12 Best Places To Visit Sequoia Trees In California

1. Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is by far one of the most popular places to see giant sequoia trees in California. This National Park is home to the iconic General Sherman Tree, which is the largest tree in the world by volume.

To visit the General Sherman Tree, you can go on a 1-mile-long interpretive loop from the visitor parking lot. With a height of 275 feet and a base diameter of 36 feet, this giant sequoia is a must-see in California!

The Congress Trail is another excellent day hike that you can start near the General Sherman Tree. This 3-mile-long loop passes several large sequoia tree clusters in a very short distance. Along this trail, you can also see the President Tree, the oldest living sequoia tree, with an age of 3,240 years.

Just slightly south along Generals Highway is the Big Trees Trail. This 1.2-mile-long loop travels next to a meadow with many educational displays and signs along the way.

2. Kings Canyon National Park

It is estimated that 1/3 of all living sequoia trees grow within Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. If you’re planning a trip to Sequoia National Park, it’s worthwhile setting aside a day to explore the sequoia trees at the adjacent Kings Canyon National Park as well.

The $35 vehicle entrance fee to visit Sequoia National Park includes Kings Canyon as well, so it’s a great 2-for-1 deal in California!

I recommend starting your visit with the General Grant Tree Trail, which leads to the towering General Grant Tree, the second largest tree in the world by volume. This trail is only 0.7 miles long and passes several notable attractions, including the Fallen Monarch, the Gamlin Cabin, and the Michigan Tree.

The Big Stump Loop is another excellent day hike, just a 10-minute drive south of the Grant Grove. Here you can see the massive stump of the Mark Twain Tree that was cut down in 1891 to be sent to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where it still remains on display.

Read Next: 15 Top Things To Do In Kings Canyon National Park

3. Mariposa Grove At Yosemite National Park

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is one of my favorite places to visit sequoias in California, year-round. Mariposa Grove is a great place to stop for a couple of hours if you’re entering Yosemite through Oakhurst.

Mariposa Grove is located by Yosemite National Park’s southern entrance off Highway 41. It costs $35 to enter Yosemite National Park for each private vehicle.

Start your visit by stopping at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. This is where you can park your car and catch a shuttle to the trail starting point at the end of Mariposa Grove Road.

If you’re short on time, I recommend hiking the Big Trees Loop Trail, which is only 0.3 miles long. If you have more time to spare, consider the 2-mile-long Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, which passes the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant and the unique California Tunnel Tree, which has a carved-out center.

For a more challenging route, I love the Mariposa Grove Trail. This is a strenuous 6.6-mile-long trek that travels up to Wawona Point, which offers amazing panoramic views overlooking Yosemite National Park.

4. Trail of 100 Giants At Sequoia National Forest

Sequoia National Forest is an excellent place for visiting big sequoia trees in California without having to deal with the large National Park crowds and expensive entrance fees.

My favorite hike at Sequoia National Forest is the Trail of 100 Giants, which features 125 sequoia trees with a diameter of over 10 feet. This grove also has 700 smaller sequoia trees, so there is definitely a lot to explore here!

The Trail of 100 Giants is only 1.4 miles long and fairly flat, so it’s suitable for families with little kids. Unlike National Parks, this route is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends along.

A few of the most notable attractions along this loop include the Proclamation Tree, the Goose Pen, Long Meadow, and fallen giant sequoia trees.

Note: There is a $12 parking fee if you park in the designated visitor lot across from the trailhead.

Read Next: 8 Best Day Hikes In Sequoia National Forest

5. Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is an amazing sequoia park just a 2-hour drive from Sacramento and 1.5 hours from Stockton. There are two sequoia groves that can be accessed at this park – the North Grove and South Grove.

Most visitors hike the Calaveras North Grove Trail, which is easily accessible from the visitor center. This loop is only 1.6 miles long, flat, and passes some of the largest trees in the park.  

Along the North Grove Trail, you can see the enormous Discovery Tree stump that was cut down in 1853 to be displayed in museums.

Father Of The Forest is another impressive sequoia tree that fell hundreds of years ago but is still intact. You can even take short stairs that lead down into the tree trunk, where you can walk through and marvel at its sheer size.

The Calaveras South Grove Trail is another excellent day hike at this State Park. South Grove Trail is 5 miles long with 770 feet of elevation gain, so it’s a bit longer and more challenging. This trail is more secluded, so it’s a great option if you want to escape the crowds.

Note: There is a $10 entrance fee to visit and hike at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

Tip: If you have extra time on your trip, be sure to check out the nearby Sonora City, Moaning Caverns Adventure Park, and Columbia State Historic Park.

Read Next: 8 Great Things To Do Around Sonora, California

6. Tuolumne Grove At Yosemite National Park

Along with Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park is home to two other sequoia groves – the Tuolumne Grove and Merced Grove. Tuolumne Grove features two dozen giant sequoia trees and is a great alternative to the busy Mariposa Grove in Southern Yosemite. This grove is located off Tioga Pass, just a 30-minute drive from Yosemite Village.

