Giant Forest and Lodgepole

 

High Bear Activity Area

Bears are very active in the Giant Forest and Lodgepole area. To avoid an encounter, secure all food and scented items like soap, toiletries, or candles in the latched storage boxes or in the trunk of your car with the windows rolled up. Day use storage boxes are available at most trailheads and picnic areas. Do not leave any food or scented items unattended. Do not store any scented items in your car overnight; the bears will smell these items and break into your vehicle. Bear encounters in the park are not uncommon, be sure to research and know what to do if you encounter a bear in the parks.

 

Two areas combined into one, the Giant Forest and Lodgepole district makes up a large part of Sequoia National Park.

The Giant Forest is home to the largest unlogged giant sequoia groves in California, including the world’s largest tree by volume – the General Sherman Tree. Here, visitors can see massive trees everywhere they look as they hike down trails winding through meadows and granite features or take a guided tour of a cave system.

The Lodgepole area is a ten-minute drive north from the heart of the Giant Forest. Although visitors may not find sequoia trees here, massive granite canyons leading to hidden waterfalls and lakes offer an accessible way to explore the higher elevation areas of the Sierra.

 

Seasons in the Giant Forest and Lodgepole

Visiting in Summer

During the summer months, it is common to expect long entrance lines, traffic congestion, full parking lots, and campgrounds filled to capacity in the Giant Forest and Lodgepole area. Parking lots can fill as early as 10 am, and it is possible that the area may become a drive-through only experience on a busy weekend. Arrive early in the morning on weekdays. To learn more about visiting the parks during the summer, please review our Visiting During the Busy Season page.

Visiting in Winter

The Giant Forest and Lodgepole area is still accessible in winter, but some facilities, trails, and roads may close seasonally due to snow accumulation. This can sometimes include the road between the parks. Roads in and around the Giant Forest may be icy. Tire chains may be required at any time, even for all-wheel and four-wheel drive. For more information on the winter season in the parks, visit our Winter Activities page.

 

Click on the image to learn more information on how to visit the Giant Forest and Lodgepole area.

Getting There

Those who are driving to the Giant Forest and Lodgepole area can access it via:

• Ash Mountain Entrance Station (Highway 198 from Visalia) – 16 miles (25.4 km), 45 minute drive
• Big Stump Entrance Station (Highway 180 from Fresno) – 31 miles (50 km), 1 hour 30 minute drive

There are no gas or EV stations in the park. There are charging stations in the town of Three Rivers just outside the Sequoia park entrance and in the cities of Visalia and Fresno. The nearest location to get gas from the Giant Forest and Lodgepole area is:

• Stony Creek Village (between Wuksachi Lodge and Grant Grove) - 18 miles (29 km), 30 minute drive
• Three Rivers (Highway 198 to Visalia) - 25 miles (40 km), 45 minute drive
• Hume Lake Market (north of Grant Grove Village) – 41 miles (66 km), 1 hour 30 minute drive

 

RVs and Oversized Vehicles

If you plan on visiting the park via Highway 198 from Visalia, please note that the Generals Highway from the Foothills to the Giant Forest is a tight, twisting, and curvy road with steep elevation changes and many hairpin turns. If you are planning to visit the parks in an RV or oversized vehicle, it is not recommended to enter the park on this route. Please consider entering and exiting through the Big Stump Entrance along Highway 180 from Fresno instead. For more information on vehicle-length advisories, please reference our Visiting with an Oversized Vehicle page.

 

Seasonal Shuttle Services

In summer, a paid shuttle service is available starting from the city of Visalia and can take visitors to the Foothills and Giant Forest areas of Sequoia National Park. A separate, free Sequoia Shuttle service takes visitors to the top attractions in the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas. Shuttle services are not available for Kings Canyon National Park. Shuttle services are available only in summer and on limited holiday weekends in the winter.

 

Giant Forest Museum

Visitor Centers

Giant Forest Museum

• Designed to serve as the starting point for visits to the grove, the Giant Forest Museum is a free educational facility that doubles as a visitor center for the Giant Forest area. Take the opportunity to learn the story of the giant sequoias and the human history surrounding them.

• Use the flush restrooms and get information from a ranger about trails in the grove. Pick up some maps, books, and gifts at the gift store. Join one of many ranger led programs or take a self-guided interpretive trail around meadows and sequoia groves.

• Please note that there is no food available at this visitor center. The nearest location to eat is a tenminute drive to the Lodgepole Market.

