target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="#fb3_img_img_ba77c309-ca3b-5649-baf2-10d537463d54.jpg" alt="images"/> 19.8 miles
Wolverton Junction: Here Wolverton Road branches away from the Generals Highway and heads eastward. At 0.5 mile from the highway, a right turn eventually leads to the expansive General Sherman parking area (restrooms and shuttle bus stop). From there, a 0.4-mile paved path descends to the largest of the giant sequoias. Along the way, the path is imprinted with a cross section of the base of the Sherman Tree, which allows visitors to gain some understanding of the tree’s massive size. A gap in the forest here also allows photographers an unobstructed view of the tree. The popular Congress Trail continues beyond General Sherman (see Trip 39).
Continuing ahead from the General Sherman junction, Wolverton Road travels another mile to a large parking area near Wolverton Meadow, which serves as the trailhead for the Lakes and Panther Gap Trails (see Trips 42 and 43) and a connection to the Alta Trail (see Trips 40 and 41). During the winter, Wolverton is a center for winter recreation.
Wolverton Creek: A short distance beyond Wolverton Junction, the Generals Highway crosses Wolverton Creek, one of the tributaries of Marble Fork Kaweah River.
Lodgepole: Similar to the Giant Forest in elevation, the Lodgepole area maintains an entirely different feel, situated in a deep, glacier-carved canyon near the banks of Marble Fork Kaweah River. Although not usually common at elevations below 7,500 feet, lodgepole pines grace the forest in this relatively cool canyon and give the area its name. As the commercial and administrative center of Sequoia, Lodgepole boasts a visitor center, wilderness permit office, market, gift shop, snack bar, deli, laundry, shower facility, post office, picnic area, year-round campground, and the Walter Fry Nature Center. It is the trailhead for the Twin Lakes Trail and the popular 2-mile dayhike to Tokopah Falls (see Trips 44 and 45).
Marble Fork Bridge: Just past the Lodgepole junction, the Generals Highway crosses a bridge over Marble Fork Kaweah River and passes a service road to employee housing on the right and the serene Lodgepole Picnic Area on the left.
Silliman Creek: Another tributary of Marble Fork Kaweah River, Silliman Creek drains Silliman Lake near the south base of Silliman Peak.
Clover Creek: The highway crosses Clover Creek over a handsome arched bridge of hand-hewn stone. A small pullout on the left, upper side of the creek could be used for parking for further exploration of the bridge and creek.
Wuksachi Junction: As part of the restoration of the Giant Forest, all lodging was moved away from the environmentally sensitive giant sequoia grove to Wuksachi Village in 1999. Along with 102 rooms, the village has a dining room, gift shop, and conference facilities, as well as a trailhead for the Wuksachi Trail (see Trip 47).
Red Fir Junction: During the Giant Forest’s restoration, maintenance facilities were also relocated to Red Fir. A short distance past the junction is a gate, where the NPS will periodically close the Generals Highway during winter storms. Beyond this gate you’ll see little development for the next several miles, as a relatively quiet section of road weaves through mid-elevation forests composed mainly of firs and pines.
Halstead Meadow and Picnic Area: The highway passes a picturesque meadow bisected by Halstead Creek. Just past the creek on the left is the Halstead Picnic Area, with picnic tables, grills, and vault toilets but no running water.
Suwanee Creek: The highway inauspiciously crosses Suwanee Creek, which appears to the casual observer to be little more than a pleasant stream. Hidden from view a mile to the south is Suwanee Grove, a somewhat inaccessible 100-acre pocket of forest harboring nearly 300 giant sequoias, one of the many lesser-known giant sequoia groves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Little Baldy Saddle: After climbing for several miles, the Generals Highway tops out at Little Baldy Saddle, which sits on the divide between the Marble Fork and North Fork of the Kaweah River. The right-hand shoulder allows vehicle parking for hikers bound for the top of Little Baldy, one of several granite domes poking above the surrounding forest on the west side of the parks. The 1.75-mile hike to the site of a former fire lookout leads to a fine view of the surrounding parklands (see Trip 48).
Dorst Creek Campground: An access road on the left-hand side of the highway leads down to the fir-shaded campground, open from late June through early September. Although popular, Dorst emits an ambiance of being one of the quieter campgrounds in the parks. Several trails emanate from the campground, including the 2-mile hike to Muir Grove, where hikers can commune with the giant sequoias without the hubbub usually found in the more popular groves (see Trip 49).
Cabin Creek: Immediately past the highway bridge over Cabin Creek is a small pullout, from where a little-used trail follows the west bank of the creek toward a junction of a trail heading west to Lost Grove (see Trip 50) and then continuing south to Dorst Campground (see Trip 51).
Lost Grove: Despite its location next to the Generals Highway, Lost Grove is one of the more serene giant sequoia groves in the parks accessible by automobile.
