Sequoia National Forest

Protecting some of the world's most iconic giant sequoia groves in the southern Sierra Nevada, Sequoia National Forest spans nearly 1.2 million acres adjacent to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The forest encompasses the Giant Sequoia National Monument, established in 2000 to protect 328,000 acres of the most significant sequoia groves on Forest Service land, including ancient trees over 2,000 years old reaching heights of 250 feet with trunks over 30 feet in diameter. The Kern River, a National Wild and Scenic River, carves through the heart of the forest providing some of the best whitewater rafting and kayaking in California on the Upper and Lower Kern. The Golden Trout Wilderness protects the native habitat of California's state freshwater fish, the golden trout, found in remote high-elevation streams, while the Trail of 100 Giants offers one of the most accessible giant sequoia experiences available. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the western foothills to over 12,000 feet along the Sierra crest, supporting ecological zones from blue oak savanna to alpine fell-fields, with over 800 miles of trails connecting it all. The forest has been at the forefront of prescribed fire management, recognizing that giant sequoias depend on periodic fire for seed germination and grove health.