Packing for Adventure – Pack Light. Travel Far.

Kings Canyon National Park Basics

March 17, 2026

After Joshua Tree and Sequoia National Park, we were now on our way to the third (out of four) national parks visited on this trip. We stayed here for 2 nights before making our way to Yosemite National Park.

Things to Know:

Roads

Roads can be steep, winding, and narrow – especially in the canyon. Not the best for hauling a trailer, so make sure you have a place to park the trailer before heading out to explore.

Limited Cell Service

Cell service is spotty at best, or nonexistent. Download offline maps or carry a physical map.

Weather

Summer can be hot in the canyon floor and cooler in the higher elevations. Winter brings snow, so check conditions if visiting in winter or early spring.

Where We Stayed:

Sequoia RV Park | 35671 E Kings Canyon Rd, Dunlap, CA 93621

The confirmation details we received when booking were very thorough and welcoming, including the range of site numbers we could choose from, the WiFi password, shower code, and a phone number for the managers if we had questions. Because of that, I expected a great stay.

When we arrived, however, no one was in the office even though guests are supposed to check in. We followed the self check-in instructions, chose a site, and texted the managers with the site number along with a couple questions: whether there was a printer we could use and where the showers were located.

The response we received didn’t answer either question—it simply said “no need for paperwork” and repeated the WiFi password. I clarified that we needed a printer to print our Half Dome hiking permit (instructions said to make sure to have a paper copy, but they don’t email it to you until a few days before you need it, so we couldn’t print it at home). We never received a response, and our question about the showers also went unanswered.

We eventually found showers in the building near the office, but there was no keypad for the code mentioned in the instructions, so I wondered if I was using the site manager’s private shower?

Overall the campground felt a bit run-down, with uneven sites, spotty WiFi, and a “pond” that looked more like stagnant green water. The main positives were its proximity to Kings Canyon National Park and the fact that the shower water was hot.

Where We Ate:

We, again, mostly ate from our trailer for this part of the roadtrip. But we did eat out at one restaurant close to our trailer.

Gena’s Sierra Inn: Family Restaurant | 37692 E Kings Canyon Rd, Dunlap, CA 93621

I got the Weekend Warrior Burger with sweet potato fries, which came with an aioli sauce. The burger was good. I prefer crispier sweet potato fries, but Chris (who normally doesn’t even like sweet potato fries) thought they were great and loved the aioli.

Chris also loved his Chicken Fried Steak and said the green beans were the best he’s ever had. We shared the Caramel Brandy Bread Pudding. It was good, though we wished it had been a little more moist.

The service was great, the music created a nice atmosphere, and it’s conveniently located right on the way out of Kings Canyon National Park!

Up Next

Next I’ll give a rundown of the world’s 10 largest Sequoia Trees, some located right inside Kings Canyon National Park!

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3 Best Short Training Hikes in Northern Utah (For Big Adventures Like the Grand Canyon)

March 15, 2026

Summer is approaching, which means it’s time to switch gears from skiing in the mountains to hiking in the mountains, my favorite time of year!

If you have a big hike you are preparing for and you live in Utah, then this post is for you.

Over the years I’ve trained for several big hikes: Machu Picchu, Angel’s Landing, Half Dome, and the Grand Canyon. In more recent years, training for them has gotten tricky since we have the two kiddos at home. If possible, I try to spare the babysitters (our parents) from watching the kids for extended training hikes.

I found in preparing for the Grand Canyon that I was able to suitably train my body for the intensive experience with some pretty short hikes! Doing multiple short but steep hikes can whip your body into hiking shape just as well as doing 1-2 long hikes, and without disappearing for a whole day at a time.

Here are my top 3 short training hikes in Northern Utah.

And by short, I do not mean easy.

1. Malans Peak (Ogden)

The trail is about 5 miles round trip with roughly 2,100 feet of elevation gain, which means you’re basically climbing straight up the mountain most of the time.

