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Museum · Three Rivers, California
Giant Forest Museum
Museum in Sequoia National Park dedicated to the giant sequoias, housed in a historic stone-and-wood building in the Giant Forest, and the starting point for the Big Trees Trail, a flat loop around a meadow.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Giant Forest Museum
The Giant Forest Museum is located in a former market built in 1928 of stone and wood, designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed historic hotels in several national parks. At the time, the Giant Forest had hotels, shops and cabins among the sequoias, which were removed starting in the 1990s to protect the trees’ roots.
The exhibits explain how the giant sequoias live: the role of fire, which opens cones and clears the ground for seeds; the thick bark that protects the trunk; the shallow roots; and the trees’ ages. They also show the effects of the large wildfires of 2020 and 2021, which killed thousands of sequoias.
The Big Trees Trail departs from the museum: it is a flat, accessible loop of about 1.6 km around Round Meadow, a meadow surrounded by sequoias, with panels about the grove’s ecology.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About one hour, including the Big Trees Trail.
Best time
During the day, as the first stop in the Giant Forest, to understand the grove before hiking. Confirm opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on Generals Highway in the Giant Forest, about 45 km from Three Rivers. There is parking on site, and park shuttles stop in front in summer. A vehicle entrance fee is charged at the park.
Tip
Do the Big Trees Trail right after the museum: it’s flat, short and shows the sequoias up close around the meadow.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Giant Forest Museum
What’s in the Giant Forest Museum?
Exhibits about the giant sequoias, the role of fire and recent wildfires, housed in a historic 1928 building.
What is the Big Trees Trail?
A flat trail of about 1.6 km around Round Meadow, a meadow surrounded by sequoias.
Where is the Giant Forest Museum located?
On Generals Highway, in Giant Forest, about 45 km from Three Rivers.