• From the Giant Forest Museum, it is a 10 minute drive to General Sherman, the world’s largest tree by volume. It is possible to hike to General Sherman from the Giant Forest Museum. However, visitors should speak with a ranger about preferred routes before embarking.

 

Lodgepole Visitor Center

• This visitor center closes in winter. Stay updated on closures and conditions in the park on our Current Conditions page.

• Located only a few feet from Lodgepole Campground, this visitor center sits tall at 6,700 feet (2042 km) and acts as the last park visitor center to access in Sequoia National Park before driving to Kings Canyon National Park.

• Stop by to use flush restrooms and check in with a ranger about trails in the area. Pick up some maps, books, and gifts at the gift store. Purchase a wilderness permit in the Wilderness Office. Watch a series of park films or stroll through a newly renovated exhibit covering a variety of ecosystems in both parks.

• There is no food available at this visitor center. Food is available at the Lodgepole Market and Grill across from the center.

 

The Marble Fork of the Kaweah River is fed by snowmelt and flows seasonally through Lodgepole Campground.

Campgrounds

There are no campgrounds in the Giant Forest, but there are two seasonal campgrounds nearby in the Lodgepole area:

Lodgepole Campground

• Located in the Lodgepole area just a 10 minute drive away from the Giant Forest, this is one of the largest campgrounds in the park. Lodgepole pines forest the campground, while towering groves of giant sequoias and craggy granite peaks dot the landscape.

• Lodgepole Village is within walking distance from the campground and seasonally offers groceries, showers, and laundry facilities.

• Open seasonally and closes in winter due to snow accumulation.

Dorst Creek Campground - Closed until further notice.

For more information on camping in the parks, please visit our Camping page.

 

Lodging

• Wuksachi Lodge – Nestled in between the Giant Forest and Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, this is the closest lodge to the Giant Forest area. The lodge has over 100 guest rooms, a restaurant, and dedicated event facilities.

Food/Restaurants

• Lodgepole Grill, Market, and Snack Bar – Across from the Lodgepole Visitor Center, this facility offers showers and laundry services, grocery items, prepackaged meals, and gifts. Visit the Grill for a selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items.

• The Peaks Restaurant at Wuksachi Lodge – Located within Wuksachi Lodge. The Peaks Restaurant offers breakfast and dinner during a seasonal opening. Reservations are required in advance.

• Wuksachi Pizza Deck - The Wuksachi Pizza Deck outside of the lodge offers pizza, salads, and grab-and-go.

 

Picnic Areas

Picnic areas in Lodgepole and the Giant Forest sit at an elevation of 6,600-7,200 feet (2,000-2,200 m). Please be aware of bears in these areas. Do not leave food unattended.

Crescent Meadow Picnic Area

• The Crescent Meadow Picnic Area is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from the Giant Forest Museum, near Moro Rock and several trailheads. The picnic area rests at the edge of a lush meadow, surrounded by giant sequoias. Crescent Meadow Picnic Area has vault restrooms.

Pinewood Picnic Area

• Located between the Giant Forest Museum and Lodgepole Visitor Center, the Pinewood Picnic Area offers regular and long picnic tables for groups of all sizes. The picnic areas also has flush restrooms, a water faucet, and barbecue grills.

Lodgepole Picnic Area

• The Lodgepole Picnic Area is adjacent to Lodgepole facilities, including the Village Market, visitor center, campground, restrooms, laundry, and showers. The picnic area itself has water spigots.

Wolverton Picnic Area

• Located at the end of Wolverton road, this picnic area is a great place to stop for lunch while taking in gorgeous meadow views. This area has informative bulletin boards, water spigots, flush toilets, and barbecue grills.

Halstead Meadow Picnic Area

• Next to a restored meadow, Halstead Meadow Picnic Area is 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Lodgepole Visitor Center. This area has exhibits, vault toilets, and barbecue grills.

 

Hiking

Hiking in the Giant Forest and Lodgepole area is a great way to explore the sequoia groves of the park. Some popular trails include:

• General Sherman Tree Trail
• Congress Trail
• Big Trees Trail
• Moro Rock Trail
• Tokopah Falls Trail
• Crescent Meadow Loop

Please note that the elevation in these areas range from 6,000-7,000 feet (1,829-2,134 km). Altitude sickness can occur, and trails may seem more strenuous at higher altitudes. Hydrate, take breaks, research trail information before you go, and acclimate before engaging in strenuous activities.

For specific trail information, visit our Giant Forest and Lodgepole Day Hiking page. For accessible trail information, please visit our Accessibility web series.

 

 

Places to Go