In about a month we'll be leaving MN and heading to the General Sherman giant Sequoia tree in California. Our route will travel south out of MN on I35 until we intersect I80 in Iowa where we'll head west on I80. We'll travel west to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado near Alamosa. Next we'll head west to drive through Monument Valley in Utah and head south to the Grand Canyon in AZ. The route is flexible. Please advise us on places to camp along the way, RV parks, campgrounds etc. and things to see and do. After visiting the giant tree we'll head for the wine country north of San Francisco. All of your recommendations will be carefully considered. Thank you.

The General Sherman Tree is fine but Yosemite has several stands of sequoia, maybe not as big but still very big and a lot more fantastic things to see. Its also a lot easier to get to that park. That late in the year you should be able to get in, the escapee have a cg right outside the park, think it's called the Park of the Sierras - Escapees Park in Coasegold. Great Sand Dunes has a good cg in the park, no hookups. You did not specify what sort of cg you want. There are many places to visit in the Monument Valley area, Cortez CO makes a good base camp for that area. There is one good cg that I don't have the name for now. But Mesa Verde, Trail of the Ancients, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands and a lot more are all near there.

agesilaus wrote:The General Sherman Tree is fine but Yosemite has several stands of sequoia, maybe not as big but still very big and a lot more fantastic things to see. Its also a lot easier to get to that park. That late in the year you should be able to get in, the escapee have a cg right outside the park, think it's called the Park of the Sierras - Escapees Park in Coasegold. Great Sand Dunes has a good cg in the park, no hookups. You did not specify what sort of cg you want. There are many places to visit in the Monument Valley area, Cortez CO makes a good base camp for that area. There is one good cg that I don't have the name for now. But Mesa Verde, Trail of the Ancients, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands and a lot more are all near there.If you make it that far, go to both. Sequoia NP is awesome. I have no idea what you mean about easier to get to...if anything Yosmite is more difficult but really neither is a big challenge.To the OP: Based on your post, I assume NP and the like are a priority: - Consider on the way out, going north across I-80 so you can hit Rocky Mountain NP, then Dinosaur NM before swinging south thru Bryce NP and Zion NP. Then you can hit the N. Rim of Grand Canyon NP. Swing by Death Valley NP. - On the return consider your original route (It's further south so better for later in the season.How long do you have? We did a similar trip at the same time last year. Also hit Joshua Tree, Congaree and several National Monuments but we had all winter.

Gouldings RV park in Monument Valley is a good stopping place. FHU and they have tours hosted by native Americans that take you on land and to sights that is otherwise not accessible to the general public.

Lots of great boondocking sites around Tusayan at the GCNP south entrance.

Try to spend a few days at Sequoia -- lots to do and see. Great hiking. Much cooler and less crowded than Yosemite Valley. And, if you are there in the winter, great snow-shoeing -- that's DW in the lower right corner of the photo. This was taken in Congress Grove, not far from the Sherman Tree.And no, this is not a trick shot -- those trees really are astonishingly big. Standing amongst them is like being in a cathedral:Click For Full-Size Image.

General Sherman Giant Tree | Good Sam Community

Durb
Explorer
Aug 28, 2021
If you want giant sequoias, check out Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Camping, trails and trees.
vermilye
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021
If you are planning a day trip to see the tree, check the weather. The day we went the fog was so thick a ranger at the parking lot told us that we would barely be able to see the base of the tree, let alone the entire thing.

There are plenty of tall trees at the parking lot:

A 1950 family photo of the Wawona Tree in Mariposa Grove:
profdant139
Explorer II
Aug 29, 2021
Jon, it's true that you can see a big tree from the parking lot -- and for folks who can't walk well, that's a good alternative.

But speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time wandering around the Sequoias, there is nothing like a hike to a "non-parking-lot" grove, away from the crowds, and just hanging out and listening to the silence, surrounded by 2000 year old trees, among the largest living things on the planet.
klr650goldwing
Explorer
Sep 03, 2021
I guess we'll have to keep an eye on the weather as we near the giant tree. I do what to see the whole tree and stand in the vicinity of many similar trees etc. Due to the fires we have decided to take this trip in Sept. of 22. So we have plenty of time to plan. Thanks for the help with that.
vermilye
Explorer
Sep 03, 2021
profdant139 wrote:
Jon, it's true that you can see a big tree from the parking lot -- and for folks who can't walk well, that's a good alternative.

But speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time wandering around the Sequoias, there is nothing like a hike to a "non-parking-lot" grove, away from the crowds, and just hanging out and listening to the silence, surrounded by 2000 year old trees, among the largest living things on the planet.

I completely agree. I just wanted to point out that the "mist" that contributes to the size & life of these trees can sometimes make it impossible to see them. If you want the full effect of the size of them, you need a clear day.
lbrjet
Explorer
Sep 05, 2021
I was disappointed that you can't get within 20 ft of the tree.
profdant139
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2021
They fence off that particular tree because it is so popular -- the roots would be destroyed.

But if you take the Congress Trail (which starts at the Sherman Tree), you soon come to hundreds of HUGE trees that are not fenced off. Here are some photos that may be of interest:

For example see this blog post

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