Looking for the best hikes in two of California’s most gorgeous, redwood-covered parks? We’ve got you covered.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are known for their dramatic landscapes, massive redwood and sequoia trees, a wealth of wildlife, and more.
We’ve identified some of the best hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. And we made sure to highlight a range of easy, moderate, and difficult trails.
Best Hikes in Kings Canyon National Park
General Grant Grove Loop
If you go to Kings Canyon to see a bunch of massive redwood trees, this is a great spot to get your fix. The trail is central to the park, meaning it’s close to campgrounds and other trails too. And, it boasts the second-largest tree in the world!
Difficulty: Easy
Miles: 0.9 miles
Why visit: An easy, kid-friendly, mostly gravel trail packed with lots of history about these national parks’ towering sequoia trees.
General Sherman Tree Trail
This trail to the world’s largest tree — measured by volume, not height — is short and paved. And it’s more of a pit stop than a full hike. But, it’s absolutely worth seeing if you are visiting Kings Canyon National Park.
Difficulty: Easy
Miles: 1.2 miles
Why visit: You’ll get to see the biggest tree in the world!
Mist Falls Trail
If you’re a more serious hiker, head to Road’s End Trailhead. This trailhead is a jumping-off point for all sorts of backpacking trails and loops that can take you hundreds of miles deep into the park. Keep in mind that you’ll need wilderness permits if you plan on backpacking.
If you aren’t backpacking, Mist Falls is the one trail to hit. It’s a gorgeous out-and-back that ends at a waterfall — and you’ll get a good workout in with this trail’s steady elevation gain as well.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Miles: 8.7 miles
Why visit: If you are looking for a hard but still-scenic trail that’s off the beaten path from the rest of the park.
Moro Rock Trail + Eagle View, Huckleberry Loop
Situated just outside the entrance to Kings Canyon and just inside Sequoia National Park, Moro Rock’s 3.6-mile out-and-back is a good and easy-to-moderate hike. It boasts views of the park, wildflower, and bird viewing and, of course, views of Moro Rock itself.
Our favorite option for this trail is incorporating it into Sequoia’s Eagle View and Huckleberry trails to form an 8.5-mile loop. The loop offers all the great views and sights of the Moro Rock trail, but fewer crowds and more mileage.
Difficulty: Moderate
Miles: 3.6 miles to Moro Rock, 8.5 miles for Moro-Eagle View loop
Why visit: Moro Rock is one of the most popular sights in Sequoia National Park. But you don’t just get to see the rock — you’ll get to see epic views as well.
Best Hikes in Sequoia National Park
Wuksatchi Trail
The actual Wuksatchi trail only runs about 3.4 miles. However, you can easily connect it to other trails nearby if you are looking to add mileage (and more views) to your hike.
- Option 1: Hike the Wuksatchi trail out and back.
- Option 2: Hike the Wuksatchi trail to the Sillman Pass trail up to Cahoon Meadow.
- Option 3: Hike Wuksatchi to Sillman Pass Lake trail.
- Option 4: Hike in reverse from the General Sherman tree past the Lodgepole campground up to Wuksatchi Lodge. This is a good trail option if you are camping or lodging in the area.
Basically, there are dozens of variations — Wuksatchi is your oyster.
Difficulty: Moderate
Miles: 3.5-6 miles
Why visit: This is a great and versatile trail just off the scenic byway that runs through Sequoia National Park.
Sunset Rock Trail
Not as crowded as you’d expect, the Sunset Rock Trail is definitely worth checking out if you visit.
One, because of Sunset Rock. Two, because of great wildlife watching on the trail. And three, because of the surrounding views. You’ll pass several large redwoods and meadows before you get to Sunset, a bald, sloping rock with a 180-degree-plus overlook at the endpoint of the trail.
Difficulty: Easy
Miles: 2 miles
Why visit: This probably doesn’t even need to be said, but this trail is a must-see for views. Better yet? Visit Sunset Rock at sunset.
High Sierra Trail
Now, this trail extends over 60 miles through Sequoia National Park, so we aren’t suggesting the whole thing. But, the trail is worth checking out, even if you only have time for a day hike.
Starting at the Crescent Meadow Parking area, you’ve got several options. We like hiking the High Sierra Trail from the Crescent Meadow area to the High Sierra trail junction (12 miles out and back), or just a bit further until Little Blue Dome comes into sight. Here on the trail, you’ll get some epic views of several of the park’s notable peaks.
This trail is an out-and-back, so you can tackle as many miles as you want. Got time for an overnight? Find permit info and mileage options for the High Sierra Trail at NPS.gov.
Difficulty: Hard
Miles: Mileage varies depending on route (6-15 miles)
Why visit: If you’ve got several days in the park, we really recommend checking out this trail. It’s long (as long as you want, anyway), challenging, and offers some of the most gorgeous and varied views in the park.
Hiking, Backpacking, and More
Outside of hiking, Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks are home to some amazing overlooks as well. Definitely leave time on your trip to enjoy the many pull-offs up on the parks’ mountain roads. We recommend getting out early or enjoying the overlooks on a meal break.
Like other national parks, backpacking is also an option as well. Learn more here on the NPS page.