It took us just under 3 hours, and since my parents had committed to watching the kids for 5-6 hours, we were able to go see a movie afterwards!

If you want a hike that absolutely destroys your legs and lungs in a short distance, this is the one.

Trailhead:
29th Street Trailhead
29th St & Buchanan Ave
Ogden, UT

The reward at the top is an incredible view over Ogden and the Great Salt Lake.

This hike is perfect for building climbing strength without committing to a long day.

2. Morgan “M” (Morgan)

The Morgan “M” trail is short, steep, and incredibly effective as a training hike.

The hike is only about 1.3–1.5 miles round trip (to the flagpole by the “M” and back) but gains around 800 feet of elevation. It usually takes me about 45 minutes.

In other words, it’s basically a straight-up grind.

I’ve only ever done this trail super early in the morning before the sun comes up, which is to my advantage, because if I could actually see the steepness of the trail by the light of day, I’d maybe not make the ascent!

Trailhead:
Park in the South Morgan Cemetery by the gate
335 S State St, Morgan, UT 84050

One important note: this trail is private property. When people abuse the trail or ignore the rules, the landowners sometimes lock the gate and close access, so behave yourself if you go.

3. Adams Cabin (Layton) – First Mile

This trail shares the same trailhead as the very popular Adam’s Canyon Waterfall trail, but it goes in a different direction.

The first time I did this trail was with Chris when we were training for the Grand Canyon, but we had a hard time finding the right trail. That’s because it is not well-marked, and let’s just say not many people seem eager to climb it. This trail is for crazy people.

The first half mile follows the Adams Canyon trail like normal. When you reach the Bonneville Shoreline Trail junction, the sign will direct you left for the shoreline trail and right toward the waterfall.

We just knew we weren’t going to the waterfall, so we turned left and strolled along the Bonneville Shoreline trail for a good 1/3 mile before realizing we should probably turn around.

So we made our way back to the junction and realized that neither direction is the Adams Cabin trail.

Instead, at the junction, look straight up the mountain. That’s the route. I told you – this trail is for crazy people!

I hear the reward at the end of this trail is an actual cabin that George Adams himself used back in the late 1800’s. I guess backpackers sometimes stay there to rest. There are no amenities or anything, just a quiet spot.

The full hike to Adams Cabin is about 5.4 miles round trip with roughly 2,877 feet of elevation gain.

I’ve never actually gone all the way to the cabin because the hike can take 5–6 hours and is extremely steep. I would like to make it there one day.

Instead, I usually hike just over the first mile, which is brutal enough. That makes it a little over 2 miles round trip with about 1,145 feet of elevation gain.

It usually takes me around 1.5 hours, including time to enjoy the view over Layton from a beautiful and serene clearing surrounded by massive boulders.

Trailhead:
2000 E Eastside Drive
Layton, UT 84040

If You Want a Longer Training Hike

If you’re ready to step things up, my favorite longer training hike is Ben Lomond Peak from North Ogden Divide.

This route is about 18 miles RT (it is said to be ~15 miles RT, but both my All Trails app and my Fitbit clocked it at 18) with roughly 3,600 feet of elevation gain.

Trailhead:
North Ogden Divide Trailhead
North Ogden Divide Road
North Ogden, UT

This is an excellent training hike because it’s long enough to simulate the endurance needed for bigger adventures like the Grand Canyon.

There are shorter trails to Ben Lomond, but this is an endurance exercise. Fair warning though , you can see the parking lot from miles away, which gets discouraging when you’re tired and just wish you were at the car already.

The Famous One I Haven’t Done

A lot of people recommend hiking Mount Timpanogos as training, but I’ve actually never done it.

Mostly because it’s pretty far from where I live. Chris has done it though, and he has the unpopular opinion that the view at the top isn’t worth the effort.

For reference, the main routes up Mount Timpanogos are about 14–15 miles round trip with roughly 4,400–5,000 feet of elevation gain, making it one of the most strenuous day hikes in Utah.

