Day Tripping in Sequioa National Park


On the day we were to head home, we left the cabin early so that we could take a short day trip to Sequioa National Park, about 1.5 hours away. Our friends haven't been there although they have been to Yosemite. It's commonplace that people know of Yosemite and have visited it, but somehow it's neighboring parks (Sequioa NP and Kings Canyon NP) remain unknown, even to California residents. Chronologically, Sequioa NP is the second national park given the national park distinction (Yellowstone is first, Yosemite is third - became a NP a month after Sequioa).

The park consists of 865,964 acres of mountains, deep canyons, caves and big big trees. On a day trip, we could only allot time for the big big trees. The General Sherman, known as the largest tree in the world, calls this home. And that's what we wanted to visit on this short detour.

But of course along the road there were many eye-catching trees worthy of stops.











We took the less than 1 mile descent to see the General Sherman. It was an easy trail, but quite steep.


Sign I noticed on the walk back up.


I had a very willing model.


I can think of few things better than walking under the giant sequoias.


Midway there was this little resting area, where you can gauge the circumference of the General Sherman.




As a major attraction, General Sherman always has a line. People want to get their selfies with it and my zoom lens couldn't take a good picture anyway so I walked around the back and took a picture of it.


The massive base.


More trees in the grove as the path meanders through it.

Soon, it was time to head back home. On the drive out of the park we saw:


Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks could have been set aside solely to protect the amazing caves found here. The parks protect half of the caves more than a mile long in California, including the longest cave in the state. They contain Pleistocene-era fossils, rare minerals and unique animals. [source]

One must be staying around the area for a few days in order to experience the trees, the caves, the canyons, the mountains, the waterfalls and the great hiking.


I love driving between two giant trees so close together. After we passed this pair of trees, our friends who were behind us saw a bear cross the road after we passed.


On the way home we passed by the orange groves, which is one of my favorite sight on this roadtrip.


Best value for $20 and it's valid for 6 days.

Come to California and experience the big trees, it's good for the soul.

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

Comments

  1. I know I have visited the sequoias, Maria, when the kids were young, but I really have no recollection of exactly where. I don't think we saw General Sherman. :( I would love to go back one day and really experience it again with new eyes. I don't think I would ever forget it then!

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  2. You should have tried embracing the tree for whatever width you can reach, trees give us a lot of energies which we can get through our palms and intentions.

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  3. Trees are heaven's prayers. Gorgeous shots.

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  4. Those old trees are so amazing. You captured some great shots.

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  5. Those trees are amazing. May they continue in good health.

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  6. I would love to see those massive trees and walk through some of these parks. Magnificent scenes.

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  7. Great shots from national park. Like those huge tress.

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  8. I need to go here! Just beautiful!

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  9. Great pictures! (And great trees, great colors, great perspectives - and most probably you had great fun, too!)

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  10. I have never been to any of those national parks - your photos tell me that I must!

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  11. I remember visiting the parks and camping there with my parents. You never forget trees like that. It is so important to same some of our old growth. Where we live, most were logged in the early 1900s, but if you get way back in the bush you can still find a few stands. - Margy

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  12. Hi! Nice captures. The big trees are very fascinating for me. If I have a chance I would go there. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Thanks for taking us on this tour to see the park and this famous tree. Nice group of shots.

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