A short hike with a worthy destination: 0.8 miles out and back with 154 feet in elevation gain.

A must-see in Sequoia National Park is the General Sherman Tree, which encompasses a huge grove of giant Sequoias.  This is the main event, ladies and gentlemen, this is where the giants live. General Sherman is the giant of giant sequoias in the world, believed to be 2,200 years old and weigh 1,385 tons, that’s a lot of wood. From the main tree, we took the Congress Trail, a paved 3 miles loop that takes you through gorgeous massive Sequoias groves. While this path is paved there is still about a 470ft elevation gain which could prove challenging for some.

We put both our kiddos in a wagon, which worked fine for us. If using a stroller or wagon I would suggest starting at the wheelchair-accessible trailhead, there are no stairs this way! Afterward, we took the shuttle to The Peaks Restaurant at Wuksachi Lodge (make sure you order the onion rings).

While this path is paved there is still about a 470ft elevation gain to look out for. We put both our 2-year-old and 8-month old in a wagon which worked fine for us. If using a stroller or wagon I would suggest starting at the wheelchair-accessible trailhead, there are no stairs from that entrance and is a shuttle stop before the General Sherman stop. Children and adults alike will love this adventure of history and nature.