When we went, the area was serene and quiet but if you visit in summer, expect to see crowds of kids as it is one of the most popular campgrounds in Kings Canyon (If you’d like peace and quiet sans crowds, you may want to skip this one in summer) We brought some snacks and sat down to enjoy the incredible views of the sierras. Hume Lake was the perfect spot to end a fun-filled weekend in Sequoia.
The walk starts at the Grant Tree overflow-parking area. After taking a few photos, we went on the N orth Grove Loop, which is a lightly traveled forest walk that offers a close look at Big Trees. Trailhead: East of the parking area at Lodgepole Visitor CenterĪfter lunch, we drove to Kings Canyon to see the 2nd biggest tree in the world – General Grant Tree. We found a flat rock and lied down to enjoy the sound of the water. A few (rocky) steps further, we got an entire view of the cascading falls. Once closer to the waterfall, a view of the Watchtower, a pointed rock, opened up on the right. On this trail we saw lodgepole pines, small meadows and crossed several creeks. This is a moderate hike that takes you to the head of Tokopah Valley, culminating at photogenic Tokopah Falls. This was a great introduction to sequoia ecology. Once we finally checked off Sherman Tree off the list, we took the Big Tree Trail, which is a short paved trail circling Round Meadow. Less people and more time to experiment with different angles.
Tip: Snap a few pictures from the back of the tree instead of sign board at the front. From afar, it might not look like it’s so big but once you get closer, it feels strikingly gigantic. Our first stop had to be Sherman Tree – the largest living organism on earth! It is almost 275 feet tall and is estimated to be 2,200 years old. Day 2 – Tunnel Log, Moro Rock, General Grant Tree, Hume Lakeĭay 1 – General Sherman Tree, Big Tree Trail, Tokopah Falls.Day 1 – General Sherman Tree, Big Tree Trail, Tokopah Falls.