Hi there. It's Ernest from Trip Astute. Today, we will be doing a destination
review on Sequoia National Park.
(light chiming music)
Sequoia National Park is located in Central California, just north east of Bakersfield. The entrance to the park is
located in Three Rivers, California, which is a small and quiet town. There are a
lot of things to see is Sequoia, so let me run down my list of things that I
thought were worth seeing. Keep in mind that I visited the park in March 2017.
Number one: the Giant Forest. This is definitely a must-see if you're going to
Sequoia National Park. The trees here are huge and they have existed thousands of
years. It's truly a humbling experience to hike among them. Number two on my list
is the General Sherman Tree. This is also located in the Giant Forest area. The General
Sherman Tree is the largest living tree in the world, and definitely worth
stopping by to see. It's less than a quarter mile hike from the parking lot
to the tree itself. One thing to keep in mind is that there are a couple of
really large trees in the area, and a lot of folks were actually taking pictures
at the wrong tree. They were at the first tree they saw, but the actual tree is
down the trail. So before you start snapping photos and posing, make sure
you're standing in front of the right tree.
Number three is Moro Rock. This is also a must-see on my list. The rock is
located in the Giant Forest and is a quick 300 to 400 steps up to the top.
One thing to keep in mind though is that there are snow conditions at times. When
we visited Moro Rock, there were portions of the stairs and walkway that were
covered in snow. Most people were able to get through it but it really helped to
have the right gear. In our case, we were carrying Stabilicers, which are basically
snow and ice cleats and you can place on top of your normal shoes or boots. They
definitely helped us get through the snow. Though I did fall one time while
I was filming. Number four on my list are the multiple scenic stops on the way up
to the Giant Forest. As you drive up the mountain from the entrance toward the
Giant Forest, there are several scenic stops along the way. These are a great
place to stop and take photographs, especially if you happen to be driving
around sunset. In terms of lodging, you can stay in the park, but we opted to
stay just outside the entrance. We stayed at the Sequoia Village Inn. These were a
series of cabins owned by the Buckeye Tree Lodge, which is a hotel right across
the street from the Village Inn. Each has their own unique personality and
configuration. In terms of dining, your choices are a bit limited when visiting
Sequoia National Park. Three Rivers has several restaurants, but inside the park,
there's very limited dining facilities. We tried two restaurants in the Three
Rivers area. One was the Gateway Restaurant. This was a restaurant across
street from our hotel. The food was decent and basic. I think I ordered a
burger which was good, but the portion size was a bit larger than I expected
and wanted. The second night there, we went to the Buckaroo Diner. We did a
quick Yelp search and we found the Buckaroo Diner, which was highly
recommended. The food there was phenomenal. In fact, we enjoyed it so much
that we went the next day for brunch. And finally, let me give you some tips on
visiting Sequoia National Park. Number one: make sure to give yourself enough
time when exploring the park. When we first looked at the map, we were shocked
to see how short the distances were between the attractions. It looked like
you could enter the park and be at Moro Rock within a couple of minutes.
However, the drive from the park entrance to Moro Rock and the Giant Forest is
about 45 minutes to an hour. It's a long drive and it's along some very windy and
long roads. Number two: don't assume that you won't encounter snow. We visited the park
two weeks after a major storm had passed through. When I initially looked at the
weather report and Three Rivers, I noticed that the weather was going to be pretty
mild. Luckily, I had packed some snow stuff just in case. I definitely did not
account for the high elevation. The area was covered in snow, and sadly, there were
even folks walking around in shorts. You definitely don't want to be that person!
Number three: get information on road conditions. In many cases you might not
need them, especially if the Rangers have closed down roads that are further down
and deeper in the park. Number four: bring appropriate gear. We brought a pair of
ice cleats which really helped with hiking on the snowy trails, and also
climbing Moro Rock. In fact, I don't know if I would have even tried to go up the
rock if we weren't wearing the right shoes. Keep in mind that you can also
rent gear like snowshoes, skis, and sled at the Lodgepole Visitor Center, which is
a little bit past the Giant Forest area. Number five: eat early. Unfortunately, most
of the restaurants in Three Rivers closed early. Your best bet is to grab
dinner before 8 pm. Number six: pick up some produce on your way out of Three
Rivers. We stopped at one of the orange fruit stands on the drive out and bought
a bag of oranges for only $3. They ended up being some of the most
delicious and sweet oranges that I have ever tasted. The area is filled with
orange trees, so stop by and pick up a bag from one of the local farmers.
Number seven: buy an annual pass. The annual pass to the national parks is a great deal. If
you plan to visit other national parks, it's definitely worth making the
investment. For $80, you get access to a ton of National Parks. The
pass can be associated with two different people, which is useful if you
want to share it with visiting family members or friends. And lastly,
number eight: make sure you pack some snacks. When visiting the park, food is sold at
the Lodgepole Visitor Center, which is just past a Giant Forest.
However, it's a long drive and the choices are quite limited. Also, the
coffee really wasn't that great, if that matters to you. And those are my quick
tips for visiting Sequoia National Park. If you have any other comments or tips,
please leave them below. If you enjoyed the video, please hit the "like" button and
subscribe below. Until next time, travel safe and travel smart.