Trailhead (Aspen Grove Route):
Aspen Grove Trailhead near Sundance Resort
American Fork Canyon, Utah County

Final Thoughts

Training for big hikes doesn’t have to mean spending all day in the mountains.

If you have limited time (or small kids at home like I do), short hikes with steep elevation gain can prepare your body surprisingly well.

In my experience, a few weeks of grinding up trails like Malans Peak, the Morgan M, and Adams Cabin can build enough strength and endurance to handle much bigger adventures.

And to be fair, sometimes the short hikes hurt the most.

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Planes Trains and Automobiles to the Heart of Pizza

March 13, 2026

Daily writing prompt
You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?
View all responses

When it comes to a cross-country trip, we’re apparently equal-opportunity travelers. During our Pizza Crawl adventure across the United States, we ended up using just about every mode of transportation imaginable—plane, train, car, and even bus.

We flew between major cities to cover long distances, rented cars or used Uber in Chicago and Detroit, grabbed a train from NYC to New Haven and back, and even used the buses to get around New Haven. I guess it takes a village of transportation options to maximize travel!

One form of transportation I don’t use often is the bike. I’m not necessarily opposed to it. I’m just a stronger hiker than a cyclist. Any place where biking might have made sense, we usually just walked instead. Exploring cities on foot let us enjoy the little details we would have missed if we were moving faster.

So while bikes didn’t make the official transportation list for our Pizza Crawl, our feet definitely logged plenty of miles. And in my opinion, walking is still one of the best ways to truly experience a place—especially when there’s great pizza waiting at the next stop.

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Sequoia National Park in a Day (and limited hiking)

March 10, 2026
If you only have one day in Sequoia National Park and want to keep hiking to around six miles or less, you can still see some of the park’s best highlights. Here’s a simple plan that works well.

Tokopah Falls (3.4–5 miles round trip)

This was my favorite spot in the park and is definitely underrated. The trail follows a beautiful river through a granite valley before ending at a really fun interactive waterfall.

The distance depends on whether construction blocks the parking near the trailhead, but even with extra walking it’s absolutely worth it.

Big Trees Trail (About 1–1.5 miles)

This easy loop around a scenic meadow is one of the best places to see giant sequoias without much effort. There are also signs along the trail explaining how sequoias thrive in this environment.

Parking can be a little confusing. There’s accessible parking right next to the trail, but most visitors park near the Giant Forest Museum and walk over.

General Sherman Tree (1.2 miles)

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree on Earth by volume and incredibly impressive in person.

The hike down is easy, but the return climb is steep. It’s short though, and definitely worth doing. There’s usually a line for photos so everyone can get a picture without strangers in it.

Optionally Add the Congress Trail to the General Sherman Visit

If you want to add a little extra hiking, the Congress Trail passes several famous sequoias and is a nice extension from the General Sherman area.

However, if you plan to hike the Trail of the Sequoias (long but easy and awe-inspiring), you can skip it since you’ll see many of the same trees.

A Quick Note on Parking

Sequoia has a strong focus on accessibility, which is great, but it can make parking confusing. Some attractions have closer accessible parking while general parking requires a longer walk.

The Simple One-Day Plan

For a great day in Sequoia with limited hiking:
- Tokopah Falls
- Big Trees Trail
- General Sherman Tree
- Optional: Congress Trail
This combination gives you waterfalls, giant sequoias, and beautiful scenery without needing to hike long distances.

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Ti Amo | 40 Slices of Pizza: Slice #5

March 8, 2026

Chris turned 40 at the end of 2025, and I wanted to do something special without throwing a big party that he wouldn’t appreciate. So I gave him what I knew he’d appreciate the most: 40 slices of pizza!

