What to do in Sequoia National Park with Kids (Or without!)
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Log Meadow is a gorgeous and easy hike for families
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The sunrise in Sequoia was absolutely UNREAL
If you’re looking for what to do in Sequoia National Park with kids, you’re in the right place. This guide will share all of the best things to do in Sequoia National Park! Sequoia is home to over 8,000 colossal sequoia trees including the world’s largest tree; General Sherman Tree. Sequoia National Park was established as a National Park by President Benjamin Harrison in 1890 to protect these giants from being logged. Whether you are traveling with kids or without, you’ll fall in love with this absolutely gorgeous National Park. Sequoia National Park is visited by approximately 1.25 million people annually and is about is 404,000 acres. It is the 22nd largest National Park of the 62 in the United States.
Every visitor to Sequoia National Park should make a stop at one of the 2 visitor centers in Sequoia or at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center to get a park map, get a weather update, and info about the park’s road conditions and possible closures. You can also visit HERE to see up-to-date closures and weather. Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for finding out the parks more off the beaten path spots. The Foothills Visitor Center is located just inside the South Entrance to the park, Lodgepole Visitor Center is located at the heart of the National Park in Lodgepole Village, and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is located at the Northern entrance to both Sequoia and Kings Canyon. If you are planning to go to Kings Canyon National Park before you go to Sequoia, you can also stop by the Cedar Grove Visitor Center located inside Kings Canyon National Park. All of the visitor centers can answer questions about both parks as they are managed by the same park rangers.
READ NEXT: What to do in Kings Canyon National Park with Kids
Table of Contents
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Get a Printable Guide!
This is my 17- Page Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park! This guide includes a full 2-Day itinerary with optional 3rd and 4th days! The guide has information on where to stay in the parks, hikes in each park, and more!
These are the same activities my own family did while in Sequoia and Kings Canyon and what I always suggest to my friends. With me as your guide, you’ll get the full experience of SEKI National Park! This 17-page guide is everything you need to plan your trip!
When to Visit Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is open 24/7 all year long, but you may want to consider the season before you make the trek.
June through August has the most predictable weather, but it also brings the most tourists. The temperature is very warm and sometimes reaches over 100* F. In these months, it is best to enter the park just before or at sunrise to beat the crowds and the heat. We went over labor day weekend (the first weekend in September) and it was over 100 in the afternoon each day, but early in the morning, it was a cool 68-70F.
In the winter months the temperatures drop drastically and the crowds thin out. Some months the park requires visitors to have either snow tires or chains, so be sure to know the requirements before you go. Some parts of this park are closed entirely in the Fall, Winter, or Spring months due to access issues.
In the Fall and Spring, the weather is gorgeous but less predictable. The crowds are thinner than the summer months. The ranger-led programs are reduced during these months as well.
The average annual weather for reference courtesy of Google.com (Click through)
How to get to Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is not the easiest to get to. To give you an idea of how long it will take to get to the park, here are a few examples.
Obligatory national park sign photo!
How far is Sequoia National Park from Visalia? 44 Minutes
Fresno to Sequoia National Park is 1 hour 25 minutes
San Diego to Sequoia National park is 5 hours and 5 minutes
San Francisco to Sequoia National park is 4 hours 15 minutes
Yosemite to Sequoia National park is 2 hours and 45 minutes
Joshua Tree National Park to Sequoia is 5 hours 20 minutes
Sequoia National Park’s South Entrance is located along Highway 195 and is easiest accessed from Visalia. The park isn’t directly along a major highway and will take some driving from any major city in California.
READ NEXT: One Day Itinerary for Yosemite National Park
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How Much Does it Cost to Get into Sequoia National Park?
Day and Weekly Passes
the line was short and quick to get into the park on the busy Labor Day Weekend (Sunday at 9:45 AM)
Vehicle Pass - $35.00
This pass includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument. Pay once and get access to both parks for 7 days.
Individual Entry Pass - $20.00
This entry fee is for a single person traveling on foot or by bicycle. Pay once and get access to both parks for 7 days.
Motorcycle Pass - $30.00
This pass includes everyone traveling on a motorcycle, scooter, or similar motorized vehicle. Pay once and get access to both parks for 7 days.
Or you can buy an Annual Pass to all of the U.S. National Parks HERE.
