The General Sherman Tree: Everything to Know!

All around the world there are gigantic trees. But what if I told you the largest tree in the world was located on the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California?  That’s right, the largest tree in the world is the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park!

While yes, there are taller trees in the world, this Giant Sequoia has the largest volume.  This means you have to consider not just the height, but also the width and circumference.  

The General Sherman Tree is 275 feet tall, 103 feet in circumference, 36.5 feet wide, approximately 2,200 years old, and is still growing!  For reference, that means that if a group of men who were all approximately 6 feet tall walked up to the tree and wrapped their arms around it, it would take over 17 of them to go all the way around!

But enough about the measurements, let’s get into everything you need to know to see the General Sherman Tree!

Important Links

• Sequoia National Park website
• General Sherman Trail – AllTrails Link
• Where to Park
• Moro Rock Trail – Nearby, Must-Do Hike!
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Always Be Prepared on the Trails

Location

Jumping right in with everything you need to know about the General Sherman Tree, let’s start with the location of the tree. As you probably already know, this Giant Sequoia is located in Sequoia National Park.  

The closest town where you can stay is Three Rivers, CA, which is about 45 minutes away.  This town is small, but has several hotel/inn options.  

But if you are looking to road trip to/through Sequoia, you’ll be looking at a decent drive.  You’ll be looking at about a 2.5 hour drive from Fresno, CA, a 3 hour drive from Bakersfield, CA and a 7 hour drive from Las Vegas, NV.  

Quick Note – Need to Know!

Before we get into all the awesome details about the General Sherman Tree, here are a few things to remember.

1. The General Sherman Tree has a fence around it for a reason.  Do not go past the fence.  The roots are very shallow on these giant trees and they need to be protected.
2. The General Sherman Tree stands at an altitude of nearly 7,000 feet.  If you are not acclimated, you might feel out of breath.  Make sure to take breaks and drink plenty of water.
3. There are many road closures in the winter and early spring months.  Make sure you plan ahead and check the website ahead of time.

Ok, let’s get into all the details now!

National Park Fees 

All National Parks have a fee to enter, and Sequoia National Park is no different.  A Standard Pass is $35 per private vehicle and $30 per motorcycle.  This is the pass that most people will be purchasing, and is good for 7 days in both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Annual Pass Options

If you are planning on visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks more than 2 times in a 12 month period, you might be interested in their Annual Pass.  The Annual Pass for Sequoia and Kings Canyon is $70 and is good for 1 year from the purchase date.  This pass gets you, your ID and a car-full of guests into the park for free during this time.

Now, if you’re more interested in visiting several national parks within a year, you’ll want to invest in the America the Beautiful Resident Pass. For all US residents, you can purchase this pass for $80 and visit all federal recreation areas, in a 12-month period, without any further fees!  

In short, if you are visiting more than 3 national parks in a year, this pass is worth buying.  My husband and I have bought this pass for the last 5 years and have saved a fortune.  

But enough about the fees and location, let’s get to where you’ll need to park!

Parking

The General Sherman Tree brings in thousands and thousands of visitors each year.  And in order to accommodate this number of visitors, there needs to be a pretty big parking area.  In short, you’ll be parking here.

Each day, especially on weekends, this parking lot will fill up and be a bit of a nightmare. So I highly suggest getting there early to beat the crowds.  Unforfortunately, this parking lot is a bit far from the actual tree, and even worse, it’s all downhill to get there.

But why is the downhill part bad?  Because this means you’ll have to walk entirely uphill to get back to your car.  Let’s discuss the trail stats real quick, so you know what you’re getting into.

Trail Stats

• Distance: 1.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: ~200 feet (all on the way back to your car)
• Time on Trail: 30 mins – 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy, except for the incline back to your car.

The Trail

After you’ve parked your car, you’ll look for the trailhead, which is right next to the bathrooms.  The path is paved, but also has many stairs (see photo above).  You’ll follow it down, down, down until you reach the loop and fenced part of the trail.  

From here, you can either go left or right and the trail will lead you past a fallen tree that you can walk through, dozens of incredibly large trees, a slice of a tree propped up along the trail, and finally, the General Sherman Tree.

This trail is flat and paved, but don’t forget, you still have to get back to your car.  

Once you’ve had your fill of this incredible grove, you will begin your ascent back to your car.  Now, if you are used to hiking, walking distances, or you exercise regularly, this trail will be pretty easy.

However, if you are new to hiking, this might be a bit of a challenge for you, especially considering the elevation here.  I highly suggest taking your time, resting as you need to, and not pushing your limits.  Once you’re back to your car, you can head over to the visitor center and check out all the incredible facts about the park!

Summer Option – The Shuttle

If you are hiking this trail in the summer, there is another option for you, the shuttle.  This shuttle is located at the opposite end of the loop where you came down the steep part of the trail.  It’s right by the road and there are a few pit toilets here.  

In the summer, this shuttle will pick you up and then drive you back up to the parking lot where you parked.  There might be a line, but it is better than struggling up that hill.

Accessible Option 

Another option is if you have a handicap placard, you can park right by where the shuttle picks you up.  This is perfect for all visitors who can’t do the walk but still want to see the incredible giant that is the General Sherman Tree.  

Quick History of Tree

While the history of the tree isn’t exactly “need to know”, I still think it’s interesting.  So here’s a super brief history.  

In 1879 a trapper named James Wolverton discovered the tree.  He named the tree General Sherman after the American Civil War general that he served under.  In fact, many of the trees are named after civil war leaders as the explorers were often veterans.  Hence the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon.

The General Sherman Tree and the surrounding area became officially protected in 1890 when this area was declared a US National Park.  The trees in the area were officially protected from logging and would be enjoyed for generations to come.  

Our Hike

My husband and I hiked the General Sherman Trail in March of 2026.  We arrived at 7am and were the 2nd car in the parking lot.  We then hiked down to the General Sherman Tree and stood in awe of its size!

The trail was just about empty and we practically had the place to ourselves. It did start to get crowded just as we continued on the Congress Trail.  This trail is an additional 2.2 miles that I highly suggest adding!  Even if you have to take it slow, this trail is loaded with incredible Giant Sequoia Trees.

That day we also hiked the Trail of the Sequoias loop, part of the Tharp’s Log Trail, and the Crescent Meadow Trail.  Then we made our way back on the Congress Trail and headed back up the hill to our vehicle.  

In all, we hiked about 12 miles while surrounded by some of the largest trees in the world.  The hours spent here were incredible!  If you have the time and the ability, I highly suggest you add on a few of these extra trails.  

Conclusion

Sequoia National Park is home to the largest living tree in the world, the General Sherman Tree.  While not the tallest, this tree is the largest by volume.

Between the easy trail and the largest tree in the world just a few hours from Fresno, CA, you won’t want to miss the General Sherman Tree!

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions about the area!

-Happy Hiking!