The side road to all of these attractions begins next to the museum. The view from Moro Rock. We followed the narrow Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road winding uphill from the museum a couple of miles to the parking lot for the trailhead to Crescent Meadow and Log Meadow. 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. At that time, CalTrans will close Highway 180 just beyond the junction with Hume Lake Road, 6 miles northeast of Grant Grove Village. For the volcanic plug in Morro Bay, see Morro Rock. It reopens in spring when snow melts. The road joins Highway 198 in the town of Three Rivers, about 6 miles south of the Sequoia park entrance. If you're planning to visit, learn how to minimize your wait at park entrances and find parking once you're here. The road becomes Generals Hwy. The trail becomes paved and passes a spur to the Big Trees Trail and Round Meadow, a worthwhile detour if you have the time and energy. At left, the Giant Forest spills off its plateau; at right are the snowy peaks of the Great Western Divide. Tire chains may be required on park roads any time it snows, usually fall through spring. After Tharp’s Log, the trail climbs over a low ridge and finally enters real sequoia forest. Moro Rock Sequoia National Park, California To count yourself among the hikers lucky enough to reach the summit of this 6,725-foot rock fin, make your way along the General’s Highway to Crescent Meadow Road—the Moro Rock turnoff is located at the southern end of the drive. Some river access is available. Instead, the trail winds through typical and very pleasant Sierra pine forest. Crescent Meadow Road winds through the Giant Forest Sequoia Grove, passing the Buttress Tree, Parker Group, Moro Rock, and Tunnel Log on the way to Crescent Meadow and Tharp’s Log. The redwoods become more common but smaller in this area. From CA-198 (the Generals Highway), you’ll turn east (right if coming from the south) onto Crescent … 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. 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. This certainly isn’t a wilderness hike, since it includes some the park’s biggest tourist attractions. Everywhere else you’ll pretty much have the trail to yourself. The Moro Rock Trail. The trail briefly vanishes at the rock face. To find the road, turn into Grant Grove Village parking lot, continue past the visitor center, then turn right just before John Muir Lodge. Follow the sign and turn right. Two roads lead from Highway 180 to Hume Lake, one from Princess Campground and one from Quail Flat. 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. national forest updates may be available online, chains and other winter driving information. Stay to the left, skirting the edge of the rock and crossing the creek, to pick up the trail again. Crescent Meadow is one of many beautiful and peaceful places in the Kings Canyon / Sequoia National Park. 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. 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. For an optional side trip, when the Moro Rock Trail meets a paved road, take the trail to the right toward Hanging Rock. The outbound half of this loop mostly passes through typical Sierra pine woodlands with some sweeping views, a few big trees, and a ch… This was the way to Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow, and a few other attractions that were on our must-see list. 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. The Moro Rock walk is a unique experience, and the Crescent Meadow trail is nearby for an up close encounter with giant Sequoias. This road generally opens the fourth Friday in April. The road from Princess Campground is usually open all year. This is due to rockfall from the cliffs, which is common once temperatures fall below freezing at night. There is a "Y" in the road approximately one mile up. The lush look mainly comes from the hazel shrubs that grow here. (in Sequoia National Forest south of Grant Grove) The trail crosses a little meadow and then descends toward Crescent Meadow. The Mineral King Road, Highway 180 into Cedar Grove, and … The trail winds through pine woods, offers a brief view of the Central Valley, and then passes through an area with lots of dead trees. The road between Hospital Rock Picnic Area and Giant Forest Museum is very curvy and narrow—use designated pullouts. Moro Rock Trailhead. The trail climbs up to Badger Point, where there’s a superb view to the west. Fortunately, it turns out to be a great walk. Parking in some areas has also become crowded. Crescent Meadows is at the end of very narrow road and offers a parking area and two meadows to view and spot wildlife. This road generally opens by the Wednesday before Memorial Day in late May and closes when it becomes impassable due to snow. At the top of the hill the trail emerges into an open area before beginning its descent down the other side of the hill. Part of the Trail Map of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Generals