Redwood Meadow via Middle Fork Trail

Redwood Meadow via the Middle Fork Trail is a 26-mile out-and-back from the Middle Fork access near Buckeye Flat to one of Sequoia’s most remote giant-sequoia groves. The grove is about 13 miles one way, so plan two days and roughly 16–18 hours of hiking for the return. This entry follows the Middle Fork approach; the Bearpaw and Paradise Ridge approaches are separate routes. You need a wilderness permit to camp overnight, and pets are not allowed on park trails. The lower route is best in spring, late fall or winter; summer heat can be punishing.

The route starts with an unbridged creek crossing, then climbs through open foothill scrub. The broad trail gives views up the Middle Fork valley toward Moro Rock, Castle Rocks and the Great Western Divide. It becomes brushier after about four miles and enters mixed forest before Panther Creek. The lower miles are the warmest and most exposed part of the trip; carry enough water and give yourself time to cross creeks carefully.

Panther Creek is the first allowed campsite, about 3.5 miles from the trailhead; Mehrten Creek and Buck Creek are farther along. The first creek crossing may require wading even at low water, and high flows can make it unsafe. Cross Eagle Scout Creek on its bridge. If Granite Creek is too high to ford, continue to the signed upper route to Redwood Meadow, which has a bridge and easier crossings. Check the park’s current access and trail conditions before setting out; brush and downed trees have been reported on this corridor.

Redwood Meadow is a sequoia grove, not a stand of coastal redwoods. Only about half a dozen large giant sequoias are readily visible from the trail. The meadow is fenced and only appears briefly near the campsites; the main grove intersection has a campsite beneath two big sequoias. Look for those trunks framing the clearing when you stop, rather than expecting a dense grove like the park’s busiest sequoia walks.

The first six miles pass buckthorn, manzanita, black oak, chemise and bear clover; mixed conifers take over farther up, with giant sequoias at the grove. Spring brings wildflowers. Mule deer and birds are among the wildlife visitors may see, while black bears, bobcats, mountain lions and rattlesnakes also live along this corridor. Poison oak and ticks are common concerns at the lower elevations.

If you are not planning an overnight, Panther Creek is a more manageable lower-canyon destination, with a waterfall and a natural place to turn back. It does not reach Redwood Meadow, so treat it as a separate, shorter hike rather than a partial version of the grove route.