General Sherman Tree

If you’re going to be at Sequoia National Park you should stop and see General Sherman. It is a popular tourist spot so if you want to get a pic of you and the tree you might want to get there first thing in the morning. It’s a really cool sight and is amazing at how big a tree can get.

Amazing stats!
We proceeded to do this short hike of 0.5-miles to see this largest tree in the world since it was one of the major attractions of the park for visitors. The trail is steep in high altitude. It descends at an elevation of 212-​ft below where the start of the hike is and includes multiple short sets of stairs. Going down to see the tree is a breeze… the challenge is the walk back up (ghaaa! pant! pant!) lucky for me there were benches along the way where I could rest and catch my breath. Do enjoy also and observe the other trees as you follow the trail: The President, Chief Sequoyah, Adams Tree, Lincoln Tree, Pershing Tree, Congress, and Column Tree. We took our time going back up to the parking lot. Remember the air is thin at 7,000 ft.
The General Sherman sequoia tree is not only the biggest sequoia but it is also the biggest tree in the world (by volume). This means the overall volume of its trunk makes it the biggest tree on Earth.
General Sherman Tree stats:
Height: 275 feet tall
Volume: 52,500 cubic feet
Weight: 1,385 tons
Circumference: 103 feet
Just imagine a mouse looking up at a 6-​foot tall human. That’s how it feels for a 6-​foot human looking up at this tree. It is gigantic and impressive.

Very, very cool tree.
Not as cool: The hundreds of other people swarming around to see the very, very cool tree.
We were there on a Sunday in early June, and I realize that their peak season is just getting started. But man, I was annoyed by how many times I had to stop and wait for people to take their pictures.
Maybe it was because I’d just spent 3 days at a primitive camp site with very few people, but meh. I was happy to see the big tree, and then happy to leave.
There are hikes through the sequoias that venture near other giant trees, and I preferred that to the General Sherman spectacle. On the hikes, we were able to quietly stand without being bumped in to, let our mouths fall open in wonder without worrying we’d be caught on someone’s camera.
General Sherman is fenced off– and rightly so, with thousands of people coming to see this ancient giant. Other giant sequoias in more remote areas are not fenced off, however, and there is something magical about being able to walk up and touch these old, amazing trees. Leave no trace is especially important in the back country, even in day hikes. And it’s a bit more work to get to those other trails and trees. But well worth it, in my opinion.

I never thought I would be Unilocaling about Mother Nature let alone a tree! Right off the bat you will notice that is a very touristy area. Be prepared for the crowd of people. General Sherman is the largest and oldest living tree. You cannot truly appreciate it until you’re standing right in front of it. To view the size of this tree would be similar for a mouse looking up at a human. Let that sink in for a min.
I’m so glad we went on this simple hike because all the walking prepared me for Marble Falls trail the next day. You can hike down congress trail and possibly run into some cute Yellow belly marmots like I did. There are shuttles from here to Moro Rock. I recommend hiking up that giant of a mountain rock because the view is spectacular!

What an amazing sight! General Sherman is THE LARGEST (by volume) tree on the Earth. When you see a tree trunk that size you it will make your draw drop. There is something magical about being inside Sequoia National Park and seeing these enormous living creatures. Some tower hundreds of feet tall and will take a dozen people standing hand to hand to circle the base of the tree. WOW! General Sherman is not the tallest tree but it is still magnificent.
The trail down to «The General» is paved and well taken care of. A slight hike downhill is easy to get to but can be slightly challenging on your way back up. While down this path take a moment to stop at Tunnel Log and also see the cross section of a tree that is 1000’s of years old. There are several photo ops to take with the «Shermanator» so make sure your phone is charge with plenty of memories to get that perfect «selfie».
A must stop when in Sequoia National Park. While Sherman is off limits and fenced off. That is OK. Respect the General! There are many other trees on other pathways that you can get up close and personal. Be patient you will get your perfect photo op with other unnamed trees.

You can’t go to Sequoia without visiting the General. They even have handicap access! Getting there the long/​regular way is a short hike downhill. There are plenty of other picture worthy spots to check out in that area and a few trails you can explore. The area is beautiful, they have restrooms if you need them, it’s a tourist trap but I highly recommend going if you haven’t already.

What A view! I am endlessly amazed at the beauty of the outdoors let alone this giant guy. Such a breathless feeling it leaves leaving us staring at it in awe the whole time! A must see when visiting sequoia park. Due to the season some paths in Sequoia are closed such as crystal cave, but General Sherman was not. The few closures that are common are clearly listed on the park map provided upon entrance. Signs on the main roads are clearly listed making it extremely easy to get to and have ample parking.

