Need info about when to travel, what to see around, where to stay, etc in Sequoia national forest
Hi
I stay in Portland, OR. I want to plan a trip to Sequoia national forest in CA, to see the giant redwood trees. Could someone help me with
1) when is the best time to visit?
2) How to reach there by air/car? If I drive what other places can I cover on the way?
3) Accommodation in that area. where to stay ? How long can I spend there? What else is there nearby to see.
Reply to this I'm confused. Do you mean Redwood National Park (which has the giant redwood trees)? Or do you mean Sequoia National Park which has giant sequoia trees? I've been to both places. Redwood National Park is closer to Portland, Oregon but I want to make sure I know what you are referring to before I comment further.
Reply to this oh! thanks for correcting me.. i guess i got confused too... if it isn't too much to ask, can you give me information about both the places?
Reply to this Well, the redwoods are located in a number of small national and state parks along the northern coast of California from the Oregon border down to the town of Eureka. These are about one days drive from Portland. Go to your local Barnes & Noble and buy a California road map for 5 or 6 bucks and you'll be able to see all the details. The very best places are Redwoods National Park near Crescent City, California, and the Avenue of the Giants area just south of Eureka. Plenty of small motels and camp sites are available.
Sequoia National Park is another days drive south of the Redwoods area and inland, along the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Again, check the road map for details. The sequoia trees are not as tall as the northern redwoods, but they are larger in girth and larger overall. There are campsites in the park but you'll need to make sure you have reservations in the summer. Because the national park is deep into the mountains, and a climb of several thousand feet, there really are no towns with motels close to the park sites.
Reply to this Thank you for the information. What is the best time to visit Sequoia National Park? I read through some information on the web and there are constant cautions of danger due to flooding, etc? How serious are these? What would be the best way to reach the campgrounds in Sequoia Park? Which is the nearest airport? Or will driving from Portland be a better option?
Reply to this Floods? Sequoia is high in the mountains -- above 7,000 feet -- so there's not much water above you to flood you. Anytime but winter is good for Sequoia.
Driving from Portland will take 2 days each way but will save you rental car charges. Buy that road map from Barnes & Noble to see the exact route. Alternatively you can fly into San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose and drive 4 hours to get to Sequoia. Make sure you check Southwest Airlines for the cheapest flights. Or, you can fly into Fresno or Bakersfield California and drive only an hour or two into Sequoia. Airfare will be more expensive but car rental will probably be less and you'll be closer to your destination. It's all about making choices.
Reply to this Thank you once again. What else would you suggest that I visit near Sequoia? Any places worth covering around the 100 mile radius? Please let me know.
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