Nice little pit stop if you need any information and there is also a small gift shop in there.read more

Although small, I found Foothills Visitors Center to be a good initial pitstop before driving…read moredeeper into the Sequoias. There was plenty of parking near the entrance but it fills up quickly after 10AM. There was a small patch of greenery out front along with trash cans and bathrooms. There was free wifi provided. There was a small exhibit indoors sharing some of the wildlife and history of the Sequoias. There was also a section dedicated to significant female figures involved with the national park in light of Women's History Month. There were a few souvenirs for sale, most of them being similar to those found at the Giant Forest Museum. There was also a stamp station for those collecting them for their passports. Good starting station to urinate and wash up before the long drive.

I've never seen a Sequoia tree and we were going to fix that. I absolutely love this national…read morepark. There were so many different hiking trails and great for people of all activity levels. I like meeting all the trees and some were named. It was like a scavenger hunt to see the creative names. The trees are just spectacular. I am definitely coming back and want to hike all the trails. I'm not a camper and while my friends camped, I slept in the car. We spent time at the Sentinal camp grounds and I made my first fire. They were busy during Labor Day.... Please come and create your own adventure.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Sequoia National Park was one of the absolute highlights. The drive into the park is spectacular. Climbing from the valley into the Sierra Nevada, the scenery changes with every curve of the road until suddenly you find yourself surrounded by forests of giant sequoias. It is an unforgettable entrance and sets the stage for everything that follows. We stayed between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and dedicated five full days to exploring both. It was the perfect amount of time because every day brought new trails, new views, and another reason to stop in amazement. Of course, we visited the famous groves, including General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth by volume. Even though these areas are popular, we purposely visited before schools were out for the summer and avoided weekends, so the crowds were very manageable. Even so, my favorite hikes were the quieter ones, where there were fewer people and it felt like I had the forest almost to myself. There is something deeply humbling about standing among these giants. Some of these trees have been alive for more than 2,000 years. They were already ancient long before our country even existed. I found myself slowing down, placing my hand on their massive trunks, sitting quietly, and simply absorbing the peace of the forest. Whether or not trees have energy is up to each person to decide, but I certainly left feeling calmer, smaller, and full of wonder. Beyond the giant sequoias, the park offers spectacular granite cliffs, rushing rivers, alpine meadows, waterfalls, and an incredible variety of wildlife. Every trail seemed to reveal something different, making each hike feel like its own adventure. Sequoia National Park is more than just a place to check off a list. It is a place to slow down, look up, breathe deeply, and remember just how extraordinary nature can be. If you have the time, don't rush through it. Spend several days exploring both Sequoia and neighboring Kings Canyon. The giant trees may be the stars of the park, but the entire landscape is magnificent. This is one of those parks that stays with you long after you leave.

We visited on Jul 4, 2025 ... Happy Independence Day,…read moreAmerica! The General Grant Tree is located in Grant Grove in the Kings Canyon National Park. You will need to enter the gate of Kings Canyon National Park or Sequoia National Park to see it. Once inside either of these National Parks, you can traverse to the other without going through another entry gate. We arrived at the gate to Kings Canyon National Park by 8:38 in the morning. I highly suggest arriving as early as possible to avoid slow-moving traffic and potential line of stopped vehicles on the road with a prolonged wait time at the gate. We stopped in at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center & Grant Grove Village for a potty break and to check out souvenirs and information there. There's also a restaurant here if you need sustenance for your day. If you need Wi-Fi, you can connect here. Otherwise, reception is spotty at best out in the park! There are so many majestic Sequoia Trees to enjoy! This park is home to a famous tree named General Grant. We came to take in its grandeur! This is the second largest tree in the world by volume! By viewing this tree, I've now seen the world's widest-known Sequoia! After viewing this tree, we went over to Sequoia National Park to see the largest tree which is the General Sherman Tree. General Grant Trail is completely paved and is accessible by wheelchair. There is a parking area there as well. There are information signs pointing out things of interest. The signs are in English & Spanish and also include Braille. Things to see while taking the leisurely stroll around the approximately 0.5-mile loop General Grant Trail are - *General Grant Tree: a) named after General Ulysses S. Grant in 1867. b) In 1926, then President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed it the National Christmas Tree. Instead of taking the tree to a Christmas celebration, it is brought to the tree. A wreath is placed at its' base every second Sunday in December during the "Trek to the Tree". c) It was also named a Living Shrine in memory of the men and women of the Armed Forces who fought & died to keep this Nation free ... by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. It's the only living shrine in America! *Centennial Stump - the tree was cut in 1875. Part of it was sent to PA. *Gamlin Cabin - built in 1872 by the Gamlin brothers, who lived there until 1878. This park was established as General Grant National Park in 1890. The cabin was turned into a store and later became the first Park Ranger's quarters. It was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. *Fallen Monarch - The trunk was hollowed by a fire and is on its' side. You are able to walk through it and get a sense of how massive these trees really are! There's a large hole (skylight) at what is now the top. Fun Facts: The Fallen Monarch was once used as a Saloon! It was also used as a stable for the horses of the Cavalry that guarded the park. FYI: Dogs are not allowed on the General Grant Trail. The General Grant Tree was way less busy than the quite congested General Sherman Tree.

