SEQUOIA PARKS CONSERVANCY
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Support SPC
    • Give Monthly
    • Become a Friend
    • Support a Program
    • Tribute Gift
    • Planned Giving
    • Other Ways to Give
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Supporters
  • Sequoia Journeys
    • Dark Sky Festival
    • Crystal Cave - Closed
    • Pear Lake Winter Hut-Closed
  • WebCam
  • Free Wallpaper
  • Running Wild to Whitney
  • Connect
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Support SPC
    • Give Monthly
    • Become a Friend
    • Support a Program
    • Tribute Gift
    • Planned Giving
    • Other Ways to Give
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Supporters
  • Sequoia Journeys
    • Dark Sky Festival
    • Crystal Cave - Closed
    • Pear Lake Winter Hut-Closed
  • WebCam
  • Free Wallpaper
  • Running Wild to Whitney
  • Connect

Week of Trails: Trail 7 Hazelwood Nature Trail

6/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The Sequoia Parks Conservancy provides increased accessibility on park trails and infrastructure. This one mile loop is now ADA accessible which allows virtually all park visitors to experience this trail with views of beautiful meadows and giant sequoia groves. This nature loop is a easy and pleasant trail that brings you through a beautiful grove in the Giant Forest. 

Distance: 1 mile loop
Hiking time: 30 minutes ​

Park in the Giant Forest Museum parking area. From the museum pass the trail center and take the path to the right. As you continue along the trail you will walk through a fallen sequoia tree. 



Picture
Picture
Stay right at the next junction, beginning a counterclockwise loop. Along the way you will see informative trail-side exhibits that describe what you see. As you come to another junction bear left to stay on the loop. 
You will then head downhill and cross a wooden bridge over Little Deer Creek and come to another junction. Stay to the left completing the loop. Take the right to return to the museum. 
The Sequoia Parks Conservancy provides increased accessibility on park trails and infrastructure. 
 Other trail and access projects include:
  • Bubbs Creek Switchback Improvements
  • Zumwalt Meadow Boardwalk
  • Muir Rock Universal Access Trail
  • Tokopah Trail Improvements
To make a donation to the Sequoia Parks Conservancy Trails & Access fund visit https://app.mobilecause.com/form/kOmzOQ. 
0 Comments

Week of Trails: Trail 6 Bear Hill

6/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
During the 1920s and 1930s, this hill was a garbage dump site. Black bears would come to this site to feast on the trash and in the 1940s it was closed due to bear and human conflicts. This hike will take you past Bear Hill and beautiful giant sequoias.  
​
Distance: 4 miles round trip
Hiking time: 2 hours
​Park in the Giant Forest Museum parking lot. Walk .1 mile up Crescent Meadow Road and turn left at the Bear Hill Trail sign. You will head up the hillside and pass beautiful plants and maybe see an animal or two. 
​At .5 miles you will reach a knoll and junction at the base of Bear Hill. Bear right to continue on the Bear Hill Trail. At 1.5 miles you will reach another knoll and descend to Crescent Meadow road. Continue on the road and wind up the hillside to the end of the trail at Roosevelt Tree. 
Visitor video of Roosevelt Tree
From there you can take the right fork to Moro Rock, the left fork to the Soldiers Trail or head back the way you came. All three trails will return you to the museum. 
0 Comments

Week of Trails: Trail 5 Grant Tree Trail

6/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​This loop takes you through a beautiful grove of sequoia and features the General Grant Tree, also known as the Nation's Christmas Tree. 

Distance: 1-mile loop
Hiking time: 30 minutes
​
​Park in the Grant Tree parking lot. From the trailhead, follow the right fork past the Robert E. Lee tree to the Fallen Monarch. This hollow giant sequoia was once used to house people and to stable horses. ​
Picture
Picture
Continue on the trail to a loop circling the General Grant Tree. Follow the loop to see a 360-degree view of this magnificent tee. From there continue up to the Gamlin Cabin. In 1890, this cabin was used by the U.S. Calvary. You may get the chance to see history come alive when visiting this cabin. The Sequoia Field Institute puts on programs throughout the summer at this location. For the program calendar visit: exploresequoiakingscanyon.com. 
Picture
Picture
The route back to the parking area will take you past the Centennial Stump, Oregon, and Lincoln Trees. 
Picture
Picture
To learn more about the General Grant Tree visit www.nps.gov. ​​
0 Comments

Week of Trails: Trail 4 Moro Rock

5/31/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The climb up Moro Rock always offers a dramatic view. Throughout the seasons the natural environment changes and the view can be different each time you visit. 