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Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park
Lodges in Sequoia National Park:
This lodge is open year-round. Wuksachi Lodge offers 102 guest rooms, a really great gift shop, a cocktail lounge, and a full-service restaurant. Currently, the lodge is offering take-away meals and adult beverages. The lodge is only two miles from Lodgepole Village and convenient to everything inside Sequoia National Park. Wuksachi also has several hiking trails that start right at the lodge. (This is the lodge I would use if I only wanted to stay in Sequoia)
Make reservations online or you can call (866) 807-3598
The lodge is technically located in Kings Canyon National Park but is an excellent location to easily access both parks. John Muir Lodge offers 36 hotel rooms and a full restaurant. The location is only .5 miles (.8 km) from the sequoia grove, the market, gift shop, post office, and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center. There are several hiking trails starting at this lodge. (This is the lodge I would use if I wanted to visit BOTH parks in SEKI)
Make reservations online or you can call (866) 807-3598
These Cabins are located near the John Muir Lodge. They are very convenient to both National Parks and all of the convinces to include: Kings Canyon Visitor Center, the market, the restaurant, and the sequoia grove.
Make reservations online or you can call (866) 807-3598
There are two lodging options in the High Sierras. The first is Bearpaw High Sierra Camp which is eleven miles out in the High Sierra Trail. The second is Pear Lake Winter Hut which offers wilderness skiers a comfortable cabin.
NOTE: Both of these are only accessible if you hike out to them. They are remote wilderness lodges.
READ NEXT: What to do in Kings Canyon National Park with Kids
Sequoia National Park Campgrounds:
Staying inside the park means you’re closer to really fun hikes!
There are 7 campgrounds located in Sequoia National Park. Campgrounds, and sections of campgrounds, are subject to close during the winter months, so be sure to check the NPS page for closures.
***2020 Camping Info: Due to COVID-19, limited camping is currently available in the parks. Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited throughout the parks.****
Parker group is located near Moro point; a group of giant sequoias
Lodgepole Village:
Lodgepole Campground: This campground hosts 214 sites for tents, RVs, and trailers. This campground offers guests a free shuttle to Wuksachi lodge and Giant Forest.
Fee: $22 per night
Dorst Creek Campground: Dorst Creek offers 218 campsites including tents, group sites and they do allow RVs. This campground is perfect for visitors wanting to visit both parks. The free Sequoia Shuttle stops here.
Foothills Campgrounds:
Potwisha Campground: This campground offers 42 sites. RVs, tents, and trailers are allowed, but vehicles over 22 feet are not advised. This campground is situated near the Kaweah River and is only 15 minutes from the Foothills visitor center. However, this campground is a 45-minute (very windy) drive from the Giant Forest sequoias.
Buckeye Flat: This campground is only open from Spring to Fall and RVs are not permitted. This campground is located near the Kaweah River and is also a 45-minute drive to the Giant Forest sequoias.
South Fork Campground: This is a remote campground! It has 10 sites and is open for tents only. If you book this camp, be sure you have everything you need as it is a 45-minute drive to the nearest town.
Mineral King Campgrounds:
**NOTE: These campgrounds are located in the Mineral King section of Sequoia National Park. They are remote and do not allow RVs or trailers. ALL sites in Mineral King are first come, first serve. These campsites are only open from Spring to Fall. These sites are located far from any stores or towns.
Atwell Mill Campground: This is a remote campground with 21 campsites. The site is located 1 hour from the town of Three-Rivers and 1.5 hours from the entrance to Sequoia National Park. It is always first come, first serve.
Cold Springs Campground: This unique and remote campground contains 21 sites open for tent camping only. The campground is located along the east fork of the Kaweah Rivera and absolutely perfect for anyone wanting to go “off the grid”
Grant Grove:
There are 3 campgrounds near Grant Grove. These proved easy access to both Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park, but technically these are located in Kings Canyon. If you plan on visiting both parks — definitely consider these campgrounds: Azalea Campground, Sunset Campground, or Crystal Springs Campground.
Read Next: How to ENJOY Tent Camping with Toddlers
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We stayed near sequoia national park at Sequoia Resort and RV park
Where to Stay Outside of Sequoia National Park
We Stayed at Sequoia Resort and RV Park
Recommended Stays:
Sequoia Resort and RV Park: (North Entrance) We stayed here for 3 nights during our time at Sequoia and Kings Canyon. I was surprised by how up-to-date everything was, the free onsite laundry, bikes available to borrow, very clean restrooms/showers. The RV sites were a good size and come with picnic tables. Sequoia Resort also offers guests a very nice propane grill to use, a horseshoe pit, and they have boats on the lake for guests to take out. In addition to RV sites, Sequoia Resort also offers a studio apartment or 4 different houses to rent. I absolutely recommend this spot. The manager is the sweetest woman and your family will have a peaceful and fun experience.
