Craig Robert Young visits Sequoia National Forest
There are the seven wonders of the world and then there are all these amazing hidden gems tucked away that are part of nature’s backyard. In California we are extremely lucky to have an array of hidden gems. From the ocean to to the desert and of course the mountains.
I’m tired of talking about COVID as I’m sure you are tired of reading about it.
But one thing I’m grateful for is the discovery of the great outdoors. And last week I visited Sequoia National Forest, which is an easy 3 1/2 hour drive north of LA. This place has been on my radar for a long time since so many people seem to enjoy visiting a bunch of trees and camping out and for the longest time I thought it really wasn’t my thing… until I did it and now I’m hooked.
We drove up on a Thursday and returned late on Friday night, and I thoroughly recommend shared driving. We stayed at the Best Western motel, in the town of Three Rivers, which is considered the gateway to both Sequoia National Forest and King’s Canyon. The motel was hardly the Ritz but was one of only a few accommodations available.
The town itself, which gets its name from its location near the junction of the north, middle and south forks of the Kaweah River, is super quaint with a handful of restaurant/bars which benefit hugely from their proximity to local waters. I’ll highlight the Ol Buckaroo Diner for some tasty local grub and The Three Rivers Brewing Company, which has a micobrewery on-site with some cool local beers, not to mention a taco truck if you get hungry. But be careful how much you imbibe here, the elevation can get you tipsy quicker than you might think!
From the town it’s about a 45-minute, very windy and slow drive to the entrance of the National Park. Try to get there early as you can be in a line to get in for close to an hour after 9am. Each vehicle is only $35 to get in. They also offer camping in the park if you plan on staying a while.
The park’s famed sequoisas are the highlight, and we marveled at the majesty of old and famous trees like General Sherman and the cluster called the Congress…..with trees called the president, the secretary, etc… you get the drift.
Right now there is still snow on the ground in patches, increasing as you go higher in elevation, but the white stuff should mostly have melted away within a couple of weeks. But if you go off the beaten path a little you are in for a real treat… you’ll meet the giant sequoias. The trees are few and far between and a dying breed but definitely worth your time. They are not just massive, they are breathtakingly beautiful.
I wouldn’t normally describe myself as a tree-hugger, but after not being able to hug people in real life for over a year – I’ll take a tree 🙂
Overall, experiencing the sequoias is a truly breath of fresh air and when life gets busy and your brain is bogged down information overload so you can’t see the wood for the trees (yes, I went there) it’s a welcomed break of peace and tranquility. Not just the visuals but also the amazing soundscapes. I was awestruck and I urge you to go before the world opens up again and it’s flooded once again with too many people. Go love a tree!
