• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

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  • Changes to Some Opening/Closing Dates for Services and Facilities – Check Back for Updates

    Some of the opening/closing dates for facilities and visitor services in the parks have changed due to weather and/or other circumstances. See link for details and match to locations on the park map (under "Park Tools," bottom left, this page). More »

  • Road Construction Delays (if Entering/Exiting Hwy. 198)

    Expect minimal construction delays on main road through parks (Generals Hwy) through June 2013 on weekdays generally from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. See link for schedule. Call for 24-hour road conditions info: 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1). More »

  • Vehicle Length Limits Have Changed in Sequoia NP (if Entering/Exiting Hwy 198)

    Planning to see the "Big Trees" in Sequoia National Park? If you enter/exit via Hwy. 198, please pay close attention to new vehicle length advisories for your safety and the safety of others. More »

  • You May Have Trouble Calling Us. Use the "Contact Us" Link (Bottom Left) to Send an E-mail.

    We are experiencing technical problems receiving some incoming phone calls at the parks. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please keep trying to reach us or check this website for frequently-asked questions. The search box (top, right) may be helpful.

  • Prescribed Fires Planned at Ash Mountain/Sequoia National Park (Parks' South Entrance)

    Fire crews will be working on hazard fuel reduction project at Ash Mountain (south entrance) starting May 23. There are nine small burn segments near the south entrance. The fire may be visible from the road and will produce smoke for very short periods.

General Sherman Tree

General Sherman tree towers over a collar of snow at its base with blue sky framing its crown.

A new parking and trail system allows the General Sherman Tree to be experienced in its full majesty, in a more tranquil setting.

NPS photo Steve Collector

The General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree, is the prime visitor attraction in Giant Forest. Visitors now reach the General Sherman Tree from a new parking area and trail located off the Wolverton road in a former dump site outside of the sequoia grove.

The new trail to the General Sherman Tree provides a better opportunity to see and appreciate the tree and its setting than was previously available from the crowded parking lot and short trail.

In fall 2005, the former parking lot was demolished and restored to natural conditions, providing an enhanced setting for the tree and returning 2.5 acres to forest. An accessible parking area, trail and shuttle drop off were retained adjacent to the Generals Highway. New comfort stations were built at the main Sherman Tree parking area and the accessible parking area. Construction began in June 2001 and was completed in spring 2006.

Did You Know?

Beautiful white spar crystals.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks could have been set aside solely to protect the amazing caves found here. The parks protect half of the caves more than a mile long in California, including the longest cave in the state. They contain Pleistocene-era fossils, rare minerals and unique animals.