The Best Time to Travel To Sequoia National Park
The best time to travel to Sequoia depends on your preference for activities and your tolerance for crowds, but summer is peak tourist season.
Written by Bee Davis
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada range amid towering trees, Sequoia National Park offers great opportunities for outdoor adventures year-round. The best time to travel to Sequoia depends on your preference for activities and tolerance for crowds—but the peak season is the summer.
Sequoia National Park
is home to the largest trees in the world. The ancient Sequoias that tower over the landscape have awed travelers for generations, attracting thousands of visitors to the park every year. If you’re planning a road trip through California’s unique and breathtaking landscapes, you can’t miss these giants of the natural world. But what is the best time to travel to Sequoia National Park? When it comes to trip planning, travel and
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expert Jerry
has you covered. In this article, we’ll cover the best times of year to visit Sequoia National Park, the weather you can expect, and what kind of activities you can enjoy while you’re there. MORE:
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The best times of year to travel to Sequoia National Park
The best time to visit Sequoia National Park depends on your budget, tolerance for crowds, and preference for activities.
Most people find summer visit to be the best season, since the weather is the most stable and there are more activities to do. But Sequoia has plenty of activities to enjoy at any time of year.
Peak Season (June through August)
The good: Great weather and Ranger-led programming
The bad: Crowds
The weather: Mid 60s to high 70s
June through August are the most popular times to visit Sequoia National Park, generally drawing thousands of visitors every year.
The summer months in California’s Sierra Nevada range tend to have the best weather, with comfortable temperatures for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities.
While a summer visit may deter travelers looking to avoid the crowds, certain
visitor centers
close their doors after the summer. The Lodgepole Visitor Center, the Cedar Grove Visitor Center, and the Mineral King Ranger Station are only open between May and October. Off-season (December through March)
The good: Fewer crowds and winter activities
The bad: More difficult traversal and fewer amenities
The weather: Low 30s to high 40s
Sequoia National Park’s off-season is the winter, from around early December to early March. Difficulty navigating the park’s winding, snowy roads and fewer activities deter the majority of visitors.
But if you pack your tire chains and don’t mind the chilly weather, Sequoia is gorgeous in the winter, perfect for snowshoeing, skiing, and other winter activities. Check out a
Ranger-led snowshoe walk
to view the iconic park under a sparkling blanket of snow. If you don’t feel like driving in the snow, the park offers a shuttle between the
Giant Forest Museum
and the Wuksachi Lodge and Restaurant
, with stops at the General Sherman Tree and other iconic Sequoia locations. Compare quotes from 50+ insurers with Jerry in under 45 seconds?
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversShoulder Season (April through June)
The good: Wildflowers and fewer crowds
The bad: Remaining snow and fewer amenities
The weather: 50s to 60s
Sequoia's shoulder season is the spring, when you can still see snow on the ground at certain elevations.
The weather can be a little unpredictable, and shuttle service doesn’t generally start till mid-May. But any outdoor activity in the spring will see a wealth of wildflowers blooming along every trail.
April is also when
National Park Week
happens, a weeklong festival of events, special Ranger-led programs, and digital experiences at participating parks nationwide. The cheapest time to travel to Sequoia National Park
The cheapest time to travel to Sequoia National Park extends from mid-September through the off-season. You can expect cheaper airfare to the area, less expensive lodging, and fewer crowds in the park once the snow starts to fall.
Of course, you’ll have to pack your snow chains, as many of the park's roads are inaccessible without them in the winter. But if you’re looking for a cheaper visit and want to see a different side of the park than most people get, the challenge of traversing Sequoia is well worth it.
Find the best month for your visit to Sequoia National Park
Activity | Best month to visit | Why? |
|---|---|---|
Wildflowers | March and April | If your ideal Sequoia hike includes thousands of blooming wildflowers, March and April are the best months to visit. |
Skiing and snowshoeing | January | Catch some powder on the slopes of Sequoia’s hills during the winter. |
Education | Summer | Park rangers lead more educational programs during the summer months. |
Stars | September | Visit in September to catch Sequoia’s Dark Sky Festival |
National Park Week | April | For special events and Ranger-led activities, visit Sequoia during National Park Week |
Moro Rock | Summer | Climb famous Moro Rock without snow and ice on the ground when visiting from June to August. |
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FAQ
What is the worst time to travel to Sequoia National Park?
While there is no “worst” time to visit Sequoia National Park, different seasons offer different opportunities for visitors, so it depends on what you’re looking to do.
The majority of visitors tend to stay away in the winter because many of the park’s roads require snow chains to traverse the snow. But even the winter offers plenty of activities for visitors, like snowshoeing, skiing, and more.