Comfort Inn & Suites: (South Entrance) Only minutes from the entrance to the vast national wilderness, you’ll find the relaxing Comfort Inn & Suites® Sequoia Kings Canyon. Located in the foothill village of Three Rivers, this hotel gives you the cozy accommodations and modern amenities you need to prepare for a visit into some of the most magnificent scenery in California. This hotel is just outside of the south entrance to Sequoia National Park, with the Ash Mountain entrance only 8 miles from our front door.
Buckeye Tree Lodge: (South Entrance) This Lodge is located just 1/4 mile from the entrance of Sequoia National Park. Buckeye Tree Lodge offers twelve rooms and a ten cabin eco-lodge with spectacular river views and the sound of rushing water to lull you into relaxation upon arrival. Visitors will find granite boulders on the river, they can take a yoga class, book a massage, enjoy a stargazing program, or unwind in one of the salt-water pools, while still having time to explore the outdoors of Sequoia National Park!
Use the map to find cabins, hotels, and lodges located outside the park. You can search by group size, budget, and location.
What to do in Sequoia National Park with Kids
In the background you can see General Sherman tree
1) Hike:
There are so many places to go hiking in Sequoia National Park! Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sequoia National Park with kids because it gets everyone up close to the flora, fauna, ecology, and wildlife of the park. Walking through the giant sequoias is an experience everyone needs to have. The hikes listed under “best hikes for toddlers in sequoia” and under “best hikes for kids in sequoia national park” are going to be the best family hikes in Sequoia National Park! The longer, more difficult hikes are listed under “best hikes for teenagers in Sequoia National Park.”
Best Hikes for Toddlers in Sequoia National Park
We did the barker dam trail and it was gorgeous
General Sherman Tree Trail: This 1 mile round trip trail takes hikers along a paved trail (with plenty of stairs) from a large parking lot down to General Sherman Tree. The trail leads down to the tree, so it is a climb up to get back to the parking lot. This is the most popular attraction in Sequoia National Park, so be prepared for crowds and possibly waiting for a parking spot. This trail does have a nice restroom facility at the beginning.
Big Trees Trail: This 0.75 mile trail circles Round Meadow. Hikers can follow the trail-side panels to learn about the sequoia ecology. This trail is paved and accessible for both strollers and wheel chairs. I highly recommend this trail. We missed and it’s my only regret from our trip. This is a giant Sequoia grove, so you’ll see many of the giants here.
Best Hikes for Kids in Sequoia National Park:
We did a sunrise hike at Moro Rock
Moro Rock: This is a climb from a parking lot up a long stairway that goes up 300 feet to the summit. We did this a sunrise hike with two 3 year old boys and a 5 year old girl. It was unreal and absolutely gorgeous. If you are going with young toddlers or babies, just wear them in a Toddler Tula or Ergo Baby and keep them safely by your side. There are restrooms at the beginning of this hike.
Crescent Meadow Loop: This 2 mile easy trek will take hikers on an even trail, most of which is paved, down to Chimney Tree and Tharp’s log. Hikers are rewarded with many giant sequoia trees and quiete. **We made a wrong turn on this trail and it ended up being 4.3 miles, so let me tell you exactly what to hike to keep it short.
Start on the paved Crescent Meadow Loop and follow it to the sign for Chimney Tree (0.8 miles), then follow the path toward Chimney Tree. From Chimney Tree, find the trail sign (trail head) for the path to Tharp’s Log (0.4 miles). At Tharp’s log you can follow the paved path straight back to the parking lot. (0.8 miles)
If you want a longer hike you can make the turn for Log Meadow (on the right side as you hike from the trail head to the turn for Chimney Tree) This is an absolutely gorgeous hike around a low trafficked meadow surrounded with giant sequoias. DO NOT take this if you don’t want the added 2+ miles.
Tokopah Falls: This easy 1.7 mile hike is very rewarding for hikers. This hike starts near the Lodgepole Campground and takes hikers to a fork of the Kaweah River where there are massive granite cliffs and a cascading waterfall. Tokpah Falls is and impressive 1,200 feet high.
This is the grainiest photo ever, but you can see the moro rock trail and the crescent meadow trail with the option for log meadow trail
Best Hikes for Teenagers in Sequoia National Park:
Marble Falls Trail: This 3.9 mile moderate hike takes hikers to a cascade.
Middle Fork Trail: This is a 6 mile moderate round trip trail that takes hikers through chaparral and rewards them with views of Moro Rock and Castle Rock. Panther Creek Falls are 3 miles from the parking lot.
Lady Bug Trail: This moderately strenuous trail is 6 miles round trip. The path takes hikers along the Kaweah River in the upper foothills and the trail ends in an Sequoia Grove (3 miles from the trail head.
Garfield Grove Trail: This is a strenuous 10-mile round trip hike. It is a 5 miles one way (climb) to the Garfield Sequoia Grove.
