Vehicle-length limits and advisories are in place on some roads, including the Generals Highway. Moro Rock-Crescent Meadow Rd, Sequoia National Park, CA Directions: Drive east on Hwy 198 into Sequoia National Park. After passing over a little rise, the sceney improves dramatically as the trail descends slightly into a lush and very attractive sequoia grove, where some huge trees stand by a little brook in a shallow glen. There are no gas stations within these national parks. Parking in some areas has also become crowded. The road is narrow, so RVs and trailers are not permitted. Closed until spring are Mineral King Road, Highway 180 into Cedar Grove, and Crystal Cave Road. There is a. If your vehicle is longer than 22 feet, consider using the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park along Highway 180. There is a "Y" in the road approximately one mile up. The stately old growth, which is very open, pine-scented and remarkably quiet, is typical of the Giant Forest. Follow the Hazelwood Trail toward the Giant Forest Museum. It is generally open from mid May to late September, though it may close if the cave closes unexpectedly due to weather conditions or other hazards. Continue on to the end of the road past the almost always fil… The Moro Rock Trailhead is south of the Giant Forest Museum. This road is generally open daily until it becomes impassable due to snow, and is then plowed from Friday to Sunday plus Wednesday and holidays to allow access to the snowplay area at the end of the road. When: Weekends: 8:00 am and 8:45 am, then every 10 minutes 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. This road leads to campgrounds, trailheads, and a pack station. A prominent spur to the right leads to the Chimney Tree, a rather severely damaged hollow tree with little hole in the bottom where you can walk in. The trail pushes through some dense brush and then climbs to a somewhat anticlimatic ovoid boulder sitting on a granite outcropping with a view to the west. Even though visitors can’t drive here any more in the summer (most people take the shuttle), the rock is still one of the park’s main attractions and on a nice summer weekend there’s a nearly constant stream of people clomping up and down the narrow, winding steps carved into the rock. The rock isn’t as busy before 10 am, but the views are better in the afternoon when the sun illuminates the mountains to the east. There is no drinking … (in Sequoia National Forest south of Grant Grove) To reach this road from Visalia, head east on CA-198 through the town of Three Rivers. This section of the highway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, and remains open unless impassable due to weather or snowy conditions. It dead-ends at a trailhead and picnic area. This road is typically open year-round. From Generals Hwy, you can drive up Crescent Meadow Road to the parking lot at the base of Moro Rock (summer weekends the road is closed for shuttles only). You can actually hike to Crescent Meadow from Moro Rock on Sugar Pine Trail. Click the picture to zoom in to a view of the trail that climbs the rock. There are no gas stations within these national parks. The best part of the side trail isn’t Hanging Rock but the dramatic views of Moro Rock, which actually looks a lot more impressive from this vantage point than it does when climbing it. At the top of the hill the trail emerges into an open area before beginning its descent down the other side of the hill. This area has some really impressive sequoias. On Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, long lines of cars have extended from the entrance stations. Back on the Moro Rock Trail, the route jogs to the right as it crosses the road, then continues through a pine forest and soon arrives at the busy Moro Rock parking area and shuttle stop. Since 2011 visitors haven’t been allowed to drive to Crescent Meadow on summer weekends, so the only ways to get to Crescent Meadow is to take a shuttle or walk. Overall, the constantly-changing scenery and many points of interest make this a really fun hike and a great introduction to the Giant Forest. Crescent Meadow John Muir is said to have called this lovely, grassy open area the "gem of the Sierra." Drive east past the turnoff for Moro Rock parking area. Moro Rock, seen from the side trail to Hanging Rock. Three Rivers, CA Tire chains may be required on park roads any time it snows, usually fall through spring. On weekends, the road closes to private vehicles and shuttles are the only way to reach Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. For an optional side trip, when the Moro Rock Trail meets a paved road, take the trail to the right toward Hanging Rock. This road is open only when Crystal Cave is open for tours. Back on the main trail, turn right at the next intersection, following the sign toward the Sherman Tree, then turn left onto the Huckleberry Meadow Trail. The Moro Rock