National park · California

Sequoia National Park

Became the country's second national park in 1890 specifically to save the giant sequoias from logging — including the General Sherman Tree, the largest single-stem tree on Earth by volume.

Entrance
$35 private vehicle
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Established
September 25, 1890
Region
California
Sequoia National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Sequoia National Park patch

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History

Sequoia National Park is significant for its protection of the giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume. It also preserves the ancestral homelands of several Native American tribes and showcases a diverse ecosystem in the Sierra Nevada.

Key events

  1. September 25, 1890Sequoia National Park established by Congress as the nation's second national park (after Yellowstone).
  2. 1890Park created largely to protect the giant sequoia groves from logging.
  3. 1943Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks jointly administered, though they remain officially separate parks.

Trails

  • General Sherman Tree Trail 1 mi · Easy
  • Congress Trail 3 mi · Easy
  • Moro Rock Trail 0.5 mi · Moderate
  • Tokopah Falls Trail 3.4 mi · Moderate
  • Alta Peak Trail 13.6 mi · Hard

Plan your visit

Hours · Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Open 24 hours, every day

The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some park roads and roads that access more remote parts of the parks close in the winter due to snow accumulation. Rarely, extreme weather conditions may cause roads into the parks to be closed.

Entrance fees

  • Private Vehicle $35
  • Per Person $20
  • Motorcycle $30
  • Non-commercial Groups $20
  • Nonresident $100

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Summer. All trails open, best hiking conditions, warmest temps
  • Fall. Fewer crowds, fall colors, comfortable temps
  • Spring. Waterfalls at peak, wildflowers at lower elevations, some snow
  • Winter. Snow play at Wolverton, serene snow-covered trees, limited access

Wildlife

Black bearsMule deerMarmotsMountain lionsPikaGreat gray owlsPeregrine falconsSierra Nevada bighorn sheep

Nearby patches

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