Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park exists to protect the largest living things on Earth: the giant sequoias, colossal trees that grow only on the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada. Established in 1890 as America's second national park, it was created specifically to save these ancient giants from logging, and walking among them is a genuinely humbling experience.

Among the biggest trees on the planet

The star is General Sherman, reckoned the largest tree on Earth by volume, an ancient behemoth so vast it defies photographs. It stands in the Giant Forest alongside thousands of other towering sequoias. But the park rises far higher than its famous groves: beyond the trees lie granite domes, deep canyons and the jagged peaks of the Great Western Divide, culminating in the High Sierra backcountry. Climb the stairs up Moro Rock for a dizzying panorama, or descend into Crystal Cave's marble chambers.

For a UK family, standing beside a tree older than most civilisations, and craning your neck to a canopy 80 metres up, is the sort of scale nothing in Britain can prepare you for. Teens fall unexpectedly quiet in the Giant Forest.

You come to Sequoia to stand at the foot of General Sherman and feel the weight of deep time. These giant sequoias are the biggest trees on Earth, some over two thousand years old, and no photo prepares you for the reality, walking beneath them, necks craned, is the kind of scale that silences even the most jaded teenager. Britain has ancient oaks and grand forests, but nothing remotely like this. Beyond the groves, the park climbs into proper high country: the granite bulk of Moro Rock, whose staircase delivers a heart-in-mouth view across the Great Western Divide, and the marble halls of Crystal Cave below. It's a park that rewards looking both up and out. For a family, it combines genuine awe with accessible, rewarding walks, and pairs neatly with neighbouring Kings Canyon. Few places make you feel so small, so gladly.

A car is essential to reach and move around Sequoia, but in the busy Giant Forest area a free seasonal shuttle links the main sights, General Sherman, Moro Rock, the museum and lodges, which is well worth using to avoid limited, congested parking. The park's main artery, the Generals Highway, winds up from the foothills through the Giant Forest and on towards Kings Canyon, a scenic but steep and twisting road that demands care and can be slow. In winter, higher sections may require tyre chains or close altogether with snow, so check conditions before setting off. Distances feel longer than the map suggests because of the terrain. Fuel up before entering, as services inside are minimal, and allow generous time between points, this is not a park for hurried driving.

There is no public transport from Fresno or elsewhere to Sequoia, so a hire car is essential for getting to the park. Once inside, however, a free seasonal shuttle serves the Giant Forest area in peak summer, ferrying visitors between General Sherman, Moro Rock and other key stops, a genuine help given tight parking. Beyond that shuttle zone, you'll rely on your own vehicle to reach the wider park and neighbouring Kings Canyon. For a UK family, the approach is clear: hire a car at Fresno airport, drive up to the park, then lean on the in-park shuttle where it operates to sidestep the busiest car parks.

• Take the shuttle to General Sherman in peak season, the walk down is easy but the return climb catches people out at altitude.
• Climb Moro Rock early or late to dodge crowds on its narrow staircase, and check it's clear of ice or snow first.
• Crystal Cave requires a separate, advance-booked ticket and isn't sold at the cave itself, sort it before you arrive.
• The Giant Forest Museum is a superb, low-effort orientation, start there to make sense of the sequoias.
• Remember the altitude, the groves sit around 2,000 metres, so pace teens and stay hydrated.
• Watch for black bears and store food properly; bear-proof lockers are provided at trailheads and campsites.

Sequoia's weather is all about altitude: the park climbs from warm foothills to snowy high country, so conditions vary enormously with elevation. In the giant sequoia groves, around 2,000 metres, summers are pleasantly mild and clear, ideal for walking, though afternoons can bring thunderstorms; nights are cool even in July, so pack a warm layer. The lower entrance areas are hot in summer. Winter transforms the higher park into a snowy landscape, roads may require chains or close entirely, and the sequoias under snow are magical but demand proper cold-weather gear. Spring and autumn are lovely but changeable. For a summer visit, bring layers, sturdy shoes, sun protection and a waterproof; for winter, full snow kit. Whatever the season, expect a real chill once the sun drops at altitude.

The main gateway is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), around an hour and a half by road from Sequoia's foothill entrance, the closest practical airport. From the UK there are no direct flights to Fresno, so you'll connect through a major hub such as Los Angeles or San Francisco, both of which take direct flights from London and other UK cities and are popular start points for a wider California road trip. Many families fold Sequoia (and neighbouring Kings Canyon) into a Sierra Nevada loop that might also include Yosemite. However you arrive, a hire car is essential; there's no viable public transport to the park. The drive up from Fresno climbs steadily into the mountains, so allow time and expect winding sections near the top, straightforward for a UK family used to twisty roads, but not a route to rush.