Highway (Redwood Hikes Press, 2013). Drive east past the turnoff for Moro Rock (A short and amazing hike). To access Moro Rock, Hanging Rock, Crescent Meadow, and the Tunnel Log, turn off Generals Highway at the Giant Forest Museum. The road is unpaved beyond the park entrance and may be rough for some vehicles; it is slippery during rainy or snowy weather. The trail then cuts over to Log Meadow, which has a few sequoias but still not that many. There is a. Click the picture to zoom in to a view of the trail that climbs the rock. It joins the Generals Highway opposite Quail Flat, south of Grant Grove. But only the Giant Forest Museum area and Moro Rock are really crowded. To get to the trailhead:Take Generals Highway (SR 198) east to Crescent Meadow Road, which is just south of the Giant Forest Museum. 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. Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow | Gray Route 2 . When: Weekends: 8:00 am and 8:45 am, then every 10 minutes 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. Here’s the trailhead location in Google Maps and Google Street View. 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. What is Moro Rock? Learn more about chains and other winter driving information before you plan your visit. The Crescent Meadow area can get a little busy; at peak times you might see a group every minute. You can park at Giant Forest Museum or any other shuttle stop and ride the free park shuttle along the road. Crescent Meadow John Muir is said to have called this lovely, grassy open area the "gem of the Sierra." As this is where several major trails begin, it's a perfect stop for day-trippers and families. 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. The Crystal Cave Road will not be open for the 2020 season, as cave tours are suspended due to COVID-19. Drive east past the turnoff for Moro Rock parking area. In winter, Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road closes with snow. Weekdays: 8:00 am and 8:45 am, then every 20 minutes 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. (in Sequoia National Forest northeast of Grant Grove) This road is not recommended for trailers or RV's. It dead-ends at a trailhead and picnic area. Just Past Tharp’s Log, the trail briefly passes through an area recently burned in a forest fire. Moro Rock-Crescent Meadow Rd, Sequoia National Park, CA Directions: Drive east on Hwy 198 into Sequoia National Park. Crescent Meadow is at the end of the road which leads to world-famous Moro Rock. It usually closes with snow and is not plowed. The road may be closed in winter or when the free park shuttle is in operation. Trail Map of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Generals Highway. It ends at South Fork Campground and Ladybug Trailhead. It is located 10 miles east of Moro Rock. This road is open only when Crystal Cave is open for tours. The Crescent Meadow Trailhead is 2.6 miles from the Giant Forest Museum via Crescent Meadow Road. Although it’s one of the more scenic sights of the hike, there aren’t actually a lot of sequoias around this meadow. In winter, tire chains are often required. Check this page for current information about what's currently open in the parks. Though ski trails lead to the parking area, the stairway is closed due to the danger of the icy or snowy steps. 93271, Generals Highway from Sequoia Park Entrance to Lodgepole, The road between Hospital Rock Picnic Area and Giant Forest Museum is very curvy and narrow, use designated pullouts. After three miles, the road ends at the Crescent Meadow Parking Area. 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. There is no drinking … Turn right just before the museum on Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road and follow the signs straight up to the Moro Rock parking lot. The trailhead for the loop through Crescent Meadow is just a mile from Moro Rock and is a great trail to visit in combination with this one. If you drive an RV or a vehicle with a trailer, check advisories before you visit. The Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road is currently open. Trailhead address: Crescent Meadow Road, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262 Interestingly, although the west side of the hill is much more lush, the sequoias are, at least at first, smaller. It may open earlier during years with little snow. The road to Hume Lake from Quail Flat closes with snow and reopens in spring when snow has melted. Along the Moro Rock-Crescent Meadow Road, you will see Auto Log, on which you can drive your car, and Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia that you can drive through. Closed until spring are Mineral King Road, Highway 180 into Cedar Grove, and Crystal Cave Road. Home > Sierra Nevada > Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks > Giant Forest > Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow More photos. 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