The General Sherman Tree Guide
During my first day in Sequoia National Park, a ranger asked a group of us how many had taken a photo of the General Sherman Tree, and most raised their hand. Next, he asked how many of our photos did the tree just: no one raised their hands this time. How could a picture do the largest living thing on earth justice though? That's right, by volume, the General Sherman Tree holds that very title, and lucky for you, it's one of the most accessible, and popular sights in the entire park.
When to Visit
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May through August are generally the busiest months in Sequoia National Park: expect large crowds and traffic if you're visiting during these months. Finding parking can be tough in the summer, especially at the General Sherman, so the park provides a free shuttle service to a number of popular attractions, from areas with more adequate parking, like the Lodgepole Visitor Center. Fall and early spring will have fewer crowds, but cooler weather. Winter is different though: snow on the Sherman Tree is quite beautiful, but with it comes the added difficulty of driving mountain roads in potentially hazardous conditions. The General's Highway (the main road through Sequoia National Park) can sometimes close during heavy snow, and tire chains are almost always required to at least be in your possession. For more information on winter driving in the park, click here.
The beginning of the trail.
The General Sherman Tree Trail
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Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: 1 mile roundtrip.
Named after Union Civil War General Tecumseh Sherman, the General Sherman Tree is reached by a .5 mile long, gradually downhill hike along a paved pathway. There are bathrooms and additional information at the trailhead, which starts at the main parking lot. You'll notice a handful of signs telling hikers to be wary of the elevation and benches provided for rest: while .5 miles each way may not sound like much, the altitude really does make a difference, especially when you're hiking back up to the parking lot.
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Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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About halfway down the trail is a to-scale spot that measures out the width of the Sherman Tree, to better help visitors understand and appreciate its scale. From here, you'll begin seeing some of the first sequoia trees on the trail, including the first view of the General Sherman on the right.
The width of the General Sherman represented on the trail.
Continue making your way down, until the trail gradually begins turning to the right, and from here you're at the closest viewpoint of the tree itself. A sign marks the spot, and is popular for pictures--don't be surprised if there is a long line of people waiting.
The trail wraps around the tree, offering a 360 degree view of the entire thing, with a fence around it to protect the tree's shallow root system. If you're taking photos on your phone, you'll likely need to use panoramic mode to fit the entire thing. For photographers, I've found that around a 16mm lens should work to fit the whole tree into the frame. No matter how many pictures you take though, I can nearly guarantee it won't do this behemoth justice. At an impressive 275 feet tall and close to 37 feet wide, the Sherman is huge, but is neither the tallest nor widest tree: it does have the most volume at 52,508 cubic feet, making it the largest tree on earth. For a wider and unobstructed view of the tree, exit the main viewing area and turn right, which will take you a bit further back, where the Sherman is perfectly framed by two smaller sequoia.
The General Sherman standing tall.
So, now what? If you've had enough of this section of the park, click here for more things to do in Sequoia. Otherwise, just before the main viewpoint to the Sherman Tree is the entrance to the Congress Trail, a truly spectacular path through the Giant Grove--quite possibly the best collection of sequoia anywhere on the planet. Unless you're short on time, don't do yourself the disservice of skipping this three mile loop, that's often less crowded than the trail to the General Sherman. Tight clusters of towering sequoia trees and individual giants abound here--this place is known as the Giant Forest, after all. For more information on hiking the Congress Trail and what to see on it, click here.
A cluster of massive sequoia along the Congress Trail.