To visit this grove, follow the 2.7-mile-long Tuolumne Grove Trail that starts at the Tuolumne Grove Trailhead off Tioga Road. This is a fairly short yet moderate trail with 620 feet of elevation gain.

The trail goes downhill first and ends at the Tuolumne Grove. Once you reach the grove, follow the half-mile-long trail that passes enormous sequoia trees. The hike back to the parking lot is all uphill, so be sure to save some energy for the way back.

The most notable attraction here is the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree. This giant sequoia was carved out in 1878 to entice park patrons. At the time, visitors could ride a carriage through the tree center, and now you can walk through it.

In the winter season, Tuolumne Grove is a great place for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

7. Heaps Peak Arboretum Day Use Area

Heaps Peak Arboretum is a hidden little gem along Highway 18 between Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs in Southern California.

Here you can go on a mile-long hike along the Sequoia Trail, which leads to the largest grove of sequoias in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The sequoias at Heaps Peak Arboretum were planted only 90 years ago, so the trees at this grove are still quite small compared to the 2000-year-old ones in the Sierra Nevada.

The sequoias do not grow naturally in Southern California, so they need to be maintained at the botanical garden.

Note: There is a $5 parking fee to park in the designated visitor parking lot.

Read Next: 8 Best Things To Do In Running Springs, California

8. Placer County Big Trees Grove

Placer County Big Trees Grove is a hidden little gem in Northern California near Lake Tahoe. Although this grove is very small and features only 6 mature sequoia trees, it is recognized as the northern-most grove of giant sequoias in California.

The grove was discovered in 1855 and has been protected since 1892. This is a very isolated location, so not many people know of its existence. The Pershing Tree is the largest tree within the Big Trees Grove, with a height of 225 feet and a 12-foot diameter. Other notable sequoias are the Joffre Tree and the fallen Roosevelt Tree.

To reach the grove, you will need to go on an hour-long drive along a narrow and rough mountain road from Foresthill. The Big Trees Nature Trail to see these giants is only 0.8 miles long and fairly flat. If you don’t mind the drive, this is a great place to take kids to see giant sequoia trees in northern California.  

9. Merced Grove At Yosemite National Park

Located west of Yosemite Valley, Merced Grove is the smallest and least visited of the three sequoia groves within Yosemite National Park. This is a remote, quiet destination in Yosemite that not many people know exists.

To reach the grove, you will need to hike the Merced Grove Trail, which is 4.2 miles long out and back with 730 feet of elevation gain. The hike starts at the Merced Grove Trailhead off Big Oak Flat Road, just a 10-minute drive from Tuolumne Grove Trailhead.

Similar to Tuolumne Grove, this trail goes downhill first, leading to the grove before climbing back up on the way back. There are about 20 large sequoias that you can explore here in a peaceful setting away from the crowds.

10. Freeman Creek Grove At Sequoia National Forest

Located within Giant Sequoia National Monument, the Freeman Creek Grove is the largest unlogged sequoia grove outside of National Park boundaries. Featuring over 800 giant sequoia trees, this is one of the largest groves in California by both area and tree count.

But visiting Freeman Creek Grove is not easy. This area is very wild and rugged, and there are not many maintained trails that travel through this region. If you wish to visit Freeman Creek Grove, your best option is hiking the 9-mile-long Freeman Creek Trail that travels to the enormous George Bush Tree.

This is a very long and strenuous hike with 1690 feet of elevation gain, so be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks for the day. Much of this region was affected by the 2020 Castle Fire, so there is not much shade after the fire. Bring plenty of sunscreen and a hiking hat to battle the harsh California sun.

11. Camp Nelson Trail At Sequoia National Forest

Camp Nelson Trail is another longer day hike within Sequoia National Forest that features sequoia trees. Similar to the Freeman Creek Grove, many of the trees in this area burned down during the 2020 fire. While the forest is showing signs of regrowth, most of the trail is exposed to the sun with very little to no shade.

Camp Nelson Trail is 7.8 miles long total with 1800 feet of elevation gain. This trail is a good option for those camping at the nearby Belknap Campground. Many people also hike shorter portions of the trail and turn around at the creek crossings, which can be especially challenging in the spring months.

12. Balch Park

Balch Park is a wonderful spot to escape the Central Valley heat in the summer and visit massive sequoia trees. This is a campground and park near Springville that is an excellent place for hiking, camping, and fishing from May to October.

Situated within Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest, Balch Park is maintained by Tulare County. One of the most notable sequoia trees here is the Hollow Log, a fallen giant sequoia tree that visitors can walk and crawl through.

A few other notable attractions include the Lady Alice Tree, the Allen Russell Tree, the Adam Tree, and the Genesis Tree, one of the largest trees in the world!

Where To Visit Sequoia Trees In California Map:

Map Tip: Click on each location to see more details!

Have you visited California sequoia trees in person? Let us know your favorite locations in the comment section below!

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This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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