Hiking the Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park
Distance (via Sherman Tree Trailhead): 2.9 miles / 4.7 km
From the awe-inspiring General Sherman Tree to the towering ancient Sequoia groves found throughout, the Congress Trail is, without a doubt, one of the best and most beautiful hikes in Sequoia National Park!
This easy-to-follow, 1.9-mile (3.1 km) paved loop offers an unforgettable experience among some of the largest living organisms on Earth!
That being said, the Congress Trail is undoubtedly one of the most popular trails in the park, second only to the General Sherman Tree Trail, which leads to the beginning of the Congress Trail.
Therefore, I highly recommend hiking the Sherman Tree Trail to the Congress Trail first thing in the morning, as this is easily the best time of day to enjoy both hikes without the crowds that inevitably arrive in the park by mid-morning.
To skip ahead to the Congress Trail beginning at the General Sherman Tree, click here.
Congress Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Congress Trail is located at either one of two trailheads.
First, there is the main parking area for the Sherman Tree Trail, as shown below, or there is the handicap-accessible parking area, located directly off Generals Highway, about 2.2 miles (3.5 km) north of the Giant Forest Museum.
Google Maps Directions: General Sherman Tree Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Sequoia-Kings Canyon
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
That being said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the Sierra Nevadas are home to a large black bear population, bear spray is not allowed in either Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park.
Hiking the Congress Trail
From the main parking area, the Congress Trail begins on the same Sherman Tree Trail, following a paved path down about 200 ft. (61 m) of elevation over the course of 0.5 miles (0.8 km).
As Sherman Tree Trail begins, the descent starts almost immediately.
With that in mind, some visitors often report problems related to the elevation, due largely to the steep elevation gradients that Generals Highway climbs from Three Rivers to get up into Giant Forest, which is located on average between 6,000 and 7,000 ft (1,829–2,134 m), depending on which part of the forest you visit.
That being said, the Sherman Tree Trail begins at over 7,000 ft. (2,134 m) and drops to just under, as the trail reaches the base of the General Sherman.
The one aspect of the Sherman Tree Trail that isn’t inherently obvious from these photos is what the trail looks like during the off-season.
By this, I mean that if you are visiting outside of the summer months, micro-spikes may be necessary to stay safe when there is snow, especially if the snow is melting during the day and freezing again at night.
These placards, placed strategically along the Sherman Tree Trail, are nice for putting in perspective just how tall the General Sherman really is!
General Sherman Footprint
As the Sherman Tree Trail nears the bottom, it passes over a unique feature that many often miss: the General Sherman Footprint.
This is the footprint of the General Sherman itself, which can be seen for the first time from this overlook!
General Sherman Tree-Congress Junction
Finally, the Sherman Tree Trail reaches the bottom of the slope, which is also the first of two trailheads where the Congress Trail begins.
That being said, I personally recommend hiking the Congress Trail counterclockwise by visiting the General Sherman Tree first, as opposed to turning left at this junction.
Therefore, go right at this three-way intersection in order to reach the General Sherman Tree and the Congress Trail from the direction shown here.
Then, go right once again, as the trail to the left is simply a shortcut to the Congress Trail and the handicap-accessible trailhead off Generals Highway.
General Sherman Tree
After 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the trail reaches the base of the largest tree on Earth, the General Sherman Tree, named after William Tecumseh Sherman, a Union Army general from the American Civil War.
According to the National Park Service, the General Sherman Tree is 274.9 ft. (83.8 m) tall, with a maximum diameter of 36.5 ft. (11.1 m).
Furthermore, the National Park Service also reports that the top of the General Sherman Tree is dead, meaning it is not growing any taller, but it is still growing larger every year as it adds more and more mass.
Congress Trail
Past the General Sherman Tree, the paved trail continues, marking the beginning of the Congress Trail from the counterclockwise direction.
That being said, I highly recommend hiking the Congress Trail from the General Sherman Tree, as it makes for a much easier one-way loop, as opposed to backtracking over sections previously hiked.