walk is a … After reaching Crescent and Log Meadows, the loop returns through the stately old growth of the Giant Forest, passing through several different environments. Along the way, travelers can drive beneath Tunnel Log, a Sequoia that fell over the road. The meadow lies at the end of a three-mile paved road which leaves the Generals Highway near the Giant Forest Museum. When we finally managed to get back to driving, we decided to follow the small road to the left of the Giant Forest Museum. Turn left onto the High Sierra Trail and then immediately right onto the paved Tharp Log Trail, which briefly skirts Crescent Meadow. This side trip adds 0.2 miles to the hike. Interestingly, although the west side of the hill is much more lush, the sequoias are, at least at first, smaller. The right takes you to Moro Rock and the left takes you to Tunnel Log and Crescent Meadow. Be sure to fill your tanks before you enter the park, or ensure that you have enough gas to reach one of the two gas stations in the neighboring national forest: Hume Lake (open year round) and Stony Creek Resort (open summer only). Peregrine falcons nest on Moro Rock in summer, and there are usually climbing closures for technical rock climbers to protect nests. The gates are generally open from the Wednesday before Memorial Day to the last Wednesday in October. Tire chains can be required at any time on park roads and are available for purchase or rent at locations near park entrance stations. The viewing area at the top of Moro Rock It’s a fun climb up to the top of the rock. After three miles, the road ends at the Crescent Meadow Parking Area. To get to the trailhead:Take Generals Highway (SR 198) east to Crescent Meadow Road, which is just south of the Giant Forest Museum. It enters the park at 2,225 feet then almost immediantly goes through a series of loose switchbacks all the way up to 6,650 feet and a sign for Moro Rock. In winter, tire chains are often required. Moro Rock is a granite dome located in the center of the park, at the head of Moro Creek, … Home > Sierra Nevada > Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks > Giant Forest > Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow More photos. On a few of the busiest days, cars have waited over an hour to get through. The Crystal Cave Road will not be open for the 2020 season, as cave tours are suspended due to COVID-19. The section of road built by the Buffalo Soldiers extends from Crystal Cave along what is today the Crystal Cave Road (7 miles) to the Generals Highway, then north on the Generals Highway to Round Meadow (2.5 miles), and to Moro Rock on the Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road (1.7 miles), a turnoff by the Giant Forest Museum. Follow the sign and turn right. The trail climbs a small hill studded with half a dozen immense sequoias. In heavy snow years, the road may open later than usual. At Giant Forest Village turn southeast onto Crescent Meadow Rd. Here’s the trailhead location in Google Maps and Google Street View. In summer when the free park shuttles are running (usually from late May to early September), the road closes to private vehicles on weekends and holidays from morning through late afternoon. Just Past Tharp’s Log, the trail briefly passes through an area recently burned in a forest fire. The road to Hume Lake from Quail Flat closes with snow and reopens in spring when snow has melted. It joins the Generals Highway opposite Quail Flat, south of Grant Grove. Instead, the trail winds through typical and very pleasant Sierra pine forest. The trail then cuts over to Log Meadow, which has a few sequoias but still not that many. At left, the Giant Forest spills off its plateau; at right are the snowy peaks of the Great Western Divide. In winter, Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road closes with snow. Hume Lake remains accessible year-round. The Moro Rock Trail, which is well marked with a big wooden sign, begins across the street to the right of the Giant Forest Museum. There’s a rather impressive cluster of sequoias just past Moro Rock, but otherwise there aren’t any sequoias between here and Crescent Meadow. At that time, CalTrans will close Highway 180 just beyond the junction with Hume Lake Road, 6 miles northeast of Grant Grove Village. The side road to all of these attractions begins next to the museum. Fortunately, it turns out to be a great walk. However, in 2020, the road opened June 4 and closes at noon on November 16. The parking area is just off the Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road. Parker Group. The road is unpaved beyond the park entrance and may be rough for some vehicles; it is slippery during rainy or snowy weather. Everywhere else you’ll pretty much have the trail to yourself. No drinking water is available along this road, so be sure to take some with you. It may open earlier during years with little snow. Turn right just before