The Congress Trail Guide
You came to Sequoia National Park to see sequoia trees, right? Maybe you've seen the countless photographs on social media of clusters of these towering trees, with people near them looking smaller than ever; there's a pretty good chance these photos were taken on the Congress Trail. Winding through the heart of a grove known as the Giant Forest, this trail has some of the, if not the most spectacular sequoia trees on the planet, and is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Sequoia National Park.
When to Visit
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May through August has warm weather, but heavier crowds, while spring and fall are milder or even cool, without the throngs of tourists. Winter on the other hand can provide a completely new, snow-covered setting, with the added challenge of potential snow storms closing the highway into the park, and the park's requirement that winter drivers carry tire chains in their care, regardless of inclement weather.
How to Get There
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Find the Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park, about two hours from the California cities of Fresno, and around four and a half from the San Francisco bay area. The first half-mile of the Congress Trail is actually the trail down to the General Sherman Tree, branching off in a loop through the heart of the Giant Forest. Located close to the Lodgepole visitor center in Sequoia National Park, most people begin the hike from the General Sherman's parking lot.
The Congress Trail
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Time: 1 - 2 hours.
Distance: 3 miles.
Technically, the Congress Trail is only two miles, but to get there you have to hike the General Sherman Trail, adding the extra mile and making it three. So, take the Sherman trail for about .5 miles and just before you turn right for the main viewpoint of the General Sherman, you will see the sign for the start of the Congress Trail on your left.
The start of the trail.
Proceed down the trail, through a pair of twin sequoia trees, and from here it should open up for a bit, with the trail running parallel to some steep slopes; sequoia of all shapes and sizes abound. About .7 miles down you'll come across one particular sequoia with a large fire scar: a testament to the resiliency of these trees.
Worse than that scar I got when I burned myself baking cookies--but only just.
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Many of the trees and groups along the Congress Trail are named after positions or even people in the United States government and military. Making your way down the trail past the fire scar tree, you'll eventually come upon the President Tree on your left--the third largest tree in the world by volume, and the oldest sequoia at around 3,200 years old. How old is that? Well, the Roman Empire didn't even exist yet when this tree started growing.
3,200 years old, but doesn't look a day past 3,100.
Just after the President, the pathway takes a sharp turn, and on this corner is the Senate Group. The first half of this trail's namesake, the Senate is a cluster of eight sequoia, tightly packed together. While not as wide as some of the other trees on this trail, it's still an impressive sight.
Completely motionless and lacking rational thought, the Senate Group is still far more productive than the actual U.S. Senate.
Continuing down the trail takes you to the other half of the Congress Trail's namesake: the House Group, another equally impressive cluster of sequoia. While most stand tall, you'll notice one tree in the group that succumbed to fire.
The House Group.
From here the loop takes you past a number of other clusters and named trees, including the Lincoln Tree, the fourth largest tree in the world by volume, and the remains of the Washington, which was the second largest tree until it was destroyed by lightning. While a popular trail, it's still nowhere near as popular as the General Sherman, and by the mid point I've found it tends to get a lot quieter. Being alone in the giant forest is a wonderful experience, and obviously the further away you get from the popular attractions, the more likely this is to be.
Early morning light makes the red bark of the sequoia glow.
From here the loop takes you past a number of other clusters and named trees, including the Lincoln Tree, the fourth largest tree in the world by volume, and the remains of the Washington, which was the second largest tree until it was destroyed by lightning. While a popular trail, it's still nowhere near as popular as the General Sherman, and by the mid point I've found it tends to get a lot quieter. Being alone in the giant forest is a wonderful experience, and obviously the further away you get from the popular attractions, the more likely this is to be.
The Trail Tunnel.
The trail continues past the tunnel for another quarter mile or so, eventually placing you at the beginning on the loop near the Sherman Tree. So, what's next? If you want to know more about what Sequoia National Park has to offer, click here. If you'd like a quick break from the trees in the park, I'd recommend a drive to the nearby Moro Rock, a massive granite dome with a short hike to the top, and a sprawling view of the Sierra Nevada mountains around you. To learn more about Moro Rock, click here.
Literally carved into it, the trail up Moro Rock gives you one of the most expansive views in the Sierra Nevada.