Our fifth stop was: Ti Amo Wood Fired Pizza
515 W 2600 S, Bountiful, UT 84010

As far as pizza category goes, this place is more authentic Italian-style, but having had pizza in Italy, I can confirm this pizza is more flavorful. The crust was thin and light with an unmistakable wood-fired flavor. The crust was super floppy, but since it’s not trying to be New York–style, that felt fair. I did find myself wishing for a little more crisp on the bottom for structure.

We started with the focaccia, which was pretty impressive overall, though I wasn’t a fan of the crust. It was the same as the crust on the pizza – it just needs the cheese and sauce and toppings to give it some good flavor. The crust had the same somewhat funny smell that circulated the whole restaurant.

Focaccia bread – beautifully presented and delicious!

We had the kids share a regular cheese pizza as that was cheaper than getting two kids pizzas, and it made them both happy. No complaints from the little critics.

Cheese pizza for the kids – cheaper than getting them individual kids pizzas

I ordered the plain pepperoni. It was greasy and delicious in the best possible way. It reminded me a bit of Chris’s pizza. My first bite brought one word to mind – incredible! I love when the oil pools just right. The sauce was especially good.

Perfectly greasy pepperoni pizza

Chris went with salami, olives, and mushrooms and he quite enjoyed it. The pizza itself was very light. We ended up eating every bite of the three pizzas we shared – partly because it was so airy, and partly because we could tell immediately this wasn’t going to be good as leftovers. This is the kind of pizza you must enjoy fresh and hot from the oven.

Salami, mushroom, and black olive pizza

Chris rated his pizza a 7.8!

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My Lifelong Love for Seinfeld

March 6, 2026

Daily writing prompt
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
View all responses

Um… yeah. Seinfeld of course. That show feels like an old friend.

I grew up with it. We looked forward to every Thursday night new episode. I remember the collective anticipation across the nation to see the series finale. I remember how disappointed we all were in how bad the final episode sucked. Even after new episodes were a thing of the past, it was still on twice a day in syndication, and somehow no matter how many times I’d already seen an episode, I’d still sit down and watch it again.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve seen each episode, but most likely much more than 5 times! Season 5 is definitely my favorite, the absolute peak. “The Marine Biologist” might be one of the greatest sitcom episodes ever written. George’s dramatic monologue about the whale is perfection itself. And the bakery episode with the black and white cookie has so many good lines I still say to this day. My favorite episode from later in the series is definitely “Serenity Now,” which is somehow both ridiculous and deeply relatable depending on the day.

Of course I own the collector’s DVD set, and I joke that Seinfeld partially raised me (my mom has never appreciated that) because it was on so much in my house. The dry humor and absurdity of the situations is baked into my personality at this point.

I don’t usually get overly emotional about celebrity deaths. But I have a feeling the day Jerry Seinfeld goes, it’s going to hit different. Some shows are just entertainment and a once-over of each episode is sufficient. Seinfeld feels like a time capsule of my childhood, and I’ll never pass up a chance to revisit.

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Kings Canyon Detour to Sequoias

March 3, 2026

The things I’m about to detail are what we visited on the Sequoia side of the parks, but we got there from our campsite on the Kings Canyon side. This is out of order of how we actually did this trip, but want to close out my Sequoia thoughts before moving on to our visit to Kings Canyon.

There was really only one thing we wanted to do in Sequoia National Park that we didn’t have the time to do while we were camping on the Sequoia side, and that was hiking to Tokopah Falls. Based on the reviews on Google Maps and conversations with park rangers, I definitely wanted to see it. It is about a 50 minute drive from the Kings Canyon entrance.

Let me tell you, the hike to Tokopah Falls was STUNNING from START TO FINISH. Some hikes you do because there’s a beautiful destination, and some you do for the beautiful journey. This hike has both. It’s a perfect hike- beautiful throughout, not too long, not too short, not too easy, not too hard, fun rocks to climb on and explore, a flowing river, and a beautiful waterfall!

