R01 TR: Sequoia Car Camping TR 5/3-5/5 2021

[balzaccom]

We took the last few days to do a little day-hiking and exploring in Sequoia National Park. We'd been there a few times before, usually in the Grant Grove area before heading down into Kings Canyon...but this time we were going to stay in Lodgepole--an area we hadn't visited before.

We started with a picnic lunch in the Big Stump Picnic area...where a street sweeping machine decided that exactly noon would be a great time to raise huge clouds of dust in the picnic area. Geeze....anyway, we did eat our lunch, and then continued on to Lodgepole.

The campground was booked solid on Recreation.gov, but we still noticed quite a few open sites over the three days we were there. And both the visitors center and store were still closed for the winter season. That first afternoon we hiked to Tokopa Falls--a nice hike, with a lovely reward at the end, and a great way to get a bit acclimated to the altitude.

Day two was dedicated to the Crescent Meadow area--where we hiked around both Crescent and Log Meadows, plus a bit of the Trail of the Sequoias...and then out for a few miles on the High Sierra Trail.

The HST gave us great views of the Great Western Divide...and made us start thinking of backpacking at least of part of this trail in the future...hmmm.

After visiting the grinding rocks off the Bobcat Trail (conveniently located in the afternoon shade...those Native Americans were no dummies) we headed back to camp having hiked about ten miles in total.

Day Three was our day to explore the Redwood Canyon Trails. We started with the Sugarbowl trail, and loved it. How can you not like a trailhead sign that quotes Honore de Balzac? This was a spectacular wander through massive trees...and it was a sacred privilege to enjoy this walk with only four other people. That's M, wandering below.

And after a lunch in the heart of one of these groves down in Redwood Canyon, we hiked back up the canyon to the trailhead through blooming dogwoods and towering redwoods.

To cap off the day, we decided to go to the Giant Forest after dinner---which turned out to be a really smart move. The parking lot had only a few cars, and we basically had the trees to ourselves. It was an almost perfect ending to the trip.

What was perfect was the next morning, when we saw a healthy young black bear hopping across the road on our way out of the park.

We'll be back, that's for sure.

Here are the photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/eGWEsjSDayEUYchZ9

[Love the Sierra]

Thank you for the trip report!
I LOVE Redwood Canyon. My absolute favorite place for Redwoods!
Where did you end up camping?

[balzaccom]

We were at Lodgepole for all three nights. The road to Big Meadow wasn't open, so that wasn't an option. While we were there, they opened up about 75 more sites at Lodgepole, leaving only that last long loop upriver closed.

[Love the Sierra]

Thanks. I actually try to avoid campgrounds. I get asthma from the campfires and the noise takes so much away from the lovely nights. When I car camp, I always try to go dispersed.
Wonderful pictures!

[cahiker]

Nice photos. Sounds like a fun trip.

A few years ago I took a leisurely backpacking trip into Redwood Canyon and camped in a Dogwood Grove. It was a really beautiful spot. The weird thing was that from the map we thought we would be near the creek, but the creek goes underground for a while. The falls at the end of the trail are nice too.

Apparently the canyon is its own small watershed and and there is a small research station to house the researchers.

[SweetSierra]

I enjoyed your report and photo of the beautiful fawn that looks like it had only recently outgrown its spots. I've been to Lodgepole and the redwood groves numerous times but haven't hiked that many trails there. Tokopa Falls trail is one I hiked (years ago) and it was great to see the falls again in your photos. I've hiked the HST from Crescent Meadow in a loop over Black Rock Pass. It's a beautiful hike.

[balzaccom]

Thanks for all the nice comments. We really enjoyed the trip--enough that we're planning more early seas adventures, both this year and in future years...