the museum on Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road and follow the signs straight up to the Moro Rock parking lot. This road generally opens by the Wednesday before Memorial Day in late May and closes when it becomes impassable due to snow. The trail briefly vanishes at the rock face. If you're planning to visit, learn how to minimize your wait at park entrances and find parking once you're here. Moro Rock is easy to get to, particularly if you are allowed to take your private vehicle to the parking area (which depends on the time of year). It generally opens on the Wednesday before Memorial Day in late May and closes when it becomes impassable due to snow. Sugar Pine Trail: 1.4: 200: The Sugar Pine Trail links Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow, running through the forest a little way south of the paved Crescent Meadow Road. The Moro Rock-Crescent Meadow Road The Moro Rock-Crescent Meadow Road leaves the General's Highway from Giant Forest Village and travels for 3 miles through the southwest portion of the Giant Forest. The free seasonal shuttle bus (summer only) stops at the small parking lot, which is often full. The view from Moro Rock. For the volcanic plug in Morro Bay, see Morro Rock. This main highway is closed occasionally during and after snowstorms for plowing. When the road is closed, it becomes a ski trail. This unpaved road leads from the Generals Highway to Redwood Mountain Trailhead. It reopens in spring when snow melts. Trailhead address: Crescent Meadow Road, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262 To get to the trailhead: Just south of the Giant Forest Museum, turn off the Generals Highway and head east on Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow Road. Dogs and mountain bikes are not allowed on the trail to Moro Rock. This road generally opens the fourth Friday in April. The paved trail climbs gently as it returns to the Giant Forest Museum. The road from Princess Campground is usually open all year. Some river access is available. Drive east past the turnoff for Moro Rock (A short and amazing hike). It generally opens on the Wednesday before Memorial Day in late May and closes when it becomes impassable due to weather. Near the south end the path runs alongside a small elongated meadow, crosses the Crescent Meadow Road then meets the Moro Rock Trail shortly before the final climb to the overlook. Check this page for current information about what's currently open in the parks. What is Moro Rock? Crescent Meadow is at the end of the road which leads to world-famous Moro Rock. Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road. Road closures begin just north of Wuksachi Lodge, ending at a gate near the junction of the Generals Highway and Highway 180 (near Grant Grove). Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow | Gray Route 2 . (in Sequoia National Forest northeast of Grant Grove) If you drive an RV or a vehicle with a trailer, check advisories before you visit. It is located 10 miles east of Moro Rock. Weekdays: 8:00 am and 8:45 am, then every 20 minutes 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. Fortunately, it turns out to be a great walk. The road offers the option of taking a passageway through a fallen Sequoia log or driving around on a short bypass. It ends at South Fork Campground and Ladybug Trailhead. The redwoods become more common but smaller in this area. I’ve seen visitors hiking the loop as far as Tharp’s Log and then taking the shuttle back from Crescent Meadow, but in so doing they miss the best of the giant sequoias. The Mineral King Road, Highway 180 into Cedar Grove, and … At the intersection with the Badger Point Trail, go right; the trail emerges onto a sunny granite face where a crystal-clear creek cascades down a little channel carved into the rock. The trail climbs up to Badger Point, where there’s a superb view to the west. This road is not recommended for trailers or RV's. Located further away from the main road and Moro Rock, you can find the solitude Muir sought with the flowers and deer that occupy this space. Weather and chain control advisories can change rapidly, often multiple times per day. After three miles, the road ends at the Crescent Meadow Parking Area. To access Moro Rock, Hanging Rock, Crescent Meadow, and the Tunnel Log, turn off Generals Highway at the Giant Forest Museum. Click map to show all roads and trails At the Squatters Cabin, a stout, well-built little log cabin next to an attractive cluster of big sequoias, turn right. On weekdays, the road remains open, but the small parking area may fill. The scenery gets increasingly lush, with ferns carpeting the ground and leafy mountain dogwood above, as the trail descends into a densely-wooded and exceptionally attractive glen, one of the best parts of the Giant Forest. Stay to the left, skirting the edge of the rock and crossing the creek, to pick up the trail again.