Parking
Start at Lady Bug Trailhead at the east end of South Fork Campground, reached by South Fork Road. The official route description identifies parking at the trailhead; no alternate lot was found.
Overview
About Ladybug Trail to Ladybug Camp
Why go
- Young sequoias and a riverside camp make a distinctive turnaround.
- Bone Hill opens a view of Homer’s Nose.
Heads up
- A steep open slope makes the climb harder than the mileage suggests.
- The longer continuation has conflicting endpoints and distances.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Sequoia map
Full mapElevation3,701–4,524 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Sequoia alerts
- ClosureSouth Fork campground and trail access restrictionsMentions South Fork, referenced in this guideSouth Fork Campground is closed, vehicles cannot reach the old trailhead parking area, and trails in the South Fork drainage are not currently passable to stock.Official details
- CautionStage 1 fire restrictionsStage 1 fire restrictions are in effect due to high fire danger and catastrophic-wildfire risk; the restrictions reduce the possibility of accidental human-caused fires that could threaten visitors…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Sequoia Tour Guide
Your drive to Ladybug Trail to Ladybug Camp, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Sequoia 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 Sequoia audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
South Fork Campground and Ladybug Trail0:00 / 0:25
“Up ahead is South Fork Campground, a primitive riverside camp well away from the main park highways. There's no drinking water or food here, so bring your supplies.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Sequoia Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Oak That Grows a Nursery
- The Vulture's Wobbly Flight
- The Case That Crawls
- Leaves Held on Edge
- 71 audio storiesacross Sequoia’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 99 trails, 68 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…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
Hiking Ladybug Trail to Ladybug Camp
The mapped outingLadybug Trail to Ladybug Camp is a 3.4-mile out-and-back, with the turnaround 1.
Ladybug Trail to Ladybug Camp is a 3.4-mile out-and-back, with the turnaround 1.7 miles each way. Allow about three hours for a moderate climb of roughly 640 feet. It suits hikers looking for a short, remote foothill walk to young sequoias beside the South Fork; the steep open climb makes it feel harder than the mileage suggests.
Up from the South ForkThe route follows the north side of the South Fork Kaweah canyon.
The route follows the north side of the South Fork Kaweah canyon. Clough Cave Bridge is near the start. Pigeon Creek is usually dry except after heavy rain or snowmelt; Squaw Creek flows year-round. Bone Hill, about half a mile in, opens a view toward Homer's Nose. At roughly 1.26 miles the path climbs steeply across an open slope, then enters black oak forest. At Bone Hill, include a little of the trail in a photo with Homer's Nose beyond it to show the climb and the view together.
Ladybug CampAt about 1.7 miles, Ladybug Camp is the first place where overnight camping is allowed.
At about 1.7 miles, Ladybug Camp is the first place where overnight camping is allowed. Young sequoias grow along the river, and ladybugs may gather on trees and rocks in cooler months. Please leave them undisturbed. Day hikers do not need a wilderness permit; overnight campers do.
Beyond the mapped turnaroundThe trail continues toward Cedar Flat Grove and Whiskeylog Camp, but descriptions disagree on…
The trail continues toward Cedar Flat Grove and Whiskeylog Camp, but descriptions disagree on where the named route ends and give longer one-way distances from about 4 to 5.1 miles. This route record turns around at Ladybug Camp, the first clearly measured destination; check current route information before continuing farther.
Access and footingStart at the east end of South Fork Campground, at the end of South Fork Road; no alternate…
Start at the east end of South Fork Campground, at the end of South Fork Road; no alternate parking area was identified. Expect a steep climb and creek crossings. The park has reported flood and landslide damage near drainages, so check current road access and trail conditions before setting out. Ticks, poison oak and rattlesnakes are present, and pets are not allowed on park trails.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Sequoia
691 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
17 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
18 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
15 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
20 sightingsSpotted OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Sequoia. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