The General Grant Tree Trail is a must go place for all visitors to the national park. It is…read morewell-paved, not too incline. you will first see the Fallen Monarch which is a fallen sequoia tree so huge that you can walk thru it like a tunnel, it's very photoworthy. Continue walking and you will see Centennial Stump and Gamlin Cabin (closed for repair), then you come to the General Grant Tree, it's huge and if you walk around the tree, you will see the huge fire scar on the tree trunk. Michigan tree is further down the trail, overall this is an interesting trail, don't miss it when you visit the national park Fun fact: General Grant Tree is world second-largest tree by volume, it is also known as the Nation's Christmas Tree.

This is a must stop if this is the first time traveling through the Owens Valley. Many informative…read moredisplays inside and a cool cross section of the pipes used for the aqueduct. Little gift shop inside and rangers here to answer questions. I usually stop here to use the bathroom but they were out of service two weeks ago. Fortunately, there are plenty of places in town down the street to use the bathroom.

The Eastern Sierra Visitor's Center is a great place to gather information before stopping at…read moreWhitney Portal, Alabama Hills, Big Pine, and Death Valley National Park. They carry detailed maps and souvenirs for purchase, and there are rangers on site who are available to answer any questions that you may have in regards to trails and weather conditions. I stopped here before attempting to hike from Whitney Portal to Lone Pine Lake. The rangers let me know that there would be too much snow and that a snow storm was brewing in Whitney Portal and that they didn't advise anyone to hike there at that time. They encouraged me to explore the Alabama Hills instead which I happily ended up doing. I was very grateful that stopped there first because it would have been scary to get stuck in the snow and/or snow storm up in Whitney Portal. You can also acquire Mount Whitney and hiking permits here. There are restrooms on site but they weren't open at the time that I was there, so they had portable restrooms right outside. There's a few small exhibits that you can check out as well if you have time. The rangers were very helpful and I will definitely stop by again during a different time of the year before heading to Whitney Portal.

I love Visitor Centers but I think this one's focus is more on preserving you over heightening your…read moreexperience on your visit. I gave a friend a hand drawn map to a waterfall. My friend traveled 250 plus miles to see it. The staff here discouraged her from going because it's "dangerous." Next: I ask them about a waterfall near Nelder Grove. The employee tells me she's been there one hundred times. There is no waterfall! The map from the Friends of Nelder Grove website said it existed. I went out there, followed a trail that started next to a creek bed and found the Fall! Unless you want a restaurant recommendation, pass this Center by!

The folks that work here are probably the friendliest greeters I've experienced at a Visitor's…read moreCenter. Their knowledge and tips made our trip to Yosemite more enjoyable, without the hassle of getting lost or wondering what are the most significant views at Yosemite. Definitely, Mariposa Grove sounded like the best to drive, if you have a handicapped placard and other notable sites with waterfalls or majestic views. It's worth stopping into visitor centers to screen out difficult walks or those locations which may not be as worthy, such as the swinging bridge.

