15 Fun Things to Do in Sequoia National Forest
We didn’t originally plan on writing an article about things to do in Sequoia National Forest. Like many other visitors to the area, our sights were set on Sequoia National Park. But, we chose to camp within Sequoia National Forest because it’s more dog-friendly.
Our plan was to at least spend a few hours in the national park one day. Ha! It turns out we severely underestimated just how far our campsite was going to be from the entrance to Sequoia National Park — 2.5 hours, one way! So, we decided to spend our entire trip exploring Sequoia National Forest!
Though often overlooked by tourists, Sequoia National Forest has so much to offer in the way of outdoor recreation and natural beauty. And, because there are fewer visitors to the national forest, it usually feels less crowded and more low-key. Below, we share what we learned on our trip. Here are our top 15 fun things to do in Sequoia National Forest!
1. Take a dip in a swimming hole
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as taking a dip in a stream of fresh mountain water! Both of the campgrounds we stayed at (Wishon and Belknap) had beautiful swimming holes for public use. Pack a swimsuit and plan to spend some time by the water! We played fetch with the dogs, meditated to the sound of the babbling brook, and sunned on some large river rocks. The water is quite chilly, so we recommend going around midday. Since there is not running water at the campgrounds, swimming can double as a recreational activity and a bathing opportunity for campers.
2. Walk the Trail of 100 Giants
The aptly named Trail of 100 Giants gives visitors the opportunity to walk through Long Meadow Grove and interact with approximately 125 Sequoia Trees that are larger than 10 feet in diameter! The 1.3-mile paved trail is located in Posey, California—which we thought was neat! (That’s our last name)
The magnificent giants along the trail are around 1,500 years old! Long Meadow Grove is also home to around 700 maturing sequoias, which are each less than 10 feet in diameter. The trail is humbling and inspiring. Because it’s in Sequoia National Forest (as opposed to the Sequoia National Park), the Trail of 100 Giants is generally less crowded than many other sequoia groves. We took our time admiring these resilient, life-giving plants.
The Trail of 100 Giants is only open from late May to mid-November, so plan accordingly! There is also a $12 fee per vehicle. That money goes directly back to maintaining the property, which was damaged by the Windy Fire in 2021. Portions of the trail remained closed during our visit in late July 2022.
Another note on the Trail of 100 Giants: our camp host Dan recommended we park at the lot at Redwood Meadow Campground because it can accommodate additional cars when it gets busy. The other campground closes the gate to newcomers if they fill up!
3. Find the Stagg Tree
The fifth largest Sequoia and sixth largest tree in the world—the Stagg Tree—is a low-key alternative to the General Sherman Tree in the national park. Located in Giant Sequoia National Monument, the Stagg Tree is located within Sequoia Crest, a developed neighborhood of mountain cabins nestled in the Alder Creek Sequoia Grove.
There are signs to help visitors find the parking spaces and trailhead to the Stag Tree, be sure to turn left when the trail forks after the construction yard. The hike is a 1-mile round trip and should take you about 30 minutes total. It ends at the base of the Stagg Tree, a giant sequioa that’s held that ground for more than 2,000 years! Hug it, appreciate it, snap a photo of it, and remember to leave no trace!
The Stagg Tree used to have two notable redwood neighbors which were accessible on the same hike: Waterfall (once known as the redwood with the largest ground perimeter) and Window (named for the hole created by lightning high on its trunk). Sadly, they were both killed in the 2020 Castle Fire.
4. Take in the views from Dome Rock
Dome Rock is an iconic landmark in Sequoia National Forest. The dome-shaped granite outcropping rivals Moro Rock, Beetle Rock, and Sunset Rock—all which are within the boundaries of the nearby Sequoia National Park. The view from the top is spectacular and offers a detailed panorama of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Needles (or Devil’s Teeth) rock formation. Be warned: there are no guard rails or barriers before the steep drop, so please be careful when venturing on the top of Dome Rock. Dome Rock is also known for its world-class rock-climbing routes, which are all on the face of the outcropping. Needless to say, do not throw rocks or anything else from the top!
