Walking & Hiking Trails

Giant Forest

Congress Trail (easy)

Distance 2 miles

Two miles, one to two hours round-trip; self-guiding trail; trailhead: General Sherman Tree, just off Generals Highway; 200-foot elevation gain. 

This popular paved walk loops through the heart of Giant Forest Grove. The trail ascends gently into the Alta Plateau section of forest, locale of giant President, Chief Sequoyah, General Lee and McKinley trees, along with House and Senate groups. Nearby are Founders Group, Room Tree and giant Lincoln Tree.

Big Trees Trail (easy)

Distance 1.5 miles

1.5 miles, one-hour round-trip; self-guiding loop trail; start at the Giant Forest Museum or museum parking lot; 60-foot -elevation gain. 

This trail is graded to maximize accessibility. It circles lovely Round Meadow and features trail-side exhibits that explore the factors that make this area prime sequoia habitat.

Crescent Meadow/Log Meadow Loop (easy) 

Distance 1.8 miles

1.8 miles, two to three hours round-trip; loop trail; trailhead: Crescent Meadow parking/picnic area; 200-foot elevation gain. 

If you follow the signs for Tharp's Log, you will see meadows, giant sequoias, the park's oldest cabin, dense fir forest and wildflowers in season.

Moro Rock/Soldiers Trail Loop (moderately difficult)  

Distance 4.6 miles

4.6 miles, three to four hours round-trip; trailhead: Moro Rock; 300-foot -elevation gain. 

Climb 400 steps (300 vertical feet) up Moro Rock, a huge granite dome, for panoramic views of the Great Western Divide. Switchbacks lead to Roosevelt Tree and Triple Tree (actually three trees grown together). Near Tunnel Log, the trail leads to historic Soldiers Camp and then de-scends into Hazelwood area where it ends at Alta Trail.

Mineral King 

Hikers must drive to Mineral King. The drive over a 25-mile winding road takes about 1.5 hours from Highway 198, three miles north of Three Rivers. This is one of several trails in the area.

Eagle Lake Trail (moderately difficult) 

Distance 6.8 miles

6.8 miles, one to two days round-trip; trailhead: Eagle-Mosquito parking area; 2,170-foot elevation gain. 

The trail starts gently but gets steep near Spring Creek, where, as you climb the switchbacks, you are afforded great vistas. On this trail, you may hear fat, yellow-bellied marmots and tiny pikas that whistle if you startle them. After two miles, you'll see Eagle Sink Hole, where flowing water vanishes into an underground passage. At this point, you can turn around and retrace your path or continue for 1.5 miles to Eagle Lake, which is 10,000 feet in elevation.