Crystal Caves
STOP! Before signing up…Did you purchase a ticket to the caves? If not, you are still welcomed to join the hikes but will not be able to join us to the Crystal Caves. Unfortunately tickets are sold out for the season.
When: June 30th, 2025
Where: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks- (Crystal Caves & Hike)
**Bring plastic bags and paper towels for unexpected car sickness**
Park Fee: Get a Pass
Standard Pass $20-$30
Annual Pass $70.00
America the Beautiful $80.00
**This park does not accept cash**
5:00am Meet @ Starbucks
Address: 35171 7th Standard Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308
https://maps.app.goo.gl/std4sk3MHWYLdvFB7
5:30am - 8:30am Drive Time
Sequoia National Park Toll: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yH6tB7nh1xg8nQzY9
Bathroom stop:
Visitor Center Bathroom: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dn3Lb1SuFoQJx81JA
9:30 am - 11:30 pm
Moro Rock: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4UkY83o7wH3RYRon9
Hanging Rock: https://maps.app.goo.gl/g6uxFPTYjbYu6HTw8
General Sherman Tree: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jD5gcBmkFiEK8rHQ9
11:30 pm-12:00 pm Drive to the Caves
12:00pm- 12:30 pm Sack Lunch
12:30 pm-4:00 pm
Crystal Caves:https://maps.app.goo.gl/mySwJmX5zaExqBzm6
Tunnel Log: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mGKjt7oABarKVi1t6
Drive back home: Be safe :)
OR
Dinner Option:
Wuksachi Pizza Deck:64740 Wuksachi Way, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uPxLzab3nmGmBJMx7
Wuksachi Pizza Deck: https://www.visitsequoia.com/sequoia-dining/wuksachi-pizza-deck/
Moro Rock
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/moro-rock--3?u=i&sh=c5gucs
Discover this 0.5-mile out-and-back trail near Hartland, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are April through November. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.
Get ready for an unforgettable climb to the top of Moro Rock, a giant granite dome that offers some of the most breathtaking views in Sequoia National Park! This isn't a long hike, but it's a steep one, taking you up a remarkable staircase carved right into the rock. As you ascend over 300 feet, you'll have railings to hold onto, but be mindful of the steep drop-offs – it's a good idea to keep a close eye on children. The park service advises not to climb if there's ice, snow, or lightning, as the rock can be dangerous in stormy weather.
Once you reach the summit, you'll be standing at over 6,700 feet in elevation! The panoramic views are incredible, stretching across the Great Western Divide's majestic peaks, down to the San Joaquin Valley, and over the vast wilderness of Sequoia. It's a fantastic spot for sunset or even to glimpse the moonrise. Look around for hardy plants like Jeffrey pines and manzanita clinging to the granite. You might even spot a marmot sunbathing on the rocks or a Clark's Nutcracker bird flying by. Remember, the altitude can make the climb feel challenging, so take your time and enjoy this amazing experience! During busy summer months, a shuttle is often the best way to reach the trailhead. For more information on shuttles, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/parktransit.htm
Hanging Rock Trail
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hanging-rock-trail?u=i&sh=c5gucs
Check out this 0.3-mile out-and-back trail near Hartland, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 10 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.
Hanging Rock Trail gets its name from a huge, oval shaped boulder balanced on the edge of a granite cliff. This route takes you to the Hanging Rock, and also to an amazing view of Moro Rock. You'll get to see the spectacular granite dome, and even pose for a photo in front of it! There are also beautiful old giant sequoias near the beginning of the trail. This often overlooked trail shouldn't be missed!
You can explore the Giant Forest area year-round, however keep in mind that park roads can close for snow and other winter conditions. Tire chains are also required depending on the season. The Giant Forest area is busiest during the summer months, and it is recommended to ride a shuttle to your destination to avoid traffic congestion and parking issues. For more information on shuttles, visit: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/parktransit.htm
General Sherman Tree
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/general-sherman-tree-trail?u=i&sh=c5gucs
Head out on this 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Three Rivers, California. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 31 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.
The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world! It is 275 feet tall and a massive 36 feet in diameter at its base. This is the main trail to the General Sherman Tree. It is accessed via the Sherman Tree Trailhead off of Wolverton Road. This trail has a few sets of stairs and is paved. Surrounded by giant sequoia trees for your entire journey, this adventure will leave you awe-struck.
If you are looking for a wheelchair - accessible route to the General Sherman Tree, checkout the route that begins from a small lot along the edge of Generals Highway: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/general-sherman-tree-via-generals-highway-trailhead
You can explore the General Sherman Tree area year-round, however keep in mind that park roads can close for snow and other winter conditions. Tire chains are also required depending on the season. The Giant Forest area is busiest during the summer months, and it is recommended to ride a shuttle to your destination to avoid traffic congestion and parking issues. For more information on shuttles, visit: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/parktransit.htm
Crystal Caves
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/crystal-cave?u=i&sh=c5gucs
Experience this 0.8-mile out-and-back trail near Stony Creek Village, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 34 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.
