Sequoia National Forest, National forest in California, United States.
Sequoia National Forest is a large protected forest area in California covering diverse terrain with deep canyons, mountain ridges, and groves of giant sequoia trees. The landscape includes multiple elevation zones ranging from lower valleys to high alpine areas with varied forest types.
Sequoia National Forest was created on July 1, 1908, from part of the Sierra Forest Reserve. On March 2, 1909, Theodore Roosevelt added land by presidential proclamation. In 1910, 1,951,191 acres were removed to form Kern National Forest, then returned on July 1, 1915. The 2020 Castle Fire burned 131,087 acres, including 13,600 acres of giant sequoia groves.
The forest's name comes from the giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, which grows in 38 groves inside its boundaries. The southern part of the Giant Sequoia National Monument surrounds the eastern half of the Tule River Indian Reservation, so the monument and tribal land share a boundary. The Needles, granite spires above the Kern River, take their name from their pointed shape.
Multiple campgrounds, hiking trails, and visitor centers operate throughout the year to serve visitors exploring the forest. Spring through early fall offers the best conditions for travel, as higher elevation roads may close during winter due to snow.
The 2020 Castle Fire burned 131,087 acres in the forest, including 13,600 acres of giant sequoia groves. In about 6,000 acres of those groves the fire burned at high intensity, killing more than 90% of the sequoias there. Tree-ring data show the most intense previous fire in this area occurred in 1297.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,515 contributors worldwide.