From the road, we didn’t notice a sign but, out of curiosity, we pulled onto a dirt road that we hoped would bring us to the trailhead. We drove along that road (Forest Route 21S70) to an unpaved parking area, though we were able to easily navigate the road with our 2-wheel drive SUV. There are also dispersed camping sites available there on a first-come, first-serve basis which would surely be an unforgettable experience!
From the parking lot, take the short trek to the top (though be ready to climb 400 feet in elevation very quickly). At the top, the elevation is 7,165 feet above sea level. Dome Rock is a granite beast and the brief climb up reminded us of all the times we’ve climbed Georgia’s Stone Mountain. There is an alternate 1.5-mile trail for those who have more time. Dome Rock faces east, so it would be a spectacular place to view sunrise—though it’s a wonderful place to enjoy sunset and stargazing as well. Dome Rock is a quick, but unforgettable must-do in Sequoia National Forest!
5. Climb a fire lookout tower
There are 11 fire lookout towers scattered throughout Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. And they’re all open to the public! So, if you like a little extra adrenaline, go for a hike and then tack on a climb up an old fire lookout tower. The views you’ll get from the top are phenomenal! Among the 11 fire lookout towers, eight are still manned during the summer months. But they still welcome visitors during that time! There are also many different hiking options that will get you to a fire lookout tower. You could choose a hike that is shorter and steeper or one that is longer and gains elevation more gradually.
Each fire lookout tower has its own history as well. For example, the Needles Overlook is the most well-known tower. It’s positioned at the top of one of the famous granite pinnacles, but it burned down in 2011. Apparently, there was a woman who lived up there and baked cookies on weekends for rock climbers. Well, an ember from the chimney landed on the roof and caught the whole thing on fire! Visitors can still hike the staircase that leads to the foundation of the burned tower and take in a spectacular view.
There’s also the Oak Flat Overlook, which has a fire lookout tower that is available to rent out through Recreation.Gov! It’s like a mix between glamping and an Airbnb. It looks incredible, but recent reviews say that it’s been closed due to vandalism. If you’re interested in Oak Flat Overlook, just confirm that it’s open with the US Forest Service at the time you try to book!
6. Go camping!
After making the drive to reach all these cool experiences, driving all the way home (wherever that is for you!) or to a hotel in a “nearby” town would take at least two hours. Sequoia National Forest has so many campgrounds dispersed throughout the forest and they are all dog-friendly. Recruit some friends (and maybe their pups) to go camping!
We really enjoy camping besides sources of running water. Bonus points if there’s a swimming hole! Well, both of our campsites checked those boxes. The three campgrounds along the Tule River are Wishon, Coy Flat, and Belknap. Of the three, we strongly recommend Belknap Campground! It’s situated in a sequoia grove that has several old-growth trees scattered around. At Belknap, campsites 14, 13, 11, and 12 (in that order) are the best spots (considering proximity to the river, seclusion, shade, and views of the giant sequoias).
But, if you stay at Wishon, we recommend campsite 8! We had more space than other campsites, including a spot in a clearing and a spot in the shade by the stream. The spot in the clearing made for fantastic stargazing that night! It’s where we actually saw the Milky Way for the first time! For the Wishon campsite with the most shade, campsite 4 is where you want to be.
Regardless of the campsite you choose, we hope Sequoia National Forest makes you a happy camper!
7. Fill up your bottle with fresh mountain water
“Did you see that white pipe sticking out of the mountain with water coming out?” That was our camp host’s response when we asked him where could find a place to refill our water cube. “It’s clean. They test it. It’s where I’ve been getting my water for 5 years.”
We were briefly skeptical, but we tried it nonetheless. What we experienced was fresh, cold, and free mountain water literally right out of the southern Sierra Nevadas! The spigot can be found along Highway 190 near the 46.5 mile marker and it is as described — a pipe right out of the side of the mountain!