Okay, the General Sherman is awesome (and I mean that in the true sense of the word) so it gets five stars, but I’m also going to review the hike.
Instead of parking at the top, like many people do, we started at the Giant Forest Museum and hiked our way up (Alta Trail to Congress Trail) to view the tree. I should note that we were with our three kids (ages 9, 7 and 5), and expected this to be about 2.5 miles up, 2.5 miles back. We got lost a few times on the way up due to strange signage in the early part of the hike, so the hike ended up being closer to 7 miles, but of course on the way back (Rimrock Trail) it was all downhill, so that was a bonus.
We did the hike in early April (highly recommended, as there was a bit of snow/​slush, but the trails were mostly clear) and it wasn’t too hot. We had the added benefit of seeing all the behemoths on the way up (General Lee, Lincoln, McKinley), so by the time we saw the General Sherman, the kids were like, «Meh. Another big tree.» (Hubs and I were still suitably impressed).
We also loved the fact that there was no one on the Alta Trail. Literally. We had the whole thing to ourselves, and it wasn’t until we hit Congress that we saw other folks. This made everything feel very intimate and peaceful.
Note that we’re experienced hikers and in good shape. If you’re not, I’d recommend parking at the top and doing the short General Sherman loop (or a bit of the Congress Trail if you want to see a few more giant trees).

General Sherman is majestic, no doubt about it. I’m just peeved by the crowds that were in front of the tree, particularly the high school group who hogged the picture space in front of the tree for about 20 minutes.
You’ll find the .5 mile walk down with moderately winding stairs and non wheelchair accessible, but the path is very wide and is meant for a lot of people. In all honesty, Sentinel Tree in front of the Giant Forest Museum provides for a better picture, as well as any of the nearby trails in the area. It’s just really crowded because don’t we all love superlatives like «world’s biggest tree?»

This place was not what I was expecting but it was nice. Let’s start with the positive things like the scenery! It was memorizing to see such beautiful big old trees! We went on a Saturday morning February 13^th and there was still some snow so that nice as well. It was really easy to find and not hard at all to get to. It’s within walking distance if you park there or a little up the road. The General Sherman tree was big and beautiful that’s no surprise, but one of the things that I did not like was how crowded it was. I wish I came during a time that it was a less crowded. It was hard to take a decent picture because everyone was all up in your space. Over all I recommend you get there early or go maybe during the week.

The General Sherman Tree, like so many others in this park, is magnificent. This is the largest tree alive in the world, but not that much larger than other sequoias in the park. This attraction can be a bit busy in the summer because it is a very short hike from the parking lot, but it is well worth it. The Congress trail which is accessible from this area is fabulous and I recommend it. It is about 3 mi but easily accessible because the elevations are mild and this area is so peaceful and relaxing.

Much like the Grand Canyon (where I’ve been so many times), General Sherman Tree has a tendency to be overcrowded.
Overrated, though? Meh…
It’s just a tree, but I enjoyed it immensely.
My expectation was to see the Goliath of Giant Sequoias without much trash in sight. «Pack it in, pack it out» people! Mission accomplished.
Get there as early as you can and you won’t have a problem with parking, wild & screaming kids, or viewing this beauty.
People around the globe come here to visit. Ask them to take your picture by the General Sherman sign and reciprocate the gesture.
The walk down from the «upper» parking lot (not the wheelchair-​accessible lot below) is a breeze.
Going back up with a 3-​wheeled stroller and two toddlers strapped in was a slight challenge for two old former college athletes like my husband and myself, but we did it (9÷21÷15).
TIPS: Bypass all the signage as you go down. That way you have a reason to take a break on the way up. Bring water & good walking shoes. There will be no tree hugging of the General because he (or is it she?) is fenced off. Shuttle service is available.
The restrooms were mostly clean and well-​stocked. There aren’t any baby changing stations that I noticed, though.
The only thing I didn’t like about it was the drought… I encourage you to read up on it & forest fires at the area museums and other literature, though. Knowledge is power.
Review #423
Unilocal challenge 104

Largest Tree in the World. by volume.
You can take the shuttle here or drive. It’s an easy trail, marked and paved. You can either start at the upper part where you can take the trail down to the tree or the other entrance is closer to the tree, entering through a hole in a tree. The shuttle goes to both entrances.
I saw two «There It Is!» signs. The one I saw coming down from the upper part toward the tree seemed clearer. Coming from the other entrance, there was the other «There It Is!» sign and, to me, it seemed a little misleading. I don’t know. But anyway, General Sherman is larger than the others. it’s bordered. on one side is a picture moment with a «General Sherman» sign on the ground.
We saw a baby bear with tags roaming around. We saw some litter (sad). There are other trails that bifurcate from the Sherman Tree Trail if you’re up for a bit more walking.
For General Sherman itself, it’s a short trail and even shorter from the hole in the tree entrance and it’s neat to see being the largest in the world (by volume). So if you’re at Sequoia National Park, why not?

