and up the hill.

Eventually, you will reach the Roosevelt Tree. Pay attention here because you must hike to the right of the Roosevelt Tree to stay on the Soldier Trail. Keep hiking, and eventually, you will cross the road. Hike on amongst the giant sequoias, and you will reach another road where Tunnel Log will come into view.

Tunnel Log

Spend some time here at Tunnel Log and get some great pictures. It might be busy here as this is a popular area of the park. When we arrived earlier in the morning (probably around 10 am), there were only 3 other people around. Early bird gets the peace and quiet?

This tree was “tunneled” through in 1937, and it remains in use today for cars to drive through. Finally, cross back over the road and continue on the Soldier’s Trail for about 1 mile until you reach the next trail junction: the Alta/Hazelwood Nature Trail.

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Alta/Hazelwood Nature Trail – 0.6 miles, easy

Following your hike along the Soldier’s Trail, link up to the Alta/Hazelwood Nature Trail. When you reach the junction for Old Bear Road, don’t turn! Keep going and turn left at the next junction, the Alta Trail.

This trail will pass through one of Sequoia National Park’s small meadows. Follow the signs to return to the Giant Forest Museum. Along this route, you will encounter a personal-sized tree tunnel as well as roots from an old sequoia standing tall. Don’t forget to take tons of pictures at these locations!

Take the Shuttle To The Lodge Pole Visitor Center/Campground

Next up on your Sequoia National Park itinerary is a hike to Tokopah Falls. If you are hungry for lunch and brought your own, relax and eat on the shuttle ride north, or once you arrive, stop in at the Lodgepole Market & Grill.

To get there, hop on the shuttle bus right outside the Giant Forest Museum. Pay close attention to the map to make sure you are headed to the correct location. The shuttle maps are easy to read and color-coded. The closest stop to Tokopah Falls is the Lodge Pole Campground Shuttle Stop.

Tokopah Falls – 4 miles – moderate, out and back

Finish up day 1 on your Sequoia National Park itinerary with a nice, easy hike to Tokopah Falls. This is one of the more popular trails in this area of the park, so you will not be alone. The trailhead is located right near the Lodge Pole Campground Shuttle Stop.

There are restrooms here, but none along this trail. From the shuttle stop, head east along the road, making a slight left to cross the bridge. The trailhead is on the right.

This is a great trail for all! It has some elevation gain, but is a very steady climb to the waterfall, gaining about 580 feet total over 2 miles. The trail follows the river fed by the waterfall through the forest. The last short section of the trail is a hike through rocky boulders in the direct sun, so it will be hot.

Once you reach this section, the waterfall is seen in the distance, and you’ll know you are almost there! Once you arrive, take some time to enjoy the falls. If you have not eaten lunch yet, it’s an amazing spot to do so.

If you decide to head down toward the falls, do so with caution, as the water is cold and swift. Finally, head back on the same trail to reach the campground. Be sure to stop in at the visitor center here before you ride the shuttle back to the Giant Forest Museum. Pay close attention to the direction your shuttle is going, or you’ll end up riding around for a while!

Where to Stay While Visiting Sequoia National Park

If you don’t mind driving mountain roads, we recommend staying in nearby Three Rivers, CA. It’s about 1 hour to Sequoia National Park, but has great amenities and restaurants nearby. Check out the best places to stay below.

• A VRBO – there are plenty of homes in the area that you can rent for a few days to have a place to yourself. This is the way to go if you ask us, and it’s exactly what we did! Reserve your place now.
• Comfort Inn & Suites Sequoia Kings Canyon – free breakfast and a seasonal shuttle to the park. Check it out now on Booking.com or Expedia.
• Rio Sierra River Resort – top-rated! Three custom rooms with private entrances. Pricey, but right on the scenic river. Book this epic property on Expedia or Booking.com.

Final Thoughts

What a great way to spend the day at Sequoia National Park! We really enjoyed the Moro Rock and Soldier’s Trail. The views from Moro Rock were insane! We were one of a few people on these trails in the morning, so it was very peaceful and serene. We even had a front-row parking spot at the Giant Forest Museum.

Using the free shuttles was a great way to get around the park without the headache of having to find a spot to park. Tokopah Falls was also amazing, and we recommend not missing this hike. Not having to move our car was definitely a perk at this busy national park. Finally, get ready to visit General Sherman on day 2 of your Sequoia National Park itinerary!

🛏️ Don’t forget to book your stay at the fun VRBO in Three Rivers.