You may run into our new friend Shirley there. She stopped to refill her cup at the same time as us and we chatted for about 20 minutes. She told us she’d been drinking that water for 20 years! It turned out she also has a wealth of knowledge and a penchant for sharing local secrets with strangers …
8. Slide down the Alder Creek Slabs
Alder Creek Falls is a hidden gem with a natural water slide — yet another feature of Sequoia National Forest that reminds us of our home in North Georgia! This time, we thought of “Slippery Rock” at Tallulah Gorge State Park back home. Take this hike along a dirt fire access road for about 30 minutes (0.7 miles one-way) and you’ll emerge at the confluence of Alder Creek and Upper Dry Meadow Creek. The natural water slide there is known as the Alder Creek Slabs!
Be sure to pack plenty of water, sunblock, bug spray, and food so you can enjoy several hours at this incredible natural area! The slide is long and winds around several turns before dropping into a cold pool about 3-feet deep. Always be careful down there and remember to slide at your own risk! Also, be sure to pack everything out so we can all maintain access to this secret spot.
9. Find the Soda Spring at Camp Nelson
The Soda Spring at Camp Nelson offers cold, naturally carbonated water at no cost. It’s a local secret our new friend Shirley shared with us. She said she’s been getting her soda water there for years! We’d never heard of such a thing, so we had to see the spring for ourselves.
We found the spring located off Soda Spring Road near Camp Nelson (GPS coordinates 36.140602, -118.606501). It’s enclosed by a small wooden shelter, which is surrounded by vibrant, pink wildflowers in the summer! You can tell the soda spring has eroded a bit since it was first developed (here is a picture of what the spring used to look like!), but you can still access it to fill up water bottles or watch the bubbles fizz up from the bottom of the main basin.
Natural carbonation is a rare phenomenon that occurs because of geothermal activity hundreds of feet below the surface mixing with carbon dioxide gas. It tastes like soda water you’d buy at a grocery store (maybe a slightly “harder” mineral taste) and comes out of the ground clean and cold. Be sure to stop by and try it! Shirley recommends mixing the soda water with a packet of Crystal Light lemonade on a hot summer day.
Dan, our camp host, told us the spring was a popular spot for people to soak their feet in mineral water, which is why you’ll see benches in the shelter. But don’t worry—the spring is only used for drinking nowadays. Though sitting on one of those benches, enjoying the quiet, and listening to the water bubble could make for a very nice mindfulness session.
10. Soak in the California Hot Springs
Long ago, the California Hot Springs were used by the area’s indigenous inhabitants (the Bokninuwad Yokuts). Today, it’s a resort that offers visitors access to a naturally heated swimming pool and two jaccuzis. It’s $20 per adult for a few hours soaking in the warm mineral water. If you’re looking for some hot water to soothe your muscles after a day of hiking and exploring, this one might be for you!
The California Hot Springs used to be known as Deer Creek Hot Springs. It’s a historical landmark and has drawn people to its healing waters for centuries! Regarded for its health benefits since the times of the Bokninuwad Yokuts, California Hot Springs later was the site of a grand hotel called the Del Vando. That hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1968. The resort has existed in its current form since it was restored in the 1980s!
11. Lie down beneath a giant sequoia
We firmly believe there is a best way to look at a giant sequoia. Save your neck some trouble and lie down on your back at the base of these impressive trees. On your back, you can take in all of the giant sequoia’s majesty without straining your neck. Find a nice spot to lie, or even string up a hammock, beneath a sequoia for a special moment of serenity with nature. At our Belknap campsite, we hung our Eno between two cedar trees and looked up at several 600-year-old Sequoias towering above us. When else can you enjoy such access and solitude with these giant trees?
One note: we recommend bringing a towel to lie down on. The layer of duff (decaying organic material) beneath a sequoia can be very itchy and will stick to your shirt. Loran learned from experience!
12. Visit the Bald Mountain Botanical Area
Bald Mountain is unique among its neighboring peaks, because its “bald top” is made of a different type of rock that has facilitated more diverse species. The difference in its appearance and environment earned Bald Mountain the nickname “Island in the Sky”. It’s also the site of one of the 11 fire lookout towers we mentioned earlier!
