Kings Canyon National Park, CA
A 7.3-mile sequoia loop to Hart Tree and Fallen Goliath.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kings Canyon Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Kings Canyon National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Kings Canyon audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Redwood Canyon at Redwood Saddle“You're nearing Redwood Saddle, the trailhead for Redwood Canyon's sequoia walks.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Kings Canyon Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…The kids and my husband and I all agree that the narration really added to our experience driving through the parks. We learned so much about the history and the flora & fauna.”
Trail guide
Hart Tree and Fallen Goliath Loop is a 7.3-mile circuit from Redwood Saddle through old-growth sequoias, Hart Meadow, Hart Tree and the shattered trunk of Fallen Goliath. Allow about 4.5 hours and expect roughly 1,100 feet of total climbing. It is a rewarding half-day walk if you want a full grove experience with several distinct landmarks; it is too long to treat as a quick big-tree stop.
Follow the signed approach about 0.3 mile from the parking area to the Hart Tree junction, then take the left branch. The trail crosses Barton Creek by an easy rock hop and climbs gradually through sequoias. Near mile 1.8, a rocky outcrop opens a view down Redwood Canyon toward Redwood Mountain. Hart Meadow, around mile 2, is marshy and more open than the surrounding forest. Buena Vista Creek feeds the meadow from the south face of Buena Vista Peak.
Near mile 3.1, East Fork Redwood Creek drops about ten feet into a small grotto; the seasonal waterfall can be dry by late summer or early fall. A short spur leads to Hart Tree, the largest sequoia in the grove. The loop then descends past Fallen Goliath, a huge sequoia shattered where it fell, at about mile 4.8.
At Redwood Creek, cross on two logs and turn right onto Redwood Canyon Trail. The last two miles climb gently back toward the saddle, gaining about 700 feet. Mountain dogwoods make a lush understory along the creek: look for white blossoms in late spring and red leaves in October.
Barton’s Post Camp marks an 1800s logging site. Large stumps and a cabin built into a fire-scarred fallen sequoia are reminders of the attempt to harvest this grove. Redwood Canyon is one of the largest sequoia groves by area, and fire is part of its ecology: giant sequoias reproduce most successfully after fire, so young trees grow among the older trunks.
The trail starts at Redwood Saddle. Redwood Canyon is not accessible by vehicle in winter. Pets are prohibited on park trails, though service dogs are allowed. Overnight camping in Redwood Canyon requires a wilderness permit.
Wildlife
227 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
385 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
188 sightingsMarmotMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
118 sightingsPikaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
14 sightingsGolden TroutMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
32 sightingsRainbow TroutMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kings Canyon. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateSugar Bowl Loop6.5 mi · 4 hr · At the trailheadA sequoia loop with a ridge climb and a long descentModerateRedwood Mountain Loop10 mi · 7 hr · At the trailheadTen miles of sequoias, old logging history, and ridge-top views.
ModerateRedwood Canyon to Big Springs Trail11.3 mi · 6.5 hr · At the trailheadAn 11.3-mile out-and-back from Redwood Saddle to Big Springs.
EasyBuena Vista Peak Trail2 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayA short climb to a granite dome above Redwood Canyon.
ModerateBig Baldy Ridge Trail4.4 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayClimb a forested ridge to granite views over Redwood Canyon.
EasyBig Stump Loop Trail1.6 mi · 1 hr · 2.9 mi awayA short loop through logged sequoias to the Mark Twain stump.
ModerateSunset Trail and Ella Falls Loop6.3 mi · 4 hr · 3.2 mi awayA granite cascade and a screened lake view reward this forest loop.
ModerateViola Falls Trail3.9 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.2 mi awayA forested descent from Grant Grove ends at a granite cascade.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayRedwood Mountain OverlookA quick canopy view into one of the world's largest sequoia groves
Sight · 1.6 mi awayKings Canyon OverlookA quick roadside view of wooded ridges and distant peaks.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayPark Ridge LookoutA working fire lookout with roots reaching back to 1916.
Entrance station · 2.5 mi awayBig Stump Entrance StationPay here, pick up maps, and get oriented before the drive.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayMark Twain StumpAn enormous sequoia stump you can climb, with a sobering backstory.
Picnic area · 2.9 mi awayBig Stump Picnic Area and Snowplay AreaA practical first stop, with a trailhead and winter snowplay.
Lodging · 3.2 mi awayJohn Muir LodgeA 36-room in-park base near General Grant Tree and Grant Grove walks.
Campground · 3.2 mi awaySunset CampgroundA wooded Grant Grove base, with sunset views from select sites.Parkwolf’s Kings Canyon ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