Start here! If this…read moreis your first time visiting Mono Lake, this is the place you should start! The visitor center is full of wonderful information about geological, ecology and cultural history of Mono Lake and its surroundings. The Rangers working in the visitor center are extremely friendly and helpful. You can easily spend a couple of hours in there and not even feel the passing of time! The view from the back yard of the visitor center is great. If you step outside with a camera I am sure it will be clicking fast! If you are into hiking or photography, ask the rangers for a map of the area and their recommendations for best photo opportunity spots.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is the go-to spot to learn more about this amazing part of the state…read moreand its unique wildlife and history. I was on an epic trip through the area (stop over at the county park to the north of here for a secluded boardwalk into the lake) in the late summer and made this a destination. The views of the lake from here are outstanding, on a clear day you can see across the entire lake. I love the extensive displays available to learn about the geology, hydrology, geography and life of the lake. Watch out for the giant brine shrimp display, that isn freaked me out. The location is easy to find and the turnoff from the highway is easy to use (can get hairy in this part of the state crossing highways). I loved all the great native plant and stone displays around the center. This allows you to learn about the area even when it is closed. I liked the extensive info on the plantings and the different strategies they have adapted to live here. There are also a few info boards near the parking lot that go over the same stuff as inside. I did not take any hikes form here due to the hill it is on (who want's to walk back up?). Try other trails in the area, such as that near the south shore tufa. The staff are very helpful, answering any esoteric questions you may have to the best of their ability. Very nice gift shop as well, got my Mono Lake postcards here. Minus one star for an off-topic ranger talk, which instead of being about the hydrology of the area was all about climate change and guilt-tripping everyone. I don't need your proselytizing about my behavior if you don't see anything wrong with what I'm doing here at the center, what I need is natural history information to better understand this area. I left 20 mins into the talk after waiting around for an hour for it to start. Boo that! Anytime you would like to know more about Mono Lake, head over to the Basin Visitor Center for an extensive education and mostly friendly staff.

Having never tempted your family from this direction, I stopped at the visitor center in Mariposa…read more So glad I did, Jacob was full of information, knowledge, and tips for both things local and for Yosemite. Got a bunch of brochures which I always love, and save, and got to look at and purchase some cool merch. Bonus: there is an awesome looking escape room right there. Do not miss this stop!!!

READ FOR PRO TIPS!!!…read more DO THE SCAVENGER HUNT! It's super fun (did it with our 9 & 10 year olds). It is normally $15 but you get a $5 discount if you ask for one. PLUS you get a free coupon per participant for ice cream at Happy Burger Diner and the ice cream scoop is HUGE!!! And 10% off your entire meal if you get anything else :) STAFF IS FRIENDLY They will hook you up! :) Enjoy!

Super cool hike. Definitely DO NOT MISS. It was very well designed where there is a section of…read moreuphill rock followed by stairs so you never get super winded. The views at top are nice but the views along the journey are AMAZING. MUST VISIT IN Sequoia national park.

Parking is hard at the trailhead. there are lot of cars parking along the road. there is shuttle…read morebus available but I'm not sure about the frequency. Moro Rock Trail is not a difficult trail with 350 steps up a huge granite dome, some part of the steps are very narrow. There are several tiny spots for people to stop and rest. The view is stunning along the hike.

Visited the General Sherman Tree at Sequoia National Park and overall it was a good experience, but…read morethere are definitely a few things to be aware of. The tree itself is truly impressive and worth seeing at least once--it's amazing to stand in front of something that massive and historic. That said, expect large crowds and long lines, especially during peak times. It can take a while just to get close enough for photos. Parking was also a challenge during our visit. Spots fill up quickly, so you may need to circle around or wait. We started from the top parking lot, and while going down is manageable, the hike back up is pretty exhausting, so be prepared for that. One downside was the restroom condition--they were quite dirty and looked like they hadn't been maintained well that day. Also, just a heads-up: not everyone we encountered was friendly, so patience helps in crowded areas. Despite these issues, it was still a memorable visit. Just plan ahead, bring water, and be ready for a bit of a workout.

The world's largest tree by volume!!! Located in Sequoia National Park. It's breathtaking. The hike…read moredown to the tree was pretty easy. The fog made it even more beautiful. It's estimated to be between 2,200 and 2,700 years old. There's a small fence around it, so unfortunately you're not allowed to go right up to it to compare yourself in size or touch it, which is probably for the best to preserve and protect it.

Donna at Altour is always so helpful! She helped us plan our honeymoon and has sent us countless…read moreideas for more travel plans. I highly recommend Donna to anyone who wants to take the stress out of planning their next trip. I have even called her for help with Passport issues and they were able to answer my questions and point me in the right direction to assure there were no delays. Give Donna a call!