I was told by a park ranger that the hike was not worth it if the water wasn’t flowing, and since we were there in September, historically speaking the water had dried up by then. However, we went in 2023 and the previous winter had record snowfalls, so we were lucky that the waterfall was flowing beautifully. But based on my experience, I think it would be worth it even without the waterfall.

Me enjoying Tokopah Falls

I literally spent the entire hike scheming to myself ways to make traveling and living in nature a full-time gig. I still haven’t figured that out!

Super fun trail – I love climbing on rocks!

The pictures just do not do it justice.

Every step toward Tokopah Falls was beautiful

Near the Tokopah Falls Trailhead

The other Sequoia trail we did on a Kings Canyon day was a revisit to the Big Trees Trail. I had done this loop on my own already, but I was so in awe of it that I had Chris do it with me before moving on to Yosemite National Park. This time, we hadn’t already hiked 10+ miles that day, so our legs could handle the 1.5 miles trail from parking at the Giant Forest Museum, which is about a 15-minute drive from the Tokopah Falls Trailhead. This trail is in a beautiful meadow, and, as the name of the trail suggests, has plenty of big trees to stand in awe at.

Big Trees Trail

In my next post about following the Road to the Half Dome, I will tell you how to maximize a short visit to Sequoia National Park with less than 6 miles of hiking!

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The Secret Hiking Test

March 1, 2026

Chris and I met online, back when that was still weird, and right before Tinder became a huge thing. When people would ask us how we met, you’d see the change in their face as they’d say “Oh…” when you know what they’re really thinking was “oh so you couldn’t find a match the real way…” Our shared interest was hiking. He suggested a hike for our first date, and I was less than enthused about meeting a stranger in a secluded mountain. When he kept suggesting a hike, I almost cancelled altogether!

Instead he suggested we meet at Lee’s Mongolian in Ogden, Utah. A dinner here involves building your bowl and watching it cook on the giant grill. We sat down with our food and then talked so much our food got cold before we could pay it much attention. We talked until the restaurant emptied out and we were the last to leave. We arrived as strangers and left as friends. I knew on my drive home that Chris was going to be someone special.

Our second date was a movie (The Dark Knight Rises), so it wasn’t until our third date that we actually went on a hike together.

Chris asked if I wanted an easy hike or a harder hike with a great view. Obviously, I chose the harder hike with the great view. Why bother going on a hike that doesn’t have a view at the end?

He took me up the Lewis Peak trail to the overlook above Huntsville, Eden, and Liberty. We talked the entire way up, and the entire way down.

Dinner afterward was at Ogden Pizzeria, and that night we shared our first kiss (sorry for TMI haha).

It wasn’t until much much later that I found out Chris had been secretly testing me that night!

Apparently, he’d been unimpressed with the caliber of girls he’d met online so far, so he mechanized a series of tests to determine if the girl was worth future attention. One girl in particular had claimed to be an “avid hiker” but apparently struggled on what he had suggested to me as the easy hike.

If I could make it to the overlook with no more than three breaks, he would take me to his favorite restaurant afterward. I’m not sure where he planned to take me if I didn’t pass his test. Probably McDonald’s.

Completely unaware of this secret evaluation, I made it to the top with exactly three breaks.

I’d like to point out that if I hadn’t been trying to keep up with his giant hiking strides while simultaneously holding a full conversation and pretending I wasn’t gasping for oxygen, I probably wouldn’t have needed any breaks at all.

This secret test is so Chris. Sometimes it makes me wonder…

What if I had taken one extra break?
What if I had cancelled that first date because he wanted to hike?

Where would I be now?
What skank would Chris be married to instead?

We will never know.

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Nerd Alert: Budgeting Without Surprises

February 27, 2026

Daily writing prompt
Write about your approach to budgeting.
View all responses

My budgeting strategy can be summed up in three words: no surprises allowed.

At the center of my system is one master spreadsheet that tracks every dollar moving in and out of my checking account. Mortgage, utilities, car payments, automatic savings transfers, insurance, property taxes—if it touches my checking account, it lives in the spreadsheet. It’s not flashy or complicated, but it gives me complete visibility into my financial life.

