Hiking to Beetle Rock in Sequoia National Park

Looking for more great day hikes in Sequoia National Park?
Visit my Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Hiking Guide for more incredible trails,
including Moro Rock, Crescent and Log Meadows, and Tokopah Falls.

CURRENT INFO

For information about Beetle Rock, visit the National Park Service website. Find reviews and maps on the AllTrails website. The AllTrails map highlights the trail segment between the Giant Forest Museum and Beetle Rock, but the remainder of the loop trail is also marked. Good maps and trail info about the route we took are found in the book Hike the Parks: Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks by Scott Turner.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Since Beetle Rock is located within Sequoia National Park, you must present an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) or pay the $35 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) when you enter the park. You can also purchase an annual pass at the park entrance. Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free pass — fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
• Parking and restrooms are available across the road from the Giant Forest Museum, or you can take the free shuttle bus from other points within Sequoia National Park.
• You can head directly from the parking lot to Beetle Rock if you prefer to simply walk to the viewpoint and skip the hike. Honestly, this is a great option — since Beetle Rock is the highlight of this short hike, you won’t miss much if you decide to skip the rest of the trail. It’s also a good choice for those with limited mobility.
• Another restroom is available along the trail near the upper parking lot.
• Please note that pets are not allowed on the trail.

HIGHLIGHTS

Beetle Rock is a beautiful, easily accessible viewpoint that manages to fly under the radar despite its charms. The rocky climb to Moro Rock gets all the attention, leaving Beetle Rock for those seeking a quieter experience. While I still highly recommend Moro Rock, which provides an experience like none other in Sequoia National Park, Beetle Rock is a wonderful place to sit and savor the view. You don’t even need to hike the full loop trail described below. Just follow the paved path from the parking lot, sit back, relax, and soak in the majesty of the Sierras.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

After hiking to Tokopah Falls and visiting the General Sherman Tree, the kids were done with hiking for the day. Luckily, Beetle Rock provides ample room to explore, turning the hike from drudgery to delight. The loop trail described below is a good family-friendly leg-stretcher (with a cool log bridge to cross), but if your family has already had a busy day, consider skipping the loop and simply walking to Beetle Rock from the nearby parking lot.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There is no shortage of things to see and do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. While you’re here, check out the Giant Forest Museum and Visitor Center. The museum was closed during our visit in June, 2021, due to coronavirus restrictions, but recently reopened. Along with Beetle Rock, trails lead from here to Sunset Rock and Round Meadow. A few miles up the road, make a stop to visit the famed General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree by volume.

You can also drive or take the free park shuttle from the Giant Forest Museum to the trailheads for both Moro Rock and Crescent and Log Meadows. If you’re driving, be sure to take a drive through the famous Tunnel Tree. To round out your visit, head south to visit the Foothills region of the park, or head north to Lodgepole and hike the trail to Tokopah Falls.

Tokopah Falls, the General Sherman Tree — we had seen our share of natural wonders for the day. But before heading to dinner at Wuksachi Lodge, there was time for one more: Beetle Rock.

Our hike started at the Giant Forest Museum. While the museum itself was closed due to the pandemic, national park passport stamps were available outside, along with park rangers to answer any questions. I’m not sure what was on the agenda for most of the visitors milling around outside the museum, but I can safely say that few were headed for Beetle Rock. Despite its proximity to one of the main hubs of activity within Sequoia National Park, Beetle Rock receives surprisingly little notice.

We crossed the road, the headed north into the woods with the parking lot on our left. Before long, we crossed a small bridge and came to an intersection with three diverging trails. To the right was the Big Trees Trail, which leads to Round Meadow. To the left, another trail climbed upward, leading to Sunset Rock. With enough time, both of these short trails are well worth exploring.

On this visit, however, our time was limited, so we chose the third option, taking the lower left trail as it hugged the ravine. Before long, another bridge appeared, this one carved into a fallen giant sequoia trunk. We headed back across the ravine as the trail wound through the sunlit forest.

After a short walk through the woods, the trail began to round southward toward Beetle Rock, and we caught a few glimpses of the valley below. And then… the trail was gone. Instead of a clear path, a strip of granite stretched before us between the trees, while a narrow trail meandered off to the right. I decided the trail must be the correct route, but it quickly led us to this:

It was a research station. A sign requested that we not disturb the equipment, so we took a quick look around and headed back the way we came. This time, we followed the granite slab, and soon came to a crumbling paved pathway leading to a parking lot.

Finding the parking lot was actually good news, as it meant we were drawing close to Beetle Rock. I pulled out my trusty guidebook, Hike the Parks: Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, to double check our route. The author, Scott Turner, confirmed that we should continue walking along the right side of the parking lot. This would lead past a restroom, and — oh look, speaking of restrooms!

After taking advantage of the conveniently located vault toilets, we followed the paved trail as it led uphill, gradually opening up to wider views. Anticipation was high, especially from the kids, who were tired of simply walking through the woods and past parking lots.

Finally, we stepped out onto the open granite bald that is Beetle Rock. The foothills of the Sierra Nevada crested and rose across the landscape, creating a mountainous deep blue sea stretching to the horizon. All we had to do was find the perfect rock to take a seat and soak it all in.

After taking our time to enjoy the view, we headed down the paved path at the south end of Beetle Rock and were back at the main parking lot within minutes. Minutes! Yes, to reach this magical spot, virtually no actual hiking is required. Michael, who found the loop trail a somewhat lackluster experience, noted that we might as well have walked directly up from the parking lot.

I admit he had a point. Compared with many hikes in Sequoia National Park, the loop hike to Beetle Rock is merely a pleasant walk in the woods. Still, I recommend it if you want to tie in a trip to Sunset Rock or Round Meadow, creating a longer and more diverse route. Or maybe a walk in the woods on an uncrowded trail is exactly what you’re looking for. However you choose to do it, make sure your next trip to Sequoia National Park includes a stop at beautiful Beetle Rock.