Sequoia National Park: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

KAKamilla Abaidildinovakamilla_070898 · Dec 11, 2019Read

The Wild West! I had been dreaming of it since the very first day I signed up for the Work and Travel USA program. By August, I knew that after finishing work, I would definitely go on a trip. The only catch was that I didn't have anyone to go with. My friends were heading home earlier than me, and some just weren't into traveling. So, without thinking twice, I decided to fly solo. I found a reliable tour, signed the contract, and flew toward my dream. It was scary to fly across the whole country alone, but the prospect of seeing the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sequoia National Park was just too tempting. In total, about 50 people went on the tour. Everything went wonderfully, and I turned my dreams into reality. Even now, memories of that trip keep me warm. In reality, there were many pros, but also some nuances to consider before heading out on a trip. Before you travel, you need to: The most important thing is to decide what your expectations are for the trip. If you like deciding everything yourself and want everything to depend only on you, it's better to travel with friends. In that case, you can decide where to go and what to see. If you go with a tour, everything is scheduled, and you'll have to move according to a pre-set plan. Choose reliable tour operators. Before choosing which tour to take to fulfill my dreams, I gathered a lot of reviews. I searched both online and among people who had already been to America. Unfortunately, not everyone performs their duties conscientiously. Therefore, to get the most out of your trip, you must choose what suits you best. Budget for food. In my tour, breakfasts were included in the price, so I saved a lot on food. I only paid for lunch and dinner out of pocket. Water was also provided for free. You will really need a lot of strength and energy on the tour, so calculate an approximate amount in advance. Definitely bring sunscreen. There is a lot of sun in the West, and damaged skin can ruin your trip. Follow state laws. If it says you can only sit at slot machines if you are twenty-one, it's better to listen so you don't run into trouble. The same applies to alcohol. Clear your phone's storage, because you'll want to film everything. By the fourth day of the tour, my phone storage was full. I had to delete photos and videos from the beginning of the summer. Don't repeat my mistake. Enjoy yourself and be open to everything new. You are going to relax and have fun after a busy summer, so enjoy it! Even the fact that I flew alone didn't stop me. I made friends during the trip. There were guys from Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and we all became very close. Good luck! America loves the brave! #America #Travel #WorkAndTravel

LGLiaysan Gilfanovaiglr2 · Dec 10, 2018Read

As much as it was a pity to leave New York, further adventures awaited us, so we packed our bags and headed further into the state where we were to spend an entire summer – Virginia. Before the trip, all I knew about this state was that after the War of Independence, it was the main political center of the country and that the authors of the Constitution came from this state. Now, having returned to my homeland, I can safely say that, alas, this is still all I know about this state. With the exception of the names of new cities, my piggy bank of knowledge in this area has not been replenished. We worked and lived in the coastal town of Virginia Beach. Obviously, the city is mainly for tourists, so we worked in a hotel. It was hard. Very. But we managed, largely thanks to understanding managers and a simply wonderful team. We met a huge number of people from different corners of the earth; I will say right away that at the time of being in the USA, the most useful acquaintances are acquaintances with Americans. They will tell you where to find something, how to get there, and most often they will take you there themselves, and they also know how to have fun. Largely thanks to these acquaintances, work for all of us brought joy and was not something that had to be endured in order to have a good rest later. One way or another, at the end of the summer, it was very difficult to part with colleagues, neighbors, and friends, but we knew that an exciting journey awaited us ahead, which, like for many, began with Las Vegas. Now I might shock someone, and someone might want to argue with me, but for me, Las Vegas is the most boring city I have ever been to. Not only in the USA, but in the whole world. Las Vegas, to be honest, is one long street along which dozens of hotels, casinos, shops, and restaurants are located. And that's... it. Besides, it is incredibly hot here, exactly the degree of heat that is usually described with the words "the asphalt was melting." It is not surprising that we escaped from this city quite quickly. Of the parks we visited, I would like to mention the Grand Canyon and Sequoia National Park. To put it very briefly, the second one looks like a green version of the first. Although okay, I'm lying. These are amazing, completely different places with unique energy. The Grand Canyon cannot be accurately described, nor can its beauty be conveyed in a photo. When you stand at the top and look down with a sinking heart, an irresistible desire arises to soar upward like eagles soaring along the towering walls of the canyon, and fly around at least a small part, to feel and see what is available only to birds. After all, if I, standing right here on the edge, am so struck and fascinated by these views, what does an eagle feel? Sequoia National Park is diametrically opposite in every sense of the word. It is dense, green, it is not so hot here, and in general, with its coloring, it is much more familiar to the Russian eye. From one of the observation decks, an amazing view opens up of hills covered with trees reaching high into the sky. This whole place reminds me of scenes from old Jurassic Park movies; you keep expecting a Tyrannosaurus to growl somewhere, a Brachiosaurus to show its long neck, or a flock of Pterodactyls to fly by.