We made it to the General Sherman Tree, which was quite a short route. And then we took the Congress Trail which is about 3 mi. The elevation gain is like 500ft. An easy one to just relax and enjoy surroundings.

The way to the Sherman Tree was really busy. But it’s ok and I personally did not feel that bothered by all the crowds and shouting kids (as other reviewers here complain :)) The crowds just go to the Sherman Tree and back. If you go further to the Congress Trail it’ is quiet and peaceful. An easy stroll to see all the immense sequoias around. All paved.

Wildly overrated and crowded. Sentinel was much easier to view, access, and enjoy. For General Sherman expect a crazy crowd of kids, screaming, and no parking.

Neat place to get in touch with nature and a great place to realize how small we really are on this planet and in the universe. It was eye opening to walk among giants and read up on the history of these Sequoia trees.
Driving from Merced, my family and I arrived at Sequoia National Park around 10 AM and there was much less traffic compared to Yosemite (which we went to the day before). The entrance fee is actually cheaper, too. ($ 20 for a 7 days pass).
After entering the park, it is a good hour drive before you actually reach General Sherman Tree. The drive has a lot of switchbacks and it is not good for people who get motion sickness.
The parking lot for this place was packed so there was a park ranger directing traffic to go park at another lot and have a free shuttle escort us back down to the tree.
There are two entrance point to get to General Sherman, one is from the upper part and you would have to walk about 0.5 mile down to the tree. It is a great hike and you will pass by lots of amazing trees and views. The other entrance is the lower part where there is a handicapped parking lot. You walk about two minutes slight uphill and you’ll see the General Sherman Tree immediately.
There was a super long line of people waiting to take pictures with the tree and its sign but my family just opted out and took a picture from the other side without the sign.
The wait for the shuttle heading back to our parking lot took forever and it was hot so a lot of the people waiting with us got frustrated. I wish the park can coordinate that a bit better. Other than that, I have no complaints for this sightseeing spot!

Its a short walk to the General Sherman Tree (0.5) miles, but I would advise you to take a photo of the map at the beginning of the trail to avoid getting lost. There are multiple pathways when you get to the General Sherman area and it could get confusing. From the main trail, you could take the Congress Trail, which is its longer counterpart.
I visited on a Sunday at 8am and there were VERY few people. I think most people come around 10 – 12, so if you want to get multiple photos without waiting around, definitely come earlier.
Also, I saw a bear! That + seeing the biggest tree in the world was pretty cooool.

Is it touristy, yes. But why would you not go see the largest tree in the world? There is a paved path downhill to get to the tree. Do yourself a favor, don’t wait in the line to take an official photo. Go around the side or back (the tree is wide enough to not see the line of people) and take a photo there.
We did the Congress trail without a map. It is very easy to get lost. We just stayed on the trail (not-​paved) and you will see all the big trees including: The Senate, The Congress, McKinley, the President, Chief Sequoya, etc. This trail was not crowded at all and totally worth seeing.

General Sherman tree. le geant de la foret! Il vaut le detour! Veteran. majestueux .sous la neige… cadeau de la nature.

What a treat! The largest tree in the world is actually very beautiful and all inspiring. 38.5 feet in diameter, 275 feet tall and 2200 years old is nothing to sneeze at. Discovered by John Muir, it is quite a sight to behold.
The tree is dead at the very top but you only could see that when you stand from a distance of it. Looking up, you would never know. The trunk is still growing!
The path to the tree is downward, so look at the signs as you are 7000 feet up as the climb back to the parking lot can be a little strenuous.
All in all, a worthwhile visit and quite exhilarating, even for tree huggers, there is a lot of tree to hug here, that’s for sure!

One of the main attractions in Sequoia National Park is the General Sherman Tree. Currently it is the world’s largest living tree. It is also older than the birth of Christ. To get to the tree you would need to walk a short ½ mile trail. There is a family of other giant trees in the area as well. Make sure to bring your camera with a wide-​angle lens if possible, otherwise, you could miss a shot of this mighty tree. To get up close to the General Sherman there is a line. There’s a large General Sherman sign placed in front of the tree, which will make a great portrait if you are the creative type.
The restroom in the entrance of the trail has a flushing toilet and hot water in the faucet; those were a relief considering my campsite lacked those features. The remarkable thing I saw was a bear cub pop out near General Sherman.