This approach didn’t come from nowhere. It came from experience. I’ve had the kind of financial surprises that make your stomach drop – like needing new tires and genuinely not knowing where a few hundred dollars would come from, even for used ones. I’ve also spent time in the exhausting cycle of climbing out of credit card debt. Once you’ve lived through that stress, you never want to go back. That’s where the “no surprises” rule was born.

One of the most important pieces of my system is planning for annual expenses before they exist. Instead of letting things like property taxes, insurance premiums, or other yearly bills show up and ruin my month, I automatically set aside money from every paycheck. By the time those bills arrive, the money is already waiting. This significantly reduces my stress levels.

Credit cards get a slightly different treatment. I don’t track individual credit card purchases in my spreadsheet, but I do review every statement carefully. This keeps me aware of my spending and ensures nothing unexpected slips through. Then I pay the statement balance in full every single month. No exceptions. Credit cards are a convenience tool and way to earn rewards, not a loan.

One habit that surprises people is that I never pay bills early. I pay them on time—never late, never early. Letting money sit in my account a little longer earns a tiny bit of interest. It may only be pennies now, but it builds the discipline and mindset for when those pennies eventually grow into something much bigger.

The real magic of my spreadsheet is that it projects paychecks and bills up to a year in advance. That means I always know what my future checking balance looks like. If I ever see a future dip heading toward zero, I have plenty of time to adjust before it becomes a problem.

In the end, my philosophy is simple:
Pay bills in full. Avoid interest. Maximize interest earned. Stay prepared.

Because the best budget is the one that lets you sleep at night.

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Sequoia National Park

February 24, 2026

Our time in Sequoia was split over two and a half-ish days, not including our time allocated for the Kings Canyon National Park side. We made the most of what we could see in a short time frame. While we occasionally felt rushed, I think we did a solid job maximizing our stay. For a slower-paced visit, we easily could have added another full day split between Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

Day 1

Our day began in Joshua Tree National Park, followed by roughly a five-hour drive to our campsite near Sequoia. Once we settled in at Three Rivers Hideaway, we headed out for a preliminary drive to get our first taste of the park. From camp, it took about an hour of winding mountain roads to reach our first stop.

General Sherman Sneak Peak: 1st Stop

Seeing General Sherman is non-negotiable. It’s the world’s largest living tree by volume. It’s the “Mona Lisa” of the park. People will literally come just to see this tree and then leave, much like visitors who pop into the Louvre Museum for a quick (and crowded) peek at the Mona Lisa and head out. The park makes it extremely easy to funnel visitors here, especially if you have a disability placard on your car. There is a dedicated accessible parking lot that provides closer access to the trail. For everyone else, the walk is about 1.2 miles round-trip with a very steep return climb. We kept this visit short, planning to return the following day for a longer look.

One of the big trees on the trek down to General Sherman

Tunnel Rock and Hospital Rock: 2nd Stop

These two stops are close to the park entrance and just minutes apart, so it made sense to group them together. You can no longer drive under Tunnel Rock, but you can climb on top of it, which I loved.

Tunnel Rock

Hospital Rock was also worth a quick stop – about five to ten minutes is plenty. Historically, it was used by members of the Potwisha people for traditional healing practices, adding an important cultural layer to the visit.

After this, we headed back to camp. Between driving and short stops, most of the day had been spent on the road.

Day 2

Moro Rock: 3rd Stop

Moro Rock is a standout stop. The climb is steep and stair-heavy, but it’s short at about half a mile round-trip. It’s more than worth the effort. The panoramic views from the top are incredible, and it’s fun standing on the rock you’ve been seeing from the road below.

Chris at the top taking a photo of me working my way up the steep stairs.

