I’ll keep this post short and sweet. I’m no expert on Sequoia National Park. In fact, I only spent one day there this past weekend. But I do feel qualified to tell you why it’s worth your time!
1. It’s an easy trip if you live in Southern California.
If, like me, you’re coming from Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park is a perfect long weekend trip. The drive to the entrance of the park clocks in at around three and a half hours. That’s pretty close for a national park! And the sights are so unique that you’ll feel like you traveled much farther.
2. It’s home to some of the biggest, oldest trees in the world.
This is honestly one of the park’s biggest selling points. Its famous giant sequoias are honestly unreal. It’s hard to imagine just how big they are until you’re standing beneath them. And some of these trees have been alive for thousands of years, which is truly wild to think about.
3. The views are outrageous.
If you’re brave enough to climb up Moro Rock, which is a massive granite dome, you’ll catch some truly insane views. Even if you’re not, the park is filled with turnoffs and lookouts so that you can experience the views without doing any footwork.
4. You might see snow!
If you come from a perpetually warm climate, this can be a huge selling point. Sequoia is nice because at certain times of year you can see snow, but you can also avoid it pretty easily. We went on two different hikes while we were there. They were right next to each other, but one was covered in snow and the other completely devoid of it. The park also covers a ton of elevation, so you can plan your visit accordingly to get the experience you want.
5. It’s not far from other national parks!
Sadly, I don’t have a picture for this bullet point. But it doesn’t really need one. One of the great things about this park is that it’s close to other parks. So if you want to plan a trip that’s all about sequoias, you can do that. But if you want to check out a bunch of other natural wonders, it’s easy! Sequoia National Park is actually connected to another park called Kings Canyon National Park (they also share a website). So you can drive straight through one park to the other within a couple of hours.
It’s also not far from Yosemite and Death Valley National Parks!
And that’s the end of my little list.
I told you I’d keep it short and sweet. Sequoia National Park is the perfect place to unplug and relax in nature. Like any park, you can mold the experience however you’d like. Do all the hikes, or just go for a nice scenic drive!
Have you been to this park? What was your favorite thing about it? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram!