Notes: Sequoia National Park, America's 2nd national park, was established on September 25, 1890 when President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation which preserved Garfield Grove of giant redwoods, Hockett Meadow, and other areas along the South Fork of Kaweah River as a public park, or pleasure ground, for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Just 6 days later, on October 1, 1890, President Harrison signed additional legislation which established Yosemite National Park and General Grant National Park (which, 50 years later, became part of Kings Canyon National Park) and nearly tripled the size of Sequoia National Park to include Giant Forest.

On July 3, 1926, Sequoia National Park more than doubled in size again after President Calvin Coolidge signed legislation which moved the eastern park boundary to the Sierra Crest, thereby including Kern Canyon, and adjusted the northern park boundary to follow Silliman Crest and the Kings-Kern Divide. On December 21, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation which added the Buckeye Housing Area and included several land exchanges with Southern California Edison. On August 14, 1958, the size of the park shrank slightly when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation which transferred Cabin Cove and Summit Meadow to Sequoia National Game Refuge in Sequoia National Forest.

On November 10, 1978, Sequoia National Park expanded yet again after President James E. Carter signed legislation which added Mineral King Valley to the park. Sequoia National Park expanded for the last time on December 28, 2000, when President William J. Clinton signed legislation which added most of Dillonwood Grove to the park.

Today, Sequoia National Park encompasses over 631 mi² (1,635 km²) of terrain and receives more than 1,200,000 visitors annually. Together, Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park contain 866 mi (1,394 km) of hiking trails.

Sequoia National Park includes the world's largest tree (General Sherman), the tallest giant redwood (Near Sherman), the giant redwood with the largest crown (President), the fastest-growing giant redwood (Burgeon), the redwood with the most leaves (General Sherman), the tree with the world's largest branch (Arm), 4 of the 5 oldest living redwoods (Cleveland, General Sherman, President, and Washington), 5 of the 10 largest trees on Earth (Franklin, General Sherman, King Arthur, Lincoln, and President), and 15 of the 30 largest giant redwoods (Above Diamond, Adams, Chief Sequoyah, Column, Diamond, Floyd Otter, Franklin, General Pershing, General Sherman, King Arthur, Lincoln, Monroe, Near Gothic Arch, Near Lincoln, and President). The park contains 47 trees larger than 25,000 ft³ (708 m³), 29 trees larger than 30,000 ft³ (850 m³), 11 trees larger than 35,000 ft³ (991 m³), 6 trees larger than 40,000 ft³ (1,133 m³), and 2 trees larger than 45,000 ft³ (1,274 m³).

General Sherman is the largest tree, Near Sherman is the tallest tree, and President is the oldest tree in Sequoia National Park.

Sequoia National Park is directly in the path of the May 3, 2106 total solar eclipse.

Sequoia National Park includes 24 giant redwood groves:

Sequoia National Park includes the following giant redwoods:

Visit nps.gov/seki for seasonal hours, current entrance fees, and more information.

Drive: Lodgepole Visitor Center in Sequoia National Park is located at 63100 Lodgepole Road 219 mi (352 km) southeast of San Francisco, near Fresno.

Northbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 North, transfer to California State Route 99 North toward Bakersfield. Drive north 97 mi (156 km) on California State Route 99 and transfer to California State Route 198 East toward Visalia. Drive east 65 mi (105 km) on California State Route 198, past the park entrance station (entrance fee required), and turn right onto Lodgepole Road.

Southbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 South in Sacramento, transfer to U.S. Highway 50 East toward South Lake Tahoe. Drive east 1.7 mi (2.7 km) on U.S. Highway 50 and transfer to California State Highway 99 South. Near Fresno, transfer to California State Route 180 East. Drive east 56 mi (90 km) on California State Route 180, past the Kings Canyon National Park entrance station (entrance fee required), and turn right onto California State Route 198 West. Drive south 24 mi (39 km) on California State Route 198 and turn left onto Lodgepole Road.

Photos: Pictures of Sequoia National Park