NONatalia Oshaninanatalia.oshanina · Dec 14, 2017Read

We were lucky that the accident didn't disrupt our plans too much – after all, every day was scheduled, and all our accommodation was booked. The only time we left finding a place to stay until the last minute was the day of the accident. The thing is, as avid campers, we couldn't resist spending the night right on the ocean shore. We bought tents, sleeping bags, a stove with gas canisters, utensils, food in advance... Camping romance, in a word. Breakfast at the campsite For those inspired, I'll clarify right away: in the USA, you can't just take a tent and set it up for the night in any random spot. Officially, all beaches have operating hours, and you either need to book a spot at a campsite or choose your location carefully if you don't want to talk to the police. We were lucky to find a fairly wild beach, but sleeping by the water turned out to be nerve-wracking. Who knows when the tide will reach the edge of the tent... Good morning, Pacific Ocean San Francisco greeted us with dampness and fog. The architecture of this city can hardly be called interesting, but the landscape... You can walk a lot here, but you need to be prepared for endless elevation changes. A solution could be the same car or a scooter – there are many rental points in the city, and you don't even need a driver's license to ride them. Typical San Francisco street Twin Peaks hills, cable cars, Ghirardelli ice cream, sea lions at Pier 39, and, of course, the legendary Golden Gate Bridge – in short, you definitely won't get bored here. I think it needs no introduction After San Francisco, we set off to conquer the national parks. First on the list were Yosemite and Sequoia National Park – we spent one night in each and hiked several trails. You can't just set up a tent in protected areas, and campsites need to be booked a month or two in advance, so plan your visit ahead of time. Regarding developed domestic tourism: not all public establishments in Moscow have such cool restrooms as the campsites do. Seriously. It's useless to talk about the beauty of nature – just come and admire it... Yosemite Valley is stunning with its colors The most powerful impression was the climb to Upper Yosemite Fall – I look at the photos and can't believe we made it up there. But don't repeat our mistake: don't go on trails in the evening. Two hours uphill without stopping ended not only with a stunning sunset at the top but also with a descent in absolute darkness. Think you can climb to the top... At the top of the mountain We must not forget that forest fires often occur, because of which the only route you need might be blocked. That's exactly how our journey from Yosemite to Sequoia Park increased from three hours to eight!.. It's better to talk to the rangers right before you leave; they are always aware of what's happening. In Sequoia, the routes aren't that long – you can see everything interesting in a couple of hours. Tired after the long road, we set off to the ancient trees the very next morning and didn't regret it: at 9 a.m., the sun is especially beautiful, the humid air is saturated with the smell of the forest, and there are quite a few tourists. It's unlikely you'll be able to climb a sequoia, but it was worth a try A favorite spot for tourists for photos Las Vegas is no longer in California – the road to it took us about 9 hours and was very exhausting. The city starts to impress long before it appears on the horizon, as it is located in an absolute desert. Typical Nevada landscapes The most famous street in Vegas, the Las Vegas Strip, attracts tourists from all over the world. Be sure to watch the fountain show in front of the Bellagio casino – I would call it one of the modern wonders of the world – and buy some chips at the establishment itself. You're unlikely to play big, but it's definitely worth bringing as a souvenir for friends. In general, the city is only impressive at night, and, honestly, you need to have the desire and the means to spend mon

ККириллstriklend · Nov 16, 2009Read

Can trees be interesting enough to spend a whole priceless day on them in the USA? "Depends on which ones, but generally - no," you might say. That's what we said too, as we rolled up to Sequoia National Park. Turns out they can, if you do everything according to an ancient Indian-Spanish-Russian recipe.) The recipe was traded to us by a mage (who was also a security guard) who protected the local holy spirits from the corrupting influence of civilization.) Take: - high mountains - about 20-25 - a winding road with the best views, climbing high-high and leading far-far away - 1 piece, with bonus spurs - forest trails - about 8-10 - the clearest and warmest mountain rivers with waterfalls - about 3 (the waterfalls are way more) - the biggest trees in the world - lots of them, all labeled - the biggest tree in the world - 1 piece, also the most labeled one) - California weather - 1 piece Mix thoroughly in an area no bigger than an hour's drive, season with sun, sea breeze, the scent and sound of the most coniferous forest in the world, garnish with Indian myths, huge pinecones, and places where the gold rush virus grew and multiplied, and serve in the beautiful packaging of Sequoia National Park. The first thing we saw when we drove in was an awesome little river to the right of the road. It was called Death River, but in reality, it was more alive than anything.) We pulled over to the shoulder and got out. The river flowed below in a small valley, so we had to climb down about 5-7 meters. And now, picture this - you are on the biggest rock among many scattered around, right below you is a spot where sparkling water gathers before falling from a low waterfall. The little pool is quite deep, but so clear that it takes your breath away! And it's very hot. Question: what would you do? JUMP, OF COURSE!!!! And we, stripping off our clothes, flew into that pool, splashing into the water and whooping in the spray. AAA, it's so cool here!!!!!!! When you swim up to the waterfall, the water starts to suck you in and slowly drags you along, you pull yourself to the very edge - and there it is, churning downwards. You can lie on a rock and have the waterfall water flowing under you. That was definitely the first time in my life!!! A bunch of sun blinding your eyes, the river flowing down from the mountain, everything shimmering, mmmm))) We definitely liked this park=) After sunbathing right by the waterfall on a rock for about 15 minutes, we headed further (stupid lack of time, spending an hour there - you wouldn't even notice). We drove and drove, and then suddenly, bam, we realized a cruel joke had been played on us. Seen the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"? Same story. We drove into a thicket where the trees were 4 times bigger than the ones before. The smell of pine needles was 4 times stronger. And we were just as we were.) And you would feel uncomfortable here if it wasn't so interesting what was next. And next - more. Trees, I mean)) It's cool here that you can "walk" along a sequoia - the length equal to the tree's height is laid out on the ground. And you walk and walk, walk and walk, wondering when it will end, and it turns out you've only reached the lowest branch))) Same thing in Rome, by the way. St. Peter's Basilica is built in such a way that you never see how huge it is. The letters inside near the ceiling seem the size of a hand, but in reality, they are taller than a human. Michelangelo (its architect) said that the cathedral is a model of the Universe - "You are in it, but you will never understand how huge it is." It's the same story with the sequoias)) And likewise, you hardly realize how old they are. Because it's hard to understand that you are seeing someone who was growing peacefully when there was no Pushkin in Russia, no Napoleon in France, no William the Conqueror in England, and no Charlemagne in Germany, and not only no Muscovy, outskirts of Paris, Londinium, and Cologne, but no Russia, France, Germany, or Eng

ANAknur Nursalbekaknurcht1 · Dec 12, 2025Read

Chasetop1 on Instagram: "In 2024, I participated in the Work and Travel program for the second time, spending the entire summer immersed in this incredible experience. I celebrated two of my birthdays during this journey—when I turned 19 and 20—making these moments even more special❤️ This program gave me invaluable experiences, lifelong memories, and the opportunity to form meaningful friendships. It helped me grow, broaden my perspective, and create unforgettable stories that I will cherish forever💙. In the video, there was a small mistake—what should have been written as “NYC” was mistakenly shown as “NYS.” Apologies for the oversight, and thank you for understanding! @iec.kazakhstan as a bridge on this path🔥🙌🏻 You can find IEC on TikTok http://tiktok.com/@iec_1989 and on YouTube http://youtube.com/@IECRiga. After finishing my work part, I traveled to Boston, Washington DC, New York, and Niagara Falls. Last year, I explored the western U.S., visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, and Sequoia National Park . There wasn’t enough space to put all of those videos, but I enjoyed 😂. W&T, literally, the best program for students🔥" Видео: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDkeJTAIXc2/?igsh=MXg2bGplZDdnNWF1OA==

ККириллstriklend · Nov 20, 2009Read

So, let me summarize the main takeaways from the trip here, which might be useful for those just planning their own journey. What we did right: - Bought a good car with A/C. The risk of breaking down during a trip is very high; it's better to overpay a little than to be stuck in Arizona for a week. Driving without A/C is bad. Very bad. We tried it)) - Developed a solid travel plan. When you're on the road, there's no time to think about where to go. And the places we visited were ones we really didn't want to miss. Or not even know about. Because they exist...)) - Sent luggage to New York. During a road trip, there's always less space in the car than when you're packing at home before leaving. - Bought a GPS; without one, you lose precious hours of time. What we did wrong: - Should have allowed for more time. Always take extra time so you don't have to rush, but instead enjoy the trip and have the chance to stay longer somewhere if you like it. This was a huge mistake that significantly affected the whole trip. - Didn't finish university assignments. Get them done at any cost; nothing gets done regarding studies in America. There's a suspicion it's magic. - Didn't withdraw all the money from the cards. It's a huge hassle later. - Sometimes didn't spend money where we should have. Don't be stingy; you'll have memories later. And $80 (for example) comes and goes. Places we would visit again: San Francisco, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Chicago, Grand Canyon, Florida coral reefs, shuttle launch, New York, Blue Ridge Parkway (especially in autumn), Sequoia National Park, Crater Lake, Florida Keys. Places we would skip: Key West (the city itself), Disney, Denver, Zion and Bryce Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Lassen Volcanic National Park. Everything else is cool once, but not a second time. Places we didn't visit but should have: Glacier National Park, Boston (with a whale-watching trip), Washington, Niagara, Sonoran Desert in Arizona with 15-meter cacti, Mammoth Cave, Philadelphia, HAWAII, Alaska if it works out, and the US also has islands in the Caribbean (e.g., Virgin Islands) — I'd definitely go there. Maybe Seattle and Houston (not sure). Things worth exploring deeper (off the top of my head): Wander through the neighborhoods of Chicago and New York, hike down to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon for an overnight stay, go horseback riding with Native Americans in Monument Valley, take a boat trip on Grand Teton Lake, climb the highest rock in Yosemite via the steep rock ladder, go rafting in the Smoky Mountains. As you can see, it all comes down to the fact that you need to spend at least a day and a half in each place (to see it and do something cool). That's the essence of the unsolvable problem, so choose what you like best and do it. "You can't embrace the unembraceable." All lists will be updated as more thoughts come to mind=)

ККириллstriklend · Nov 16, 2009Read

Can trees be interesting enough to spend an entire precious day on them in the USA? "Depends on which ones, but generally — no," you'll say. That's what we said too as we drove up to Sequoia National Park. It turns out they can, if you do everything according to an old Native American–Spanish–Russian recipe) The recipe was traded to us by a certain mage (a guard by trade), who protected the local sacred spirits from the corrupting influence of civilization.) We take: -high mountains — about 20–25 -a winding road with the best views, climbing high-high and leading far-far — 1, with bonus branches -forest trails — about 8–10 -the clearest and warmest mountain rivers with waterfalls — about 3 (oh, there are more waterfalls) -the world's biggest trees — many of them, all labeled -the biggest tree in the world — 1, also the most signposted) -California weather — 1 Thoroughly mix over an area no larger than an hour's drive, season with sun, sea breeze, the smell and noise of the most coniferous forest on earth, pile on Indian myths, giant cones and places where the golden fever virus reproduced, and serve wrapped in the beautiful package of Sequoia National Park. The first thing we saw when we drove in was an awesome little river on the right side of the road. It was called Death River, but in reality it was livelier than life itself.) Pulling over to the shoulder, we got out. The river flowed below in a small valley, so you had to go down about 5–7 meters. And now the picture — you are on the biggest rock among the many scattered here, right below you is the place where sparkling water gathers before falling from a small waterfall. The pool is fairly deep, but so clear it takes your breath away! And it's very hot. Question: what will you do? WELL, JUMP, OF COURSE!!!! And we, stripping off our clothes, flew into that pool, plunging into the water and whooping in the spray. AAA, how awesome it was!!!! When you swim up to the waterfall, the water starts to suck you in and lazily pull you along; you haul yourself to the very edge — and there it churns down. You can lie on the rock and waterfall water will flow under you. That was definitely the first time in my life!!! Tons of sun blind your eyes, the river runs down from the mountain, everything shimmers, mmm))) We definitely liked this park =) After sunbathing right by the waterfall on the rock for about 15 minutes, we went on (stupid lack of time, you won't even notice an hour there) We drove and drove, and then suddenly, bam, we realized we'd been played a nasty trick. Seen the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"? Same story. We drove into a thicket where the trees were about four times bigger than the ones before. The pine smell was about four times stronger. And we were exactly as we had been) And you'd feel uneasy here if it weren't so interesting to see what's next. And next — even more. Trees, I mean)) Here, like in any other park, deer run around, squirrels rush by the dozens and all sorts of wildlife scurry here and there. You gradually get used to the sequoias; they no longer seem so enormous. Because there are trees like them all around, the sense of scale disappears. Actually, they're kind of funny. Imagine a huge wooden barrel with tiny twigs at the very invisible top. That's a sequoia. Well, at least most of them)) The younger ones (around 1000 years) still have branches and look like giant pines. One cool thing here is that you can "walk" the length of a sequoia — on the ground there's a mark equal to the height of the tree. So you walk and walk and walk, when will it end, and it turns out you've only reached the lowest branch))) The same trick is in Rome, by the way. St. Peter's Basilica is built so that you'll never see how huge it is. The letters inside near the ceiling look the size of a hand, but in fact they're taller than a person. Michelangelo (its architect) said the cathedral is a model of the Universe — "You are in it, but you'll never understand how vast it is