Buena Vista Trail, CA

We heard from a local that this trail was as nice as the Big Baldy trail, which is twice as long. Since I've not been to Big Baldy I couldn't compare it, but the views were just as spectacular as what's described about Big Baldy.


The trailhead is easy to find, well signed just off the General's Highway in Sequoia National Park. From the trailhead you make your way up a gentle incline for about a mile, affording you ever increasingly panoramic views of the Kings Canyon area to the east, and the valleys around Fresno to the west. The trail is very well defined and meanders through trees and open areas with HUGE rock formations. When you approach the rock "peak" the trail seems to kind of just vanish, but not to fear; Just look and go UP. It's very easy to scramble up to the top of the rock summit, and once at the top the 360 degree views are hard to beat.We were there on the weekend and we were the only people on the trail that day. Shortly after leaving the road you lose all traffic noise. This hike, like all the hikes in the Sequoia/Kings Canyon area is so nice in that there are no prickly things to poke you, no rattlesnakes to watch out for (although make noise to ward off the bears), and the ground is soft and inviting for walking. The surrounding forest kinda of reminds you of the Rim country, except the trees are all 10+ feet thick and 200 feet tall.

This is a great short hike, one that should not be skipped because it's "too easy." Take a picnic lunch, take your time, take your camera, and enjoy the peaceful solitude.

2010-08-20 paulhubbard