National Parks are home to some of the most incredible natural wonders in the country, and California is home to several stunning parks. The National Park system dates back to 1872, when Yellowstone became the first national park. Then, just a few years later, Sequoia National Park was formed on September 25, 1890. A few days later, on October 1, 1890, Yosemite National Park became the third National Park, signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison.
Sequoia National Park is known for its towering sequoia trees and is often called the Land of Giants due to their massive size. The park was created to protect the massive trees from logging, and soldiers were used to protect the land during the early years. In 1916, the National Park Service was created, putting civilians in charge of the parks rather than the military.
Understandably, the park’s main attraction is the impressive Sequoia trees. There are approximately 40 giant sequoia groves in the park, with one notable grove called the Giant Forest. The grove contains a high number of exceptionally large sequoias and has an extensive network of hiking trails. The park is also home to the largest tree by volume in the world, named The General Sherman Tree. The tree has a volume of 52,500 cubic ft, and reaches almost 275 feet tall. Wood from the tree could build approximately 120 houses, and the weight of the trunk is equal to 15 adult blue whales.
The national park has numerous activities for visitors, with hiking trails, horseback riding, camping sites, and rock climbing. The park is roughly a four-hour drive from San Francisco and is not far from Fresno, California.
You can learn more about Sequoia National Park here.