This way, the General Sherman Tree can be your first stop before continuing further through some of the most beautiful Sequoia groves that the park has to offer!
Congress-General Sherman Tree Accessible Junction
This is the area where the Congress and General Sherman Trail meet the handicap-accessible parking area off Generals Highway.
That being said, go left, then follow the stairs up to the Sequoia cross-section to continue on the Congress Trail.
At this split, go right, as the trail going straight simply leads back to the General Sherman Tree.
Congress-General Sherman Tree Junction
Finally, this is where the Congress Trail truly separates from the General Sherman Tree area, leaving behind one of the busiest areas in all of Sequoia National Park.
Congress Trail
Once on the true Congress Trail, the paved path traverses some of the most beautiful Sequoias in the park, gaining roughly 150 ft. (45.7 m) from the beginning to the back of the loop.
This split is nothing more than a connection between the two sides of the Congress Loop, where they come closest together.
That being said, go right to continue further toward the best Sequoia groves, located near the far end of the Congress Trail.
McKinley Tree
The McKinley Tree was named after William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States.
McKinley Tree Junction
Following the McKinley Tree, this five-way intersection toward the far end of the Congress Trail marks one of three different times that the Alta Trail meets or shares a portion with the Congress Loop Trail.
That being said, take the second left turn to continue hiking the Congress Trail toward the House Grove.
The House
The House Grove was named after the United States House of Representatives by the park’s superintendent in 1922.
Congress-Circle Meadow Loop Junction
Toward the very far end of the Congress Loop, the trail passes by the Circle Meadow Loop Trail, a short trail that leads south toward Circle Meadow and the popular Crescent Meadow Loop beyond.
The Senate
After the Circle Meadow Loop junction, the Congress Trail passes by the Senate, which is one of the most iconic and photographed Sequoia groves found anywhere in Sequoia National Park.
Congress-Trail of the Sequoias Junction
As the Congress Trail begins the return loop, the trail splits once again with the Trail of the Sequoias—a beautiful day hike that parallels the outer loops of Giant Forest from the Crescent Meadow Trailhead.
In any case, I highly recommend hiking up the hill a short distance to check out the Chief Sequoyah Tree before continuing further on the Congress Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Trail of the Sequoias
President Tree (Second Largest Tree on Earth)
Finally, one of the last named Sequoias on the Congress Trail is the President Tree, named Warren G. Harding in 1923, and it is currently recognized as the second largest tree on Earth!
Congress-Alta Junction
This next junction is where the Alta Trail shares a short 0.2-mile (0.3 km) stretch with the Congress Trail.
At this split, go right to continue back to the General Sherman Tree, as the trail to the left simply returns to the five-way intersection from the west side of the loop.
Congress-Alta Junction
Then, the Alta Trail branches away from the Congress Trail altogether, leaving the most popular areas within Giant Forest and heading east into the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness Area.
The only other notable trail it crosses paths with is the Long Meadow Loop, which begins from the Wolverton Trailhead just down the road.
At any rate, stay on the paved path to continue hiking the Congress Trail.
What is the Best Time for Photos on the Congress Trail?
For any photographers interested in capturing beautiful photos of the Sequoias, my best recommendation is to hike the Congress Trail during the mid to late afternoon hours.
I say this because the slopes of the topography allow the light to shine best at this time of day, as opposed to arriving when the sun is at a similar angle during the morning.
This is the same connector between both sides of the Congress Loop that was shown at the beginning.
That being said, go right to return to the General Sherman Tree Trail on the east side of the Congress Loop.
Congress-General Sherman Tree Junction
This is where the Congress Trail returns to the Sherman Tree Trail, with roughly 0.4 miles (0.6 km) left to reach the main Sherman Tree Trailhead.
That being said, go right for the main Sherman Tree Trailhead, or go left for the Accessible Sherman Tree Trailhead, which is also where the closest shuttle stop is located from this junction.
Read My Separate Post: General Sherman Tree Trail
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