General Sherman Tree — Attraction in Exeter

Quite a sight to see! The drive takes a bit of time as you wind through many sharp turns on the road to the tree. You travel up to 7,000 ft elevation quickly, so some people may feel the affects of that.

Once you arrive in the main parking lot, you will find restrooms and the start of the path to the tree. The walk is a downhill from the parking lot, and you will have an elevation change of over 200 feet. All Trails lists it as an EASY trail, but it could be quite difficult for many, especially the walk back up the hill to the main parking lot.

At the tree, you are able to view it from sides. There are multiple benches to sit at to enjoy the view.

There are multiple paths available at the base of the tree that can take you through other areas to explore.

If the climb back up the hill would be too difficult, there was a shuttle available near the base of the tree that could be taken back up to the main parking lot. It may only be available during the summer season, but I am not sure. If you have a handicap placard, there is a parking lot available near the base of the tree.

The climb back up to the main parking lot looked manageable, but I saw many people struggling along the path. There are many benches and areas for you to sit down and rest as you make your way up the hill. Many signs remind you to take it slow due to the high elevation.

Be sure to take water to stay hydrated and allow yourself plenty of time to explore the area. We did not expect the drive to take so long, so we had to cut our trip a little shorter...

We visited Sequoia National Park as part of a wider road trip. They were mandating snow chains be carried that day... Our rental didn't come with them and the conditions didn't require our vehicle type to actually put them on unless conditions worsened significantly but we still had to get some. There are shops close to the gateway that sell them to you... If you return them in good condition, they give you a small amount back, so if you visit during winter and don't have chains, expect the additional expense.

I must say, the roads were rated at R1 (R0 being the best and R3 being the worst) and vehicles without snow tyres were being made to put the chains on, about 15 miles beyond the gateway. I cannot see why because the roads we used to travel the 7000 ft elevation were about as clear as they can get... I guess caution has to win out in the mountains.

The drive from the gateway is around 1 hour. The road up to Sherman is incredibly windy, so expect some slow and and very tight bends. Experienced drivers recommended. You will get some amazing views and there are plenty of places to stop and get out of your vehicle for better vistas and photos. Driving through Giants Forest is breathtaking.

Once there, parking can be tricky but it is a short and easy walk from the Sherman car park.

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING surroundings, made even more beautiful by the snow. Incredibly peaceful, even with other visitors there. General Sherman is...

The General Sherman is the largest tree in the world by volume. It 275 feet (83 metres) and 36 feet (11 meters) in diameter at the base. It is a true giant and probably the most famous individual tree in the United States, making it a must-see attraction in the Sequoia National Park.

The tree is located along a small trail by the same name. This is a short 1/2 mile trail which includes a handful of other interesting things to see such as a giant sequoia tree slab from the logging era, a downed sequoia with a walking tunnel and a handful of information panels providing informations.

There is a small carpark at the trailhead with only a handful of spots. We managed to park here by visiting early in the morning. By midday, it was full both times we passed by. If this happens, you can park elsewhere and use the free park shuttle service to visit the General Sherman Tree and trail. Look up these locations on the NPS Sequoia and Kings Canyon website.

Tip: If you want unobstructed photos of the General Sherman tree, try to visit first thing in the morning. This is when you can see the tree on your own. If you visit midday, you'll find a constant stream of tourists taking pictures in front of General Sherman.

Note: There are connecting trails such as the Congress Trail, provide further opportunity to see hundreds of other giant sequoia trees. These can be easily and conveniently combined with visits to see the General...