Crystal Cave is a marble cavern, a beautiful underground ecosystem that is 50 degrees year-round! This route is a paved trail from the parking area to the cave entrance. The trail through the cave is not part of this map. Because of fragile formations, the only way to visit the cave is on a guided tour.
Tours are suitable for all ages. If you decide to see the cave, plan on spending about half a day traveling to the cave, walking to the entrance, and taking the 45-minute tour. Tickets for the cave tours must be reserved in advance. Tickets often sell out, so it is a good idea to reserve them far ahead of time. They are available through the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. For more information, please visit: www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org/crystalcave for more important information about the tour and a link to purchase tickets.
Restrooms and food storage lockers are available at the parking lot. As a bear safety measure, you will be required to remove all foods and scented items from cars and place them in the food storage boxes.
Accessibility: The trail to Crystal Cave, though paved, is very steep and narrow, and not recommended for visitors using mobility assistive devices. For an American Sign Language (ASL) translation of the Crystal Cave tour, please ask at the information booth at the Crystal Cave trailhead for a tablet with ASL interpretation. For an in-person ASL interpreter, please email the SPC Field Institute at SFI@sequoiaparks.org. Assistive Listening Devices with SM receivers are available at the Crystal Cave Entrance Booth located at the Crystal Cave Trailhead. Neck loops are available for those with T-coil hearing aids.
Sequoia National Park's Tunnel Log
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rFG43ewAmTHoiAgh8
Visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon can drive through Sequoia Park's fallen "Tunnel Log" located along the Crescent Meadow Road in Giant Forest.
The fallen Tunnel Log of Sequoia National Park came into being after an unnamed giant sequoia fell across the Crescent Meadow Road in late 1937 as a result of "natural causes." The following summer, a tunnel was cut through the fallen log as a visitor attraction. When it fell, the tree stood 275 feet high (83.8 meters) and was 21 feet in diameter at the base (6.4 meters). The tree's age when it fell has not been determined, but probably exceeded 2,000 years.
The tunnel, which remains in use today, is 17 feet wide and 8 feet high (5.2 meters by 2.4 meters). There is a bypass for taller vehicles. "Why not cut a new tunnel tree?" many visitors suggest, when they discover that the Wawona Tree can no longer be driven through. Times change, however, and actions proper for one generation may not fit the needs and goals of a succeeding generation.
Our expectations of national parks have changed immensely during the past half century. When our national parks were young, cutting tunnels through sequoia trees was a way to popularize the parks and gain support for their protection. In those early days, national parks usually were managed to protect individual features rather than to protect the integrity of the complete environment. Today, we realize that our national parks represent some of the last primeval landscapes in America, and our goal in the parks is to allow nature to run its course with as little interference from humans as possible. Tunnel trees had their time and place in the early history of our national parks. But today sequoias which are standing healthy and whole are worth far more.
https://www.nps.gov/seki/faqtunnel.htm
Useful Links- National Park Service:
Entrance Info:
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/directions.htm
Entrance Fees: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Crystal Caves: https://sequoiaparksconservancy.org/crystal-cave/
Prepare for your trip
Crystal Cave is a stunning marble cavern, but visiting requires preparation. The tour includes a half-mile round-trip hike with steep terrain and stairs, and the cave environment is cold, damp, and dark (around 50°F).
Time your travel accordingly. Lines to get into the park can be over an hour long, especially on the weekends. It is still at least another hour from the park entrance to the cave parking lot. (See:TRAVELING TO THE CAVE)
Park pass. To speed up your entry into the park, we recommend purchasing your park pass ahead of time at www.nps.gov/seki.
Gas up. There is no gas inside the parks.
Hydrate. Be sure to stay hydrated and bring drinking water, as there is no water available at the cave.
Shoes that are non-slip. The trail to the cave, and especially the cave itself, can be slippery. Good shoes are recommended.
Bring snacks. Visiting Crystal Cave can be a commitment of several hours. Food is not allowed in the cave itself. However, in the parking lot, there are picnic tables to enjoy your food before your tour and bear boxes to store your food items while on your tour.
No pets are allowed in unattended vehicles, outside, on the trail, or in the cave.
Dress in layers. Summer in the park can be pretty hot. However, the cave is 50˚F (10˚C) inside, so a jacket is recommended.
Bring a flashlight if you’d like.
Apply sunscreen if you’d like. There is a half-mile hike to and from the cave
What to Bring/Wear:
Always bring hiking essentials
https://www.rei.com/dam/Day-Hiking-Checklist-Under-2-Hours
These items should always be on your hiking checklist:
Hiking pack
Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)
Hiking footwear
Plenty of food/Snacks
Plenty of water
Navigation tools such as a map and compass
First-aid kit
Knife or multi-tool
Sunscreen
Bring a hat (This trial has some shade)