SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

If you’ve never considered Sequoia National Park in the winter, let me sell you on it. Giant trees and snow? The park’s pretty much empty, so you can wander around pretending you’re the main character in a winter adventure movie. The snow crunching under your boots? Pure magic. The views? Breathtaking. And let’s be honest, everything looks cooler with a little snow. Plus, you get to feel tiny next to those massive trees, which is oddly satisfying. So, bundle up, snap some pics, and embrace your inner snow elf.

Sequoia turned out to be a perfect example of never leave your partner. I got a head start hiking up to Moro Rock while Kody went to the restroom. No biggie, right? I ended up hiking alone a lot longer than I’d planned. At one point, I turned around and thought I saw him behind me, catching up—yes! Nope….I decided to head back down to meet him, but as I got closer, the person poofed—vanished into thin air. I kept going, hoping it was just a weird optical illusion. But no, I hiked all the way back to the parking lot, and still no sign of him. By this point, I was fully convinced I was about to be the star of my very own Vanished episode.

Congress Trail

Let’s be honest, this trail has way too many different ways to go. Especially when there’s snow involved. The trail markers? Not exactly easy to spot, and the snow made everything look the same. We thought we were on the right path—until we didn’t. It took us way too long to realize we’d completely gone off-track and ended up on a different trail altogether. At that point, we just embraced the fact that snow and poor navigation skills meant we were exploring the park… just not exactly where we planned. It was like a scenic detour, just with more snow and a lot more confusion.

Trail Info: 

  • Distance & Time: 2.9 miles (round trip) – takes about 1.5 hours.

  • Difficulty: Easy—paved surface and a gentle incline, so basically a walk in the park.

  • Notable Features: See the General Sherman Tree (it’s huge, you’ll be impressed), plus the House and Senate groups and President Tree—feeling politically connected yet?

  • Elevation Gain: Moderate 482 feet even “easy” trails like to sneak in a little workout.

  • Parking: Available near the Giant Forest Museum—try not to get distracted by the massive trees on the way there.

  • Other Info: No dogs allowed (sorry, Fido). 

Moro Rock

Hiking Moro Rock in the winter? Definitely worth it. The road to the trailhead in the winter is…closed, so plan for an extra 3 miles of walking, but that just adds to the adventure. The air’s crisp, the views are stunning, and there’s something magical about seeing the rock covered in snow. The climb might be a little more challenging, but reaching the top with snow-capped trees around you makes it all feel pretty epic. It’s a perfect winter hike for anyone looking for a little extra adventure with a whole lot of beauty. My adventure side turned off when I saw the icy steps going up and my vertigo kicked in. 

Key Facts:

  • Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip, but in the winter, it’s 3.5 miles .

  • Elevation Gain: 300 feet—because you’re not just walking, you’re climbing.

  • Stairway: 350 steps—get ready to feel those legs burn.

  • Duration: 30-120 minutes, depending on how much you stop for photos (or to catch your breath).

  • Difficulty: Moderate, mostly due to the elevation—yes, you’re actually going up.

  • Views: Breathtaking—because why else would you put yourself through 350 steps?

  • Restrooms: Available at the parking lot and trailhead—so no need to worry about “nature calls.”