Only four hours north of Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park feels like another planet. The trees are unimaginably huge and the landscape is remarkable. One day in Sequoia National Park isn’t really enough time, but if that’s all the time you have, it’s totally worth it!
Sequoia National Park is basically Yosemite’s lesser-known cousin with pine forests, granite domes, and a fraction of the visitors. Located high in the Sierras, this park really changes with the seasons as do the possible activities. This is what I would do with only one day in Sequoia National Park during both summer and winter.
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Summertime vs. Wintertime in Sequoia
Located mostly over 6,000ft, Sequoia National Park turns into a snowy wonderland in the wintertime. The crowds are much lower and there’s nothing quite like crunching through soft snow around snow-dusted giant sequoia trees. However, that same snow makes much of the park inaccessible between November and May.
During this time, most roads and trails are closed/inaccessible without snowshoes or skis. For those willing to go the extra mile (literally), I’d be surprised if you saw more than two people all day. However, summertime is a totally different story.
As you might expect, summer is busy season in Sequoia National Park for good reason. This time of year offers the best weather and access to the most activities. Additionally, Generals Highway to neighboring Kings Canyon National Park is open during the summer which is very convenient.
However the crowds can be a lot. Weekends are especially brutal with most popular parking lots full by 9am. Luckily, all of the roads and trails should be open from mid-June to mid-November (or the first major storm), and there is a useful shuttle system here which runs May through September from 8am to 6pm.
Summer Shuttle Map
Winter Shuttle Map
Many areas of Sequoia National Park are inaccessible in the wintertime as shown by the difference in shuttle routes.
When would I spend one day in Sequoia National Park?
I personally think the best time to visit Sequoia is early June or September. In June, most roads will be open, but a little snow on trail will deter some hikers (but create amazing waterfalls for me!). By September, summer crowds will have waned but weather is still generally good with most roads and trails open then too.
In September, the waterfalls will have also shrunk, but so will the numbers of mosquitos who LOVE the water in early summer. I had to wear a mosquito head net in June, but there were almost no mosquitoes by September. To each their own.
That being said, midweek summer isn’t too bad either, but I’d still plan on arriving pretty early to beat the heat and crowds.
One Day in Sequoia National Park:
Summer Itinerary
If I only had one day in Sequoia National Park, I’d want to prioritize beautiful scenery, waterfalls or lakes, an epic sunset view, and obviously giant sequoias. The great thing about Sequoia National Park is seeing impressive giant sequoia trees right from the road as you drive in!
However, the very first stop I’d make isn’t the famous Giant Forest Grove. While the giant sequoia groves are the main attraction for most visitors, they exist in such a tiny portion of a massive park that extends all the way east to Mount Whitney! Many of the most scenic parts of the park don’t have any sequoias at all.
In my opinion, the best way to begin one day in Sequoia National Park is to hike into the expansive Sequoia National Park backcountry. I’ve included my two favorite hikes below.
No matter which hike you choose, plan to arrive early to beat the crowds and the heat. I’d expect this first hike to take roughly half of the day. I’d also expect to eat lunch on trail and take a well-deserved dip in an alpine lake or river.
My Favorite Day Hikes in Sequoia National Park
My two favorite scenic day hikes in Sequoia National Park are Tokopah Trail to Tokopah Falls and Lakes Trail to Heather Lake via Watchtower Trail.
Tokopah Falls Trail begins at Tokopah Trailhead and continues on an out-and-back trail that follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River for just over two miles one way and just over 600 feet of elevation gain to a beautiful 1,200 foot waterfall. This trail is located down in the valley, so it has a longer snow-free season than its neighboring Lakes Trail and is much easier.
However,Lakes Trail is one of my favorite hikes in the Sierras. I backpacked all the way to Pear Lake in June 2025 and wasn’t expecting much so close to the front country, but six miles in and I felt like I was on another planet! It’s 12 miles round trip to Pear Lake, so I’d recommend stopping at Heather Lake (8 miles round trip) if you only have one day in Sequoia National Park.
To get to Heather Lake, you’ll begin at Wolverton Picnic Area and follow Lakes Trail where you’ll climb through a pine forest for two miles before coming to a fork. Watchtower Trail is to the left and offers STUNNING views down to Tokopah Falls (hike option #1) in the valley below only 3.5 miles from the car. At mile four, you’ll hit Heather Lake— a breathtaking alpine lake with fly fishing opportunities.
Altogether, the roundtrip to Heather Lake is roughly 2,000 feet of elevation gain and just over eight miles, twice as long as Tokopah Falls, but it’s my favorite hike for a reason!
Explore a Giant Sequoia Grove
After a challenging morning hike, I love to spend the afternoon wandering through the Giant Forest Grove— home to the General Sherman tree among others. This is the most popular attraction in Sequoia National Park because General Sherman Tree is the largest tree on earth by volume! If you only have one day in Sequoia National Park, it’s definitely a must-see.
Because parking is quite a challenge during the summertime, especially on weekends, I’d highly recommend keeping your parking spot at the first trailhead and utilizing the free shuttle system (May – September, 8am – 6pm) to get to the General Sherman Tree Trailhead.
Once there, I’d leisurely hike the two-mile loop around Congress Trail to see the most giant sequoias with relatively little effort. You’ll see dozens of sequoias with only 350 feet of total elevation gain.
Watch the Sunset from Moro Rock
My favorite way to end a day in Sequoia National Park is by watching the sunset from Moro Rock. A short, winding staircase carved into the rock leads to a small walkway that extends out to the edge of a tall granite dome. It’s like Sequoia National Park’s easy, miniature version of Half Dome, but the “hike” only takes 10 minutes.
