Sequoia National Forest Guide

Sequoia National Forest Hiking Trails

• Trail of 100 Giants

  This accessible trail takes you through Long Meadow Grove that showcases giant sequoias. The largest trees are estimated to be upwards of 1,500 years old. Facilities at the trailhead include restrooms, picnic tables, and a campground. This grove has over 100 giant sequoias with a diameter of 10 feet or more. Another 700 smaller giant sequoias, meaning a diameter of less than 10 feet, fill in the rest of the grove. The largest tree is over 20 feet in diameter and is 220 feet tall. Note that this heavily traveled trail closes from mid-November to mid-May.

  Length: 1.3-mile paved loop

  Intensity: Easy

• Unal Interpretive Trail

  This wooded trail offers spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The trail is open year-round, but you might want snowshoes in the winter. The elevation along the trail only changes about 700 feet, but it starts at over 6,000 feet. If you're not used to walking at elevation, you may want to pace yourself. You'll find a park bench to rest at Unal Peak, which is at 6,838 feet in elevation. The trail has an interactive brochure written from the viewpoint of the Tubatulabal tribe. The brochure is on the signboard at the trailhead.

  Length: 3-mile loop

  Intensity: Moderate

• Kern River Trail

  This sunny trail winds along the Kern River. It is rated moderate, but it is rather narrow and uneven. It does gain over 1,000 feet in elevation, so if you're not used to a lot of up and down, it may be difficult. This trail is best visited in spring when the wildflowers abound. The trail is open to motorbikes along with hikers, mountain bikers, and horses. With a license, you can fish at many spots along the river.

  Length: 8 miles, one-way

  Intensity: Moderate to Difficult

• Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

  The PCT is nearly 3,000 miles long, stretching from the Mexico border all the way into Canada. It was made a National Scenic Trail in 1968. Sequoia National Forest offers many access points to this trail. A popular segment goes from Jawbone Canyon to Piute Mountain Road. The trail is open for hiking and horseback riding. This section passes through Walker Pass Campground, where you can stop for a picnic.

  Length: 10.4 miles, one-way

  Intensity: Moderate

• Converse Basin - Boole Tree Trail

  Boole Tree is the largest tree in the U.S. National Forest System and the 6th largest of all known sequoias. The Converse Basin Grove was a huge grove until it was logged between 1892 and 1918. The Boole tree was spared because of its tremendous size. Currently, it rises to 269 feet high with a diameter of about 35 feet. It's probably at least 2,000 years old. The Boole Tree Trail heads uphill from the parking area and passes through a mixed forest of lodgepole, western white, Jeffrey, and sugar pines. You'll get breathtaking views of the Kings River gorge and the high Sierra Nevada mountains. Depending on the season, you can traverse this trail by hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing. 

  Length: 2.5-mile loop

  Intensity: Moderate

• Chicago Stump Trail

  This stump attests to an interesting piece of history. The stump was once the General Noble Tree. It was cut down in 1897, and the pieces were transported to the Chicago World's Fair. But when it was reassembled, it was nicknamed the California Hoax because no one believed that a tree could possibly be that big. The trail takes you through Jeffrey pines to a meadow ringed by young sequoias, red firs, and azaleas.

  Length: 0.6 miles one-way

  Intensity: Easy

• Indian Basin Trail

  This short loop trail takes you through the Indian Basin Grove. Along the way, you'll find many stumps of the once-magnificent sequoia trees that were logged in the early 1900s. Scientists now study these stumps for clues about climate change. You'll also find interpretive signs detailing the history and scenery of the area. Springtime is perhaps the best time to visit due to the abundance of wildflowers.

  Length: Easy

  Intensity: 1.4-mile loop