Summary
Open
Ash Mtn entrance
$35
7-day fee (w/ KC)
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is July–August, when around 34% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for November–April.
Plan Your Visit
Altitude Safety1,700–14,505 ft▾
Park Entrance & Fees$35 (shared w/ Kings Canyon)▾
Ash Mountain Entrance
Usually Open
Hwy 198, near Three Rivers, CA — elevation ~1,700 ft
Main southern entrance from Visalia / Three Rivers. The Generals Highway climbs from here up to Giant Forest and Lodgepole, then continues north to connect with Kings Canyon National Park (~1–2 hr drive, seasonal chain requirements in winter).
💡 Entry fee is shared with Kings Canyon National Park — one pass covers both. No live wait-time data is published for this entrance.
NPS directions ↗
ℹ️ Alerts and entrance fees are shared with neighboring Kings Canyon National Park — Sequoia and Kings Canyon are administered by the NPS as a single unit (parkCode: seki).
Campground Availability2 open · 3 closed▾
Lodgepole Reservation Recommended ▾
Elevation~6,700 ft
Season~June 15 – Dec 1 (seasonal)
AmenitiesFull amenities · near Giant Forest & General Sherman
NotesBusiest campground in the park — book early
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Potwisha Reservation Recommended ▾
Sites40
Elevation~2,100 ft (foothills)
SeasonYear-round
NotesLow elevation — hot in summer, mild in winter
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Dorst Creek Closed — All of 2026 ▾
Sites218
Elevation~6,700 ft
StatusClosed for all of 2026 per NPS current conditions
Campground details ↗
Buckeye Flat Closed — All of 2026 ▾
StatusClosed for all of 2026 — winter storm damage
Campground details ↗
South Fork Closed Indefinitely ▾
StatusClosed indefinitely — flood/landslide damage
Campground details ↗
River Conditions · Marble Fork Kaweah1 live gauge▾
Above Horse Creek, near Lodgepole
⏳
USGS 11206820 · 36.6117, -118.7017
-- cfs·-- ft gauge·--°F water
Landmarks6 stops▾
Giant Forest3 stops▾
General Sherman Tree~30 min
Largest tree by volume on Earth · short paved trail
Giant Forest Museum~30 min
History & ecology of the giant sequoia groves
Congress Trail~1.5 hrs
Easy 2-mile loop past named sequoia clusters
Moro Rock1 stop▾
Moro Rock Stairway~1 hr
Steep granite dome climb · 400-step stairway · sweeping Sierra views
Crystal Cave1 stop▾
Crystal CaveSeasonal
Marble cavern · seasonal guided tours only, ticket required (not walk-up)
Mineral King1 stop▾
Mineral King ValleySeasonal
Remote glacial valley, subalpine · seasonal road, closes in winter · check nps.gov/seki for current road status
Things to Do7 categories▾
Giant Forest & Lodgepole Trails4 trails▾
General Sherman Tree Trail0.5 mi RT · 7,000 ft elev.
Paved trail with stairs descending to the largest tree on Earth by volume
Congress Trail2 mi loop
Paved loop past named sequoia clusters, beginning near the Sherman Tree
Big Trees TrailEasy
Paved, accessible loop around Round Meadow from the Giant Forest Museum
0.75 mi loop · ~1 hr
Tokopah Falls TrailEasy
Streamside walk along the Marble Fork Kaweah to the base of a 1,200-ft waterfall, from Lodgepole Campground
3.4 mi RT
Granite Domes4 stops▾
Moro Rock Stairway~300 ft climb · Closed in snow
Concrete-and-stone stairway of 350+ steps to a granite dome summit with sweeping Sierra views; technical climbing routes close seasonally to protect nesting peregrine falcons
Little Baldy1.7 mi one-way · 1,000 ft gain
Steep switchbacking trail near Dorst Campground, wildflowers in summer
Beetle Rock~5 min · Easy
The easiest dome to reach — a flat, five-minute walk from Giant Forest Museum
Sunset RockEasy
Nearly flat trail from Giant Forest Museum or the Big Trees trailhead
1 mi
Foothills Trails3 trails▾
Marble Falls Trail3.9 mi RT
Climbs through chaparral from Potwisha Campground to a cascade on the Marble Fork
Lady Bug TrailMod. steep
Follows the South Fork Kaweah from South Fork Campground
3 mi RT
Garfield Grove Trail5 mi one-way · Steep
Relatively steep climb from South Fork Campground to a sequoia grove
Mineral King High Country4 trails▾
Cold Springs Nature TrailEasy loop
Easy interpretive loop through the Mineral King Valley
Timber Gap TrailModerate
Follows an old mining route from the Sawtooth Trailhead
2 mi one-way
Eagle Lake Trail3.4 mi one-way
Steady ascent to a granite-rimmed alpine lake from the White Chief Trailhead
Monarch Lakes Trail4.2 mi one-way
One of the easier Mineral King hikes, from the Sawtooth Trailhead
Crystal Cave Tours1 tour▾
Crystal Cave Guided TourReservation req. · May–Sep, Thu–Sun
Guided-only marble cavern tour (~50 min, 50°F) reached by a steep half-mile walk from the parking area; tickets sold only online through Sequoia Parks Conservancy, not at the cave
Stargazing & Night SkyNot IDA-certified▾
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Sequoia National Park is not an IDA-certified Dark Sky Park, but it's among the darkest skies accessible from the LA and Central Valley metro areas, and it co-hosts the annual Sequoia & Kings Canyon Dark Sky Festival with neighboring Kings Canyon. High-elevation spots like Moro Rock and Panoramic Point offer minimal light pollution. Best on new-moon nights — bring a red flashlight to preserve night vision and layer up, since mountain nights get cold fast. NPS night sky info ↗
Concession Information7 locations▾
Giant Forest1 location▾
Giant Forest Museum Gift ShopYear-round
Bookstore · Gifts · Trail info
Lodgepole Village2 locations▾
Lodgepole Market8 AM – 9 PM · Seasonal (spring–fall)
Groceries · Deli · Outdoor Gear · Souvenirs
Lodgepole Grill & Snack Bar8 AM – 7 PM · Seasonal (spring–fall)
Grilled Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wuksachi Lodge3 locations▾
The Peaks RestaurantYear-round
Sierra Alpine Cuisine · Dinner Reservations Recommended
Wuksachi Pizza DeckSeasonal
Pizza · Organic Salads · Seasonal
Wuksachi Gift Shop8 AM – 9 PM · Year-round
Handcrafted Souvenirs · Apparel · Snacks
Foothills (Ash Mountain Entrance)1 location▾
Foothills Visitor Center ShopYear-round
Books · Maps · Small Gift Selection
Bird Watching212+ species▾
Golden Eagle
Soars above the foothills and granite domes
Peregrine Falcon
Nests on the park's granite cliffs
American Dipper
Dives into cold Sierra streams for food
Steller's Jay
Bold, crested jay common near Giant Forest
Clark's Nutcracker
Caches whitebark pine seeds in the high country
💡 All in-park stores, restaurants, and lodges are operated by the park concessioner (Delaware North / Sequoia Parks Conservancy) under contract with the NPS. Hours vary seasonally — confirm current hours at visitsequoia.com before you go. Mineral King's Silver City Mountain Resort offers additional food/lodging but sits on private land and is not park-operated.
Park Contact Information