Two Day Winter Itinerary

Start your morning at Lodgepole Market, where snowshoes and winter gear are available to rent before heading out for the day. From there, make your way to Giant Forest and the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume. In winter, snow covers the forest floor and gathers around the massive trunks of the surrounding sequoias.

Take your time along the General Sherman Tree Trail. Snow and ice can make even short walks more challenging in winter, so wear sturdy footwear and consider traction devices when trails are packed or icy.

Continue exploring Giant Forest on the Big Trees Trail, a 0.7-mile loop around Round Meadow near the Giant Forest Museum. The mostly level trail winds past giant sequoias and interpretive displays that tell the story of the grove and its unique ecosystem.

In winter, the trail is not cleared of snow, so this is a good opportunity to use the snowshoes you rented earlier in the day when conditions call for them. Allow about an hour to explore, with extra time to stop and take in the snow-covered meadow and surrounding sequoias.

Before setting out, check current trail and weather conditions and make sure your gear is appropriate for the day.

Return to Wuksachi Lodge as daylight fades. Staying inside Sequoia National Park means you can spend more of your day exploring and less time driving in and out of the park.

After dinner at the Peaks Restaurant, bundle up and step outside for one more experience: stargazing. Far from the lights of nearby cities, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks offer some of California’s darkest night skies. On a clear winter night, look for constellations, planets and thousands of stars above the surrounding Sierra Nevada.

Then head back inside, warm up and settle in for the night. Tomorrow brings a full day of snowplay and winter trails.

After breakfast, head to Wolverton Snowplay Area, one of Sequoia National Park’s main destinations for winter recreation.

Families can spend the morning playing in the snow, while visitors ready to explore farther can use the area as a starting point for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Conditions depend on recent snowfall, so check current weather and trail information before heading out.

From Wolverton, set out on the Wolverton Winter Trail for a closer look at Sequoia’s snow-covered forest. This marked winter route runs 0.7 mile one way between the Wolverton area and Old Lodgepole Road and typically takes one to two hours round trip. The trail is open to both snowshoers and cross-country skiers, with a moderate route that includes some steeper terrain.

Follow the yellow triangle markers marked with a “W” to stay on the winter route. If you’re snowshoeing, avoid walking directly in established ski tracks to help keep the trail safe for cross-country skiers. Winter conditions can change quickly, so check current trail conditions before setting out and carry a map, water and extra layers.

End your last full day in Sequoia with a winter sunset. From the Giant Forest Museum, follow the Sunset Rock Winter Trail through a mixed-conifer forest to a granite dome overlooking the Kaweah River canyon and Sierra foothills.

The trail is about 2 miles round trip and takes roughly two to three hours in winter, so plan your departure around sunset and allow plenty of time to return before dark (don’t forget your headlamp!). Once you reach Sunset Rock, settle in and watch the last light stretch across the canyon for one final night in the mountains.