For additional information about day hiking in Sequoia National Park, go HERE.
Backpacking, Back Country, and Overnight hikes:
Mineral King Trails: All trails in the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park are considered moderately hard or strenuous and are far into the backcountry. Click HERE to read descriptions of the following hikes: Monarch Lakes, Crystal Lake, Timber Lakes, Timber Gap, White Chief Trail, and Eagle and Mosquito Lakes.
BACKPACKING: If you are interested in overnight or backpacking through Sequoia, go HERE for more information. There are over 800 miles of maintained trails designed to help you experience over 800,000 acres of designated Wilderness. From the foothills to Mt Whitney, there is so much to explore.
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This spot is located along the steps up to Moro Rock
2) Stargazing!
With some of the darkest nights in the entire United States, stargazing in Sequoia National Park is incredible. The Wuksachi Lodge sits at 7,200 feet and offers Astronomy programs for park visitors. There is no charge for the one hour program and you can learn all about California’s most brilliant skies. If you’re visiting in mid-august you’ll be witness to the Perseid Meteor Shower where you can witness up to 80 shooting stars an hour!
And if you’re really into America’s Dark Skies and Astronomy, check out Sequoia’s annual Dark Sky Festival.
3) Crystal Cave
This image is from recreation.gov and was originally taken by alison Taggar-Barone — click the image to book tickets
Did you know there are over 240 known caves in Sequoia National Park? There are! However, there is only one cave you can tour and that is Crystal Cave. Sequoia National Park hosts guided tours that take visitors along a half-mile path leading through the marble karst cave. **Note: There is a steep half-mile walk down to the entrance of the cave and temperatures inside the cave are 50 degrees year-round. (F)
Tour Choices:
Family Tour: 50-minute tour for all ages
Thirteen and Older Tour: 50-minute tour for ages 13 and up
Discovery Tour: 1 1/2 hours for ages 13 and up
Wild Cave Tour: 4-6 hours for ages 10 and up, and participants must be in good physical condition to participate
Family Caver Tour: 2.5-hours for ages 10 and up, and expect to get dirty!
Tickets:
Buy tickets online at least two days in advance, or earlier for weekend and holiday tours.
If tickets are not sold out, they may be available at visitor centers.
TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD ON SITE - Tickets go on sale six months prior to tour dates.
4) Become a Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park Junior Ranger:
Both kids RECEIVED SEKI Kings Canyon junior ranger badges
SEKI offers in-person or online Junior Ranger Programs.
Junior Ranger Program: This program takes kids through bear safety, how to safely store food from bears, native plants, Sequoia Trees, Cave and Karst Systems and so much more. Children can earn an official Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Junior Ranger badge by completing activities in our junior ranger booklet. Ask for a free booklet at any visitor center, complete it, then return it to receive your badge.
Currently, you can also achieve your Junior Ranger badge virtually HERE.
Log Meadow has a lot of Giant Sequoias along the trail
Moro Rock at Sunrise
5) Giant Forest Museum:
This museum is the perfect place to start your Sequoia adventure. The Giant Forest Museum gives an introduction to the main features of the Giant Forest. There are displays and interactive educational stations to teach visitors how to identify trees in the area, explain the difference between coastal redwoods and giant Sequoias, and explain the natural history and ecology of Sequoia National Park. The museum was renovated in 2001 and is listed on National Register of Historic Places. After your educational visit, take a stroll along Round Meadow on this easy 1-mile trail.
6) Winter Activities
Hiking to Chimney Tree
Snowshoe: In Winter you can join a ranger-led snowshoe walk. These walks last anywhere from 1.5-2 hours and cover 1.5-2 miles. The park will provide snowshoes and all hikes are first come, first serve.
**Note: Children must be at least 10 years old to join the snowshoe hikes.
Cross Country Skiing: Both Giant Forest and Grant Grove offer ski trails through sequoia groves. Purchase a map of ski trails online or at any visitor center.
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Be prepared for crowds as this is a popular National Park - Sunrise hikes are definitely worth the early wake up to have the park to yourself.
Visiting Sequoia National Park should be on everyone’s bucket list. There are so many things to do in Sequoia National Park with kids (or without!). The park is home to amazing wildlife, pristine mountain views, real living giants, incredible morning weather, the gorgeous Kaweah River, and meadows straight out of fairy tales. No matter if you camp in the park or stay in the nearby town of Three Rivers, Sequoia National Park is an unforgettable adventure. I can’t wait for you to see all there is to do in Sequoia National Park with kids!
Don’t forget to check out: What to do in Kings Canyon National Park with Kids
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