Distance: 0.6 miles round trip
Hiking time: 40 minutes 

As you enter Sequoia National Park you will see Moro Rock looming overhead above the highway. Park in the Moro Rock parking lot. As you begin to ascend the 350 steps to the summit of this granite dome you will quickly see dramatic views. 

There are handrails along the way and plenty of areas to stop and rest. The hike can be strenuous so be sure to take your time as you climb. 

Views along the way: 
Picture
Picture
Once at the top you will feel as if you are on top of the world. Take your time at the top and when ready, head back down the way you came. ​
Picture
0 Comments

Week of Trails: Trail 3 Middle Fork Kaweah Falls

5/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
At the end of this hike, you will see a 20-foot high cascade on the Middle Fork Kaweah River. At the base of the falls is a large pool surrounded by beautiful, polished rock formations. 

Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
Hiking time: 1 hours
Picture
Park in the Hospital Rock parking lot and hike towards Buckeye Campground, unless you are already camping there.

Along the way you will see a diverse display of nature. A few examples of what you can expect to see are butterfly, manzanita, buckeye, yucca, and Castle Rocks.


Picture
Once you reach the campground look for site 28. At campsite 28 you will see a signed trail on the left. Follow that path and you will quickly see the river. Cross a footbridge and bear left heading upstream past pools and boulders. A short distance from the bridge you will come to Kaweah Falls. ​
The rivers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are swift and dangerous. Always use caution when near the river. 
0 Comments

Week of Trails: Trail 2 Viola Falls

5/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Along this trail you will pass Hitchcock Meadow, a small scenic meadow surrounded by giant sequoia stumps. You will also pass Sequoia Creek along the way.
​
Distance: 3.5 miles round trip
Hiking time: 1.5 hours
Park in the Big Stump Picnic Area near the Kings Canyon entrance. Start at the trailhead on the west side of the parking lot where you will see a sign for Hitchcock Meadow Trail. You will quickly enter the forest and descend gradually to the valley floor.

At 1.2 miles you will pass a junction with the Sequoia Boundary Trail. Take the left fork. You will then cross Sequoia Creek on a bridge and then a tributary stream.
Spotted near the stream was a dragonfly depositing eggs into the water (see video to the right). After two dragonflies mate, the female dragonfly will lay her eggs on a plant in the water, or if she can’t find a suitable plant she will just drop them into the water. 

You may also spot beautiful wildflowers.

Interesting fact: Foxglove (light purple bell-shaped flower to the right) is on the list of the most invasive non-native plants for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Efforts to eradicate this non-native plant from Sequoia and Kings Canyon began in 1999.
​
Just past the stream you will pass another junction. Bear left, following Sequoia Creek downstream 0.1 mile to the granite pools of Viola Falls.
 
After enjoying the scenery at Viola Falls, return by retracing your steps. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Week of Trails: Trail 1 Crescent and Log Meadows

5/28/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
This hike takes you past a meadow that John Muir described as a gem of the Sierra. This is a fantastic hike for those looking to spot wildlife. 

Distance: 1.7-mile loop
Hiking time: 1 hour 

​Park in the Crescent Meadow parking area. As you begin this jaunt you will see the trailhead sign. Head right to follow the loop counterclockwise. You will cross over 2 wooden footbridges then take the fork to the left. As you pass the footbridges stop to see if you can find any ladybugs. 


Continue on the paved path through the forest. As you pass log meadow you may see a bear or deer. 

At .8 miles you will reach Tharp's log which is a fire-hollowed Sequoia tree turned into a cabin. From there you will ascend the low ridge that separates Crescent and Log Meadows. Next, you will come across Chimney Tree. Continue along the trail and you will reach a picnic area and the trailhead at 1.7 miles. ​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
By Flickr user sjorford (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjorford/2938703798/) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
0 Comments

    Archives

    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    Events
    Outdoors
    Reatil
    Sequoia Field Institute
    Supporter Spotlight
    Week Of Trails
    Wildlife

    RSS Feed


ABOUT
THE MERGER
MISSION
STAFF
​BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EMPLOYMENT
​ANNUAL REPORTS

E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
PRIVACY
Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (National Park Service) and Lake Kaweah (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), uses tax-deductible contributions to support these parks. ​
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Sequoia Parks Conservancy
47050 Generals Hwy Unit 10
​Three Rivers, CA 93271
Picture

Copyright © 2017 - 2021 Sequoia Parks Conservancy