Sequoia National Park: General Sherman & Tunnel Log Small-Group Tour

The General Sherman Tree Rises 275 Feet, and You'll Stand at Its Base

You spend six hours in a small group exploring Sequoia's main attractions (the General Sherman Tree, Tunnel Log, Moro Rock, and Crescent Meadow) with an expert local guide driving an air-conditioned van. Lunch and park entry (for US residents) are included, so you show up and the logistics are handled. The pace is slow enough to actually absorb what you're seeing, not fast enough to feel rushed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sequoia National Park highlights

• Drive Generals Highway along Kaweah River
• Visit General Sherman Tree
• Climb to Moro Rock viewpoint
• Pass under Tunnel Log and walk Auto Log
• Enjoy picnic lunch at Crescent Meadow

The experience

The sound hits you first when the van pulls up to the General Sherman Tree: not a sound, really, but the weight of silence. You step out onto the forest floor and look up. The trunk is so wide that the sky seems to narrow around it. This is the largest tree on the planet, and the 6-hour Sequoia National Park tour from Three Rivers puts you in front of it early, before the day gets crowded, with a local guide who's been leading groups through these groves for years and knows which angles make you actually understand the scale.

The route follows the Generals Highway as it climbs from the Kaweah River through the lower foothills. You'll pass cream-colored yuccas and the world's largest protected Blue Oak woodland before the landscape shifts into giant sequoia territory. The van is air-conditioned, which matters because the elevation gain is real and the road winds. Along the way, the guide points out the Great Western Divide of the Sierra Nevada, and you realize why people drove this route a hundred years ago just to see it. Then comes Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia so massive you can walk straight through it, and Moro Rock, where you can climb to a viewpoint if you want the panorama, or skip it and stay at the base. Neither choice feels wrong.

Lunch is a picnic by Crescent Meadow with your choice of sandwich (ham and cheese, turkey, tuna salad, vegetarian, or peanut butter and jelly, you pick 24 hours ahead, or they bring turkey and cheese). Bottled water, snacks, and hot chocolate in winter are included. The tour isn't a hiking trip. The stops are short walks designed so you can stand still and look, not rush between checkpoints. You'll also get a complementary Sequoia growing kit to take home and microspikes for your shoes if the ground is icy.

Park entry is included if you're a US resident (bring proof of ID or passport). Non-US residents pay an additional fee at the start of the tour: the company doesn't collect it upfront. The minimum group size is three people. If that doesn't happen, you'll get a refund by 8pm the night before. Tours run year-round, and kids as young as 8 can come along. Strollers work for infants, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or local pickup (arrange with the operator), air-conditioned vehicle transport, park entry fee for US residents, a picnic lunch with your choice of sandwich, bottled water and snacks, hot chocolate during winter months, a complementary Sequoia growing kit, and a local expert guide. Microspikes are provided if conditions require them.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sequoia Sightseeing Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Sequoia's signature trees and viewpoints in one morning without arranging your own transport, park tickets, or timing: the fixed schedule and included lunch mean you arrive and the day unfolds.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

210 verified traveler reviews

5 ★202

4 ★3

3 ★3

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 12 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the tour?

Six hours total, departing from Three Rivers.

Is park entry included?

Yes, for US residents with valid ID or passport. Non-US residents pay an additional fee at the start of the tour.

What's included in lunch?

A sandwich of your choice (ham and cheese, turkey, tuna, vegetarian, or peanut butter and jelly), bottled water, snacks, and hot chocolate in winter. Choose your sandwich 24 hours ahead or receive turkey and cheese by default.

Is this a hiking tour?

No. Stops involve short walks to view the trees and scenery, not extended hikes. It's suitable for all fitness levels.

What if the tour doesn't have enough people?

The minimum is three participants. If that's not met, the company cancels and refunds you by 8pm the night before.

Do I need to bring anything?

Bring a valid US ID or passport. Microspikes for icy conditions are provided if needed.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are welcome on the tour.