Top 5 Best Hikes in Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park

May 5
6 min read

Updated: May 6

Sunset at Moro Rock Trail, Sequoia National Park

1) Congress Trail / General Sherman Tree:

Location: Sequoia National Park (Very close to Moro Rock Trail)

Difficulty / Length: Easy 2.9 miles set 1hr21min(Per AllTrails)

Best Time To Hike: Anytime. No particular need to be there for sunrise or sunset. Be mindful of visibility. We thought we would not be able to see the top of General Sherman due to the fog, but it thankfully cleared before we left, and we could appreciate the size of this massive tree.

Why it’s a top pick: There will likely be tons of crowds at the General Sherman Tree Trail, which makes sense since it is an easy paved 1.1-mile loop to see the biggest tree on earth. It was enjoyable, casually strolling by massive sequoia trees, specifically the largest tree on earth. However, the Congress Trail allows you to appreciate the massive sequoia trees in a more natural habitat with way fewer crowds. Out of all the hikes we did that involved views of the sequoia trees (General Grant, General Sherman, and Muir Trails), Congress Trail was by far our favorite. This is a MUST-DO hike when visiting Sequoia National Park.

Additional Notes: Parking can be difficult since you are in the same area as the General Sherman Tree trail. To avoid crowds, plan for an earlier morning hike or not visiting on the weekends. Don’t be discouraged if you have difficulty with parking, it’ll be worth the mental challenge of finding a parking spot… plus you’ll leave the crowds behind once you enter Congress Trail!

2) Moro Rock Trail:

Location: Sequoia National Park (Very close to General Sherman Tree / Congress Trail)

Difficulty / Length: 0.5 miles, easy (Per AllTrails) (Time varies on how long you want to enjoy the breathtaking sunset)

Best Time To Hike: Sunrise or Sunset. You can’t go wrong with either one but visiting during dawn or dusk is a must to be able to appreciate the true beauty it has to offer.

Why it’s a top pick: The views at sunset were breathtaking. It wasn’t a terribly difficult hike, and it was nice to be able to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy at sunset. It's also just super cool to hike through a massive rock formation. The stair formations reminded me of the Pico to Pico hike in Madeira and a little bit like the Angel’s Landing Hike in Zion National Park:

Additional Notes: Weather is a key factor in order to be able to truly appreciate this hike. Make sure you plan to go on a clear day, and definitely not during the possible concern of a thunderstorm. Moro Rock is a common location for lightning strikes.

3) Emerald Lake via Lakes and Watchtower Trail

Drive to Lakes and Watchtower Trail, Sequoia NP

Location: Sequoia National Park (Near General Sherman Tree / Lodgepole Visitor Center)

Difficulty / Length: Hard 10.3 miles west hr 40min(Per AllTrails)

Best Time To Hike: Early morning because it is going to be a long day of hiking!

Why it’s a top pick: This trail is one of the highest-reviewed trails in Sequoia National Park on AllTrails. It offers a longer, more challenging hike compared to the shorter, paved, more crowded trails that are the main stars of the show in Sequoia. This trail offers views of forest, valley, mountains, and a lake. You really get it all with this hike.

Additional Notes: Make sure to read the reviews and details shared about this trail on AllTrails. If looking to mix it up from the main Sequoia trails, but don’t want to hike 10.3 miles, consider the Eagle Lake Trail, which is 6.8miles.

4) Panoramic ViewPoint:

Location: Kings Canyon National Park

Difficulty / Length: 0.5 miles Easy (Per AllTrails) (add an extra 4mi if the road is closed to get to Panoramic Point)

Best Time To Hike: Anytime. Sunrise would be a pretty time to visit, but the views during the day are equally beautiful.

Why it’s a top pick: Beautiful view, a short walk from a picnic area. It was less crowded than the popular trails like General Grant, General Sherman, and Big Stump.

Additional Notes: Check to make sure the road is open to have a short hike up to the panoramic point. Otherwise, you’ll be walking an extra 2 miles up and down the paved road before you even get to the viewpoint. Feel free to check with the park rangers at the visitor center for their expert guidance.

5) Marble Falls Trail

Location: Southern part of Sequoia National Park

Difficulty / Length: 4.6 Moderate set 3hr23min (Per AllTrails)

Best Time To Hike: Morning, when it is cooler. Wearing long pants and long sleeves is important for this hike because most of the trail is narrow, which makes it common for the brush to rub against you. (Concern for ticks and poison oak, which is why wearing clothing that covers you is important). Don’t worry, the waterfall makes it worth it.

Why it’s a top pick: This is not one of the top-most visited trails in the park, which is ultimately why I listed it as a top pick. It is very different than the other hikes offered in both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. This hike offers wildflowers and a view of the rolling hills before you can enjoy the magnificent waterfall. Other hikers are far and few between, which is a nice change after visiting places like General Grant and General Sherman Tree Trails.

Additional Notes: This is a true nature immersive hike which may not be appealing to some. I recommend looking at the trail on AllTrails and reading some of the reviews. You’ll likely encounter some wildlife on your hike and definitely feel like you are walking in nature. As mentioned before long pants and long-sleeve shirts are highly recommended. Freshening up your knowledge of poisonous plants would be helpful as well. The first part of the hike, I was regretting choosing it but the second half of the hike completely changed my mind. Definitely worth it. Bring a snack to enjoy on the rocks by the waterfall.

Other Noteworthy Trails:

General Grant Trail:

Location: Kings Canyon National Park (near azalea campground / big stump loop trail, and panoramic point).
Difficulty / Length: 0.7mi Easy set 14 min (Per AllTrails)
Additional Notes: This is also considered a must-do hike. While General Sherman Tree wins as the biggest volume tree on earth, General Grant Tree wins for the greatest width for Sequoia World Records. Limited parking is available, so plan to arrive early. Alternatively, if staying at Azalea Campground, you can walk to the trail, adding roughly an extra mile total to get to the hike. General Grant Tree holds the Sequoia world records for the largest width, worth a visit!

Big Stump Loop Trail:
Location: Kings Canyon National Park (Near Azalea Campground / General Grant Trail and Panoramic Point)
Difficulty / Length: Easy 1.7mile set 41min (Per AllTrails)
Additional Notes: You get to walk past all these massive stumps, as it’s described in the name of the trail. You can climb up the stairs of one of the big stumps of the Sequoia tree on this trail.

Muir Grove Trail:
Location: Sequoia National Park, 45 minutes south of General Grant Trail, about 15 minutes from General Sherman Trail.
Difficulty / Length: 4.2 miles, moderate, eat 1hr43min (Per AllTrails)
Additional Notes: It is in a good location to break up the drive from the more northern hikes in Kings Canyon to the more central hikes of Sequoia National Park.

Mist Falls:
Location: Kings Canyon National Park - located much deeper into the northern part of this park. It is about an hour and 15 minutes from the Grove Visitor Center.
Difficulty / Length: 7.8miles, moderate set 3hr8min (Per AllTrails)
Additional Notes: Prior to my trip, I had already saved this hike in my AllTrails because it was a highly ranked hike in Kings Canyon National Park. I purchased this cool magnet from the Grove Visitors Center. When I asked one of the park rangers where I needed to hike to see the views of my magnet, he told me Mist Falls.

Eagle Lake:
Location: Sequoia National Park
Difficulty / Length: 6.8 mi est 4hr 18 min (Per All Trails)
Additional Notes: This hike is a great alternative to the 10.3mile Emerald Lake Trail. It offers a relaxing lake to have a snack at before you head back on this out-and-back trail.