So apparently, the different type of rock (metasedimentary) that comprises Bald Mountain formed differently than the Mesozoic granite rock of other peaks. Millions of years ago, a metasedimentary formation was created there when heat and pressure hardened mud, shells, and sand. This created sandstone, white dolomite, and dark slate over an area which was once an ocean floor. Fast forward to present day and erosion has spared only a few of these metasedimentary formations, which have broken down into extremely rich soil for flora to grow in!
When you visit Bald Mountain and walk to its rocky summit, take time to enjoy the diversity of plant species there! Look out for the rare Kern Plateau Horkelia. If you visit between June and October, you can climb the fire lookout tower and see over 1,000 square miles of the Sierra Nevadas!
13. Enjoy a slice of pie at Ponderosa Lodge
The Ponderosa Lodge offers comfortable lodging options within Sequoia National Forest (South). It also has a lovely general store and restaurant, both of which are open to the public and favorites among campers. “The Pondo” has it all: necessities, a chic mercantile, cold beer, running water, and warm food. There even is a friendly Siamese cat, often found snoozing on the shelves of the store.
Live music is scheduled regularly and they offer tasty pies from a local bakery by the slice—try the Pecan Pie Cheesecake! We stopped in to purchase more baby wipes, grab some hard kombuchas, and enjoy a slice of pie! It was a delicious way to end our time adventuring in the Sequoia National Forest! Whether you’re looking to spend some time with some creature comforts or just pop in quickly after a day of exploring, the Ponderosa Lodge should be on your list! The address is 56692 Aspen Dr. Springville, CA 93265.
14. Swim in the Tule River
The Tule River (pronounced TOO-lee) is known for its steep canyon walls, natural swimming holes, and cascading waterfalls. On weekends, people flock to the pull-outs and small parking lots along Highway 190 and make the steep climb down to the river to cool off. We even saw a guy barbecuing with a full-sized propane grill (brought from home) on the side of the road— just feet away from a trailhead!
Apparently, there used to be several spots along the river known for cliff jumping. But, due to increased erosion from recent fires, the river has lost a lot of its depth and is no longer safe for cliff diving. Instead, grab some water shoes and a packed lunch and head down to the river! Popular spots are the Tule River Poza near Highway marker 39.5 and the Lower Coffee Campground Day Use Area.
Note that a sign at the Tule River Poza parking lot warns visitors that the US Forest Service will close this access point if visitors do not care for the land better (specifically as it relates to proper disposal of trash and burial of human waste). Gross, we know, but it’s always important to abide by “Leave No Trace” principles!
Note: if you re-read the word poza a few times, you read it right the first time. Don’t worry, that’s a new word for us, too! As far as we can gather from Google, it’s a word in Spanish that refers to an area of ocean or segment of river.
15. Take a scenic drive on the Western Divide Highway
Western Divide Highway is a scenic route that winds through the heart of Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia National Monument. It runs about 50 miles along the ridgeline that separates the Kern River Watershed from the Tule River Watershed. Along the route, you’ll have impeccable views of the southern Sierra Nevadas and unique granite outcroppings like Dome Rock and the Needles. You’ll also have access to several hiking trails, fishing spots, and—of course—giant sequioa groves. We rode along Highway 190, hugging the Tule River until we hit the Western Divide Highway. From there, we enjoyed delicious views of the ridgeline, the canyon, and all the spectacular landscapes in between. The US Forest Service provides additional ideas for recreation along the Western Divide Highway.
Conclusion: Things to Do in Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is an outdoor playground with no shortage of things to do, especially for those looking for outdoor adventure! Even as we wrote up this blog, we were already wishing we could go back to Sequoia National Forest to do more.
Remember, you don’t have to be in a national park to have a life-changing experience out in nature. You just need to be curious, have an open mind, and observe what’s around you! Sequoia National Forest is a perfect place for that sort of attitude. We hope this list of things to do in Sequoia National Forest serves you well. Happy Trails!