Heading back down from the top of Moro Rock

Crescent Meadow/Trail of the Sequoias: 4th Stop

We knew this stop would be a longer one, but we also knew it would be the right thing for us. It’s a Choose Your Own Adventure type of trail. It can be longer or shorter depending on the path you choose. I think we meant to make it shorter but ended up doing a 7-mile loop.

We started at the Crescent Meadow Loop, stopped to see Tharp’s Log, and connected to the Trail of the Sequoias. The Trail of the Sequoias is a less popular trail, presumably due to its length, but it’s mostly flat, peaceful, and incredibly beautiful. It was reminiscent of a visit to the Redwoods (specifically the Boy Scout Tree Trail) where you feel completely immersed among ancient, towering trees. We truly felt deep in the heart of the park here.

*A note about Tharp’s Log: It’s cool if you’re already passing by, but it’s not worth going out of your way for. You can’t get close enough to see Tharp’s “house” and the lack of sunlight in the log makes it hard to see much detail anyway.

Chris about to head underneath a fallen giant tree on the Trail of the Sequoias

The way the sunlight was hitting the trees on the Trail of the Sequoias was magical

Beautiful and lush Trail of the Sequoias

Chris enjoying one of the giant Sequoias on the Trail of the Sequoias

Tunnel Log (not the Tunnel Rock): 5th Stop

Chris is a sucker for driving through trees. We had to wait in a short line of other cars getting pictures and video driving under this fallen Sequoia Tree. It’s a fun stop for sure! If there’s more than a few cars ahead of you, it’s okay to miss.

Look how cute Chris is poking his head out of the truck and smiling 🙂

Hanging Rock: 6th Stop

Amazing view! But it’s really steep. The payoff is excellent, especially since you get a great angle of Moro Rock. Careful though, there’s no railing and it would be a loooooong fall.

The Hanging Rock

The breathtaking view at the Hanging Rock

Picnic: 7th Stop

One of our favorite things to do at National Parks is to pack a delicious picnic lunch and finding a scenic place to enjoy it. We always bring the fixin’s for a delicious sandwich (the secret is olives) and SunChips, along with some carefully iced fresh beverages (Diet Dr. Pepper for me, and usually Mountain Dew Code Red for Chris).

Congress Tree Trail and General Sherman Revisited: 8th Stop

Next we made our way back to the General Sherman tree. This time we took our time and waited in line to get a crowd-free photo in front of the sign. I love how at every National Park we visit, we are with like-minded nature lovers who are happy to take turns snapping photos for each other.

Despite our long hike that morning, I was feeling FOMO for the Congress Tree Trail, which is accessible from the General Sherman tree. Chris was annoyed that I wanted to do it, but I just didn’t want to take the chance that I missed some key trees! The highlights are the President Tree, McKinley Tree, and the House and Senate tree clusters. It’s a really fun trail, but Chris was right that we would have been okay missing a couple trees. We basically duplicated part of what we’d already done that morning, though a much shorter version of it.

General Sherman himself

Big Tree Trail: 9th Stop

This short, easy loop is packed with massive sequoias and features a stunning meadow, along with interpretive signs explaining why the trees thrive here. The trail itself is fantastic, but the parking situation is frustrating. There’s a small lot reserved for cars with disability placards right next to the trail, and it was unclear where standard parking was supposed to be. We think parking at the nearby museum is the intended option, but after 10+ miles of hiking, Chris opted to rest while I enjoyed the loop solo. From the dropoff point at the accessible parking, it was a 0.7-mile loop. I think the hike from the museum would have more than doubled the length of the walk.

It was absolutely worth it. This area felt especially lush and peaceful, and I was completely in awe the entire time.

This short loop trail is beautiful and lush and definitely worth the visit

Turns out I love beautiful meadows!

Stay Tuned

Sequoia National Park is a wonderful place to marvel at nature’s giants. There’s so much to see, and we loved every second of it. After this we were destined for the Kings Canyon National Park, and we planned to spend some of that time on a return trip to the spots of Sequoia National Park we hadn’t seen yet.

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