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2-day Sequoia National Park Winter Trip

Sequoia National Park, California

Description

Added by Eric Broadfoot

•Winter time means less crowds but less park availability•Giant Sequoia Trees•Easily accessible vistas of surrounding mountains•Potential wildlife sightings

We had never been to Sequoia National Park and wanted to experience it in the winter when there was still snow on the ground. We live in Los Angeles and only had the weekend available so we figured we could fill it with whatever hikes were currently open. Sequoia is about a 3 hour drive from where we were. A lot of the park's roads and trails are closed till around mid-April when the snow disappears. We stayed just outside of the park in Three Rivers.

Our first hike was Little Baldy, a short 3.4 mile round trip with about 700 ft in elevation gain. There was plenty of snow on the ground but it was very hard unless you strayed off the path. As soon as you reach the top of the ridge you are treated to a great panorama of the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. The destination for the hike is a small granite dome that has a 360 view of the entire park and beyond which we could enjoy for only a few minutes before clouds rolled in and obstructed our view.

Since it was a short hike we had half the day left to explore the rest of the park by car, ending up at The Auto Log, Tunnel Log, General Sherman, Crescent Meadows, The Hanging Rock and up to the top of Moro Rock for the sunset. We even got to see some deer roaming with two of the bucks fighting with their antlers.

I highly suggest Moro Rock for sunset, it is a large granite dome with a 300 step staircase to the top and great views of the surrounding area. You might be competing with other tourists but since it was the winter time there weren't many people.

The next day we went on the Tokopah Falls hike, a very gradual 3.4 mile round trip with only 600 feet in elevation gain. It follows Kaweah River till it reaches a light cascade in what seems like a giant granite bowl. There was a lot of snow and no people around so it was very beautiful and peaceful.

I highly suggest doing a winter trip here, it's cheaper and there are no crowds. We plan on going back in the spring to do the harder hikes and see the rest of the park.

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Nearby

Drive through Tunnel Log

Hike Moro Rock

Hike through the Giant Forest in Sequoia NP

Hike Crescent Meadow

Backpack the High Sierra Trail

Hike the Congress Trail