Sequoia National Park

Oct 4th, 2025

New day, new destination. We all carry something within us that keeps us waking up each morning. And yes, there are times when we pause and ask ourselves, “Now what? Just another routine?” But that’s life. Despite the universal question of why we’re here, it always feels good to be grateful for another day of being alive, of good health, and of new adventures waiting ahead.

It got a bit windy overnight, but overall, I’d like to believe I had a fair night of sleep. My biological clock woke me around 7 a.m., as usual. I made some oats with dates, brewed a coffee, and started driving toward Sequoia National Park. The drive was only about 30 minutes. I arrived at the entry sign by 9 a.m. and stopped at a few vista points along the way, including Panoramic Point Overlook and Big Baldy Ridge.

My first hike of the day was at the General Sherman Tree Trailhead.

The General Sherman area was more complex than I expected. It includes countless trail connections to the larger Congress Trail, a popular paved loop that starts at the Sherman Tree and leads to other giant sequoias like the House and Senate groups. These main trails connect to other paths throughout the Giant Forest, such as the Big Trees Trail, which branches out into longer, more challenging routes.

I walked around the Sherman Tree but didn’t even try taking a photo with it. It was packed with people, and the line for pictures was extremely long. Instead, I continued the Congress Trail and visited the nearby famous trees and the historic Cattle Cabin, then wandered even farther for some peace away from the crowd and a chance to record some videos.

Trees visited on this hike:

The President Tree

McKinley Tree

Lincoln Tree

Cattle Cabin

Chief Sequoyah Tree

The Senate (Trees)

 

The ground and trees were still wet from the rain the night before. Steam rose from the forest floor as the morning sunlight hit the trees, especially around their bases. It was surreal, something you might only experience once in a lifetime. The enormous trunks rose like living walls, and the glowing sunlight made the air itself look alive, as though the trees were exhaling a warm breath into the cool morning air, ancient giants holding the light forever.

When I visited Redwood National Park, I was very impressed, but the trees in Sequoia are by far larger and more massive. I finished 5.67 miles in two hours. Even though I arrived early, the park was already packed, so far the busiest park on my trip, even more than Yosemite. People from all over the world come here to see General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth.

Before starting my hike, I used the bathroom, and honestly, it made me sad to see how neglected it was. The area was packed, with no rangers around to guide or enforce any regulations. I even saw people bringing dogs onto the trail despite the many signs saying, “NO DOGS,” especially due to the steep terrain. Poor pets.

My second hike started around 12:30 p.m. at the Hanging Rock and Moro Rock area, 2.57 miles in about an hour. Absolutely gorgeous. By this time, the park was at its busiest, and the weather was perfect: sunny, warm, almost no wind. Other points I checked out during this hike were the Parker Group Sequoias, Buttress Tree, and the Booker T. Washington Tree. 

At 2:10 p.m., after a short rest, I began my next hike, 1.74 miles to the Chimney Tree via the Crescent Meadow Trail. Along the way, I encountered a few deer and then a large brown bear wandering through the meadow, probably looking for food. The bear was only about 15 feet away. A family with children was quietly watching him from the trail; the mom was holding a bear horn in her hand. It was such a special moment, seeing this bear up close and wandering around. I continued the hike and ended up telling almost everyone I passed, “Bear!” 😊 It was a big moment for me!

My final hike of the day was to Sunset Rock. Anything with the word “sunset” impresses me, so this was a must. The trail was moderate and much quieter; I only encountered a few hikers. At the peak, I took a 10-minute nap; moments of reflection are always needed in this life. On the way back, I explored the Big Trees Trail area. The exhibits there were amazing, especially the one explaining why sequoias are called “sun worshipers”: their seedlings require abundant, direct sunlight to grow. Unlike many trees that thrive in shade, young sequoias need wide-open spaces free of overshadowing vegetation. I was also fascinated by a massive tree whose roots and trunk had grown around a large glacial boulder.

I finished this hike at 3.79 miles in almost an hour and a half. By now it was almost 5 p.m., and I needed to plan the rest of my day. But there was one more thing I had to see: Sequoia’s famous Tunnel Log drive-through. Even with a line of cars, it was worth it, surreal to drive through a fallen giant.

It was time to head to my next destination: Pinnacles National Park. After more research, I decided to drive there instead of going to Death Valley, even though some local hikers recommended Death Valley as the faster option. But today, I listened to myself.

The drive to Pinnacles was almost four hours. I didn’t know whether I’d camp or get a hotel. My only plan was to keep driving and decide later. I passed through Three Rivers, stopped for gas in Visalia, drove past Hanford and Lemoore, and eventually chose to stay in Coalinga, the last town before Pinnacles, about an hour and ten minutes from the park.

Even though I was tired, I enjoyed the drive with the amazing sunset, listening to my favorite poet, Mahmoud Darwish. His poem “While Waiting” played pure magic. It was a moment of nothingness and everything at once: music, poetry, sunset, and time passing slowly. I felt everything in those few minutes: sadness, happiness, anger, gratitude, and so much more.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRJJ6-GjOa1/?igsh=MTV2cWdkM2g0MHVkaQ%3D%3D 

I arrived at Best Western Plus in Coalinga around 8 p.m. The hotel was very nice and very need, not to mention I desperately needed to do laundry. After settling in, I felt like a king, and I remembered Borat’s line: “King of the castle! King of the castle! I have a chair!”. Borat is a fictional character portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen, one of my favorite comedians of all time.
Not many restaurant options in this small town, so I ended up at Burger King.

Back at the hotel, feeling grateful, I put my head down and aimed for some well-earned sleep.