Finally, I have learned the difference between the redwood trees and the sequoia trees. The coastal redwoods are the tallest trees while the sequoias are the largest by volume. The sequoias may not be quite as tall as the redwoods but they are much wider. I have been to the redwood forests a few times and admired the beauty of these tall beautiful trees but I’ve never seen a sequoia. Until now.
Sequoia National Park is beautiful! It takes about an hour’s drive from the southern entrance of the park before you reach the Giant Forest, but once you are there you know it! The sequoias are simply magnificent giants! And some of them are thousand’s of years old. You suddenly feel very, very small amongst these beautiful trees. They have a beautiful reddish bark, reach high to the sky, and smell wonderful. There’s simply nothing at all like it!
There are many trails to wander and hike within the park to immerse yourself in this endless beauty. Sometimes, you may get distracted by bears (like we did). Along the Big Trees Trail, we encountered a mama bear with her three cubs. They were very adorable and we spent too much time trying to capture their cute antics on camera.
Then there’s Moro Rock, a large granite dome that you can climb on and see spectacular views of more granite mountains. Yes, I love granite! But mostly, it’s a beautiful forest to walk, ponder, and contemplate our place amidst these gentle giants.