Although the view out towards the Kaweah Gap is nothing short of impressive, I equally enjoy turning around and looking back towards the giant sequoia groves peeking out above the rest of the forest and then west towards the setting sun over the busy San Joaquin Valley below— so close but seemingly worlds away.
One Day in Sequoia National Park:
Winter Itinerary
In the wintertime, you’ll have to be a little more creative and your activity options are limited, but you’ll be rewarded with a quiet and honestly magical experience. Obviously, the days are much shorter in the wintertime, so you’ll really have to maximize your one day in Sequoia National Park.
Here are a few important things to note if you’re traveling in the winter:
- Carry tire chains that fit your vehicle. There is rarely snow when you start up steep, winding road and often lots of snow close to the sequoias.
- Check road conditions the night before to verify which roads are currently open. Opening dates change each year with the weather, and plowed roads close during storms.
- Bring lots of warm waterproof layers. It will be much colder at altitude than in town.
Snowshoeing in Sequoia National Park
Although most of the hikes are buried in the snow, you can slap some snowshoes on those waterproof hiking boots and have a quiet experience crunching through the snow into a winter wonderland. I’ve only recently acquired snowshoes and I am currently (2026) in the market for cross-country or backcountry skis (I haven’t decided which to get first), but my first few trips have been surprisingly rewarding!
If you are new to winter sports, don’t want to travel with bulky snowshoes, or just prefer to hire a guide, I’d recommend the guided tour below! All gear for up to seven people is included on this four-hour tour (10am – 2pm) and requires absolutely no prior experience.
Check out General Sherman Tree in Giant Forest Grove via Congress Trail
While this two-mile trail is one of the few trails open year-round, there might still be snow and ice on trail. It’s relatively quick and easy to get to General Sherman Tree. The trail is not very steep, but still use caution and your best judgement when deciding if you should continue.
Hike Paradise Creek Trail in the Foothills
Paradise Creek Trail is a great alternative if the higher elevation is just too snowy to hike. It’s honestly way too hot in the summer, but wintertime offers perfect conditions.
At the time of writing this (2026), the road to the trailhead is closed for construction, requiring that hikers park at Hospital Rock which adds 1.5 miles of roundtrip hiking but also keeps crowds down. Even with the road closure, this trail is currently only 3.5 miles total out-and-back and traverses along Paradise Creek through a beautiful oak woodland.
Grab Dinner in Three Rivers
Since it’s dark by 5pm in the winter, your one day in Sequoia National Park will unfortunately end sooner than you’d like. After an active day in the mountains, I always like to stop at Pizza Factory (pizza’s hard to beat), but River View Grill and Bar has an epic patio view and Three Rivers Brewing Co offers local craft beer and good food too.
Tips to Survive your One Day in Sequoia National Park (seriously):
Leave food in a bear box while you hike.
Bears are strong and crafty and won’t hesitate to rip your car door off its hinges to access your snacks (and scented toiletries). Luckily, almost every major trailhead has bear boxes available to stash your extra food in that you don’t plan to hike with. Please use them for your sake and for the sake of the bears.
Arrive early to find parking.
I’d plan to be at your desired parking area by 8am on weekends in the summer if not earlier. Wolverton (Lakes Trailhead) is the largest parking lot so you’ll have a bit of wiggle room, but other lots have limited space, especially the Giant Forest Museum lot which fills up first. The worse case scenario is failing to plan ahead and spending hours navigating parking and shuttles when you only have one day in Sequoia National Park.
Always pack extra layers.
The temperature and weather conditions at elevation change dramatically and change quickly. It’s very common to begin the day in the 50s, heat up to 80 by noon, then drop to 60 and be thunderstorming by 3pm, and end the day back in the 50s.
Mosquito + sun protection is essential in the summer.
Speaking of clothing, make sure to pack a thin layer for sun protection as well as a nice wide-brimmed hat. We get burnt much quicker at altitude.
Better yet, opt for a bug-resistant layer if you’re traveling in June or July because the mosquitos that time of year can be horrendous. Although it might look ridiculous, I found myself hiking out wearing a mosquito head net over my hat because they kept biting me on the forehead and I refuse to spray DEET on my face. A wide-brimmed hat offers the best protection in both aspects.
Bring tire chains in the winter no matter what.
Rent a car that comes with chains or pick up some for your personal vehicle before driving up to altitude. I’ve been snowed on even when it’s not in the forecast, and melting snow that refreezes overnight presents a huge hazard on the steep and windy road.
It’s a bummer to get turned around because you failed to prepare. It’s even worse to put your own life and the lives of other drivers in jeopardy.
Want to spend more than one day in Sequoia National Park?
If you’ve realized you’d like to spend more than one day in Sequoia National Park, here are my recommendations:
More Things to Do in Sequoia
- Backpack Lakes Trail to Pear Lake (or backcountry ski in winter)
- Hike to Muir Grove of Giant Sequoias
- Hike Little Baldy for sunset
- Tour Crystal Cave
- Rock climb Moro Rock
- Backpack Mineral King
- Continue up Generals Highway to Kings Canyon National Park
Join me as I backpack Lakes Trail to Pear Lake in June 2025!
Camping Recommendations
If you want to extend your trip to Sequoia National Park or even continue on to Kings Canyon National Park, you’ll have to find accommodation. Although I clearly love backpacking, the easiest/cheapest option is booking a campsite.
I’d recommend reserving a campsite at Lodgepole Campground in the summertime because it’s the most central. The campground is usually open from May through December and can be reserved four months in advance.
In the wintertime, Potwisha Campground located in an oak woodland in the foothills is open year-round.
Wuksachi Lodge (non-camping alternative)
If camping really isn’t your thing, the main accommodation option in the park is Wuksachi Lodge. The benefit here is that it’s open year-round and central to everything, so you won’t have to drive up the hill after camping at Potwisha or deal with winter temperatures.
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