Things to do in  Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

Known as the "land of giants," Sequoia National Park is home to towering old-growth redwood trees known as sequoias. They are the world's largest living trees, some of which can reach heights of 275 feet (83 meters). Administered by the National Park Service, the park (and the adjacent Kings Canyon) showcases thick forests, mountains, rugged foothills, canyons, and even vast caverns.

While there are almost 300 caves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, none are consistently open to the public—except Crystal Cave, a geological wonder of polished marble and sparkling stalactites lying below the national park’s famed sequoia groves. Guided tours take travelers past mesmerizing rock formations, intricate passages, and stalactite-filled chambers.

Taller, wider trees exist, but this giant sequoia (officially a Sequoiadendron giganteum) is the largest tree in the world by volume—as in the amount of wood in its trunk. Dominating most of the surrounding trees and easily accessible via a short trail, General Sherman is a must-see with over 2,000 years of history on the land of Sequoia National Park.

This majestic grove is home to the most immense trees in Sequoia National Park—and some of the largest living beings on earth. Among them are General Sherman, a giant sequoia standing 275 feet (84 meters) tall and 100 feet (30 meters) wide. In addition to the sequoias, a network of trails ranging from 1-hour hikes to half-day excursions originate in the grove.

As you approach Sequoia National Park from the town of Three Rivers, a massive granite dome comes quickly into view: Moro Rock. Looming thousands of feet above Generals Highway, climb the staircase to the top for majestic vistas of San Joaquin Valley, the Giant Forest sequoia grove, and the peaks of the Great Western Divide.

Curving through the western flanks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks (and Sequoia National Forest), Generals Highway is among California's most dazzling mountain drives. Countless overlooks, the Giant Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and other groves of staggering beauty lie along the highway, making it the ideal starting point for road trips through the twin parks.

This paved loop trail in Sequoia National Park begins near General Sherman—the largest of the giant sequoia trees—and continues on a gentle path into the heart of Giant Forest, where hundreds of mature sequoias stand. Few, if any, trails anywhere in the world lead through such a high concentration of giant sequoias.

This privately operated marble cavern in the Sequoia National Forest offers seasonal walking tours, allowing you to wander among its unusual rock formations. Visit to get close to stalactites, flowstones, and other geological features formed over thousands of years below the marble-laden mountain and walls of the Windy Cliff and Kings Canyon area.

At the end of Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road in Sequoia National Park, you’ll find this gentle trail around lovely Crescent Meadow, home to ancient sequoias such as the Chimney Tree. The trail is a flat alternative to the Moro Rock climb and links with other trails to Tharp’s Log and Squatters Cabin; it’s also technically the beginning of the much longer High Sierra Trail.