Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

It's difficult to overstate the importance of montane meadows. These high-elevation ecosystems support a tremendous variety of plant and animal life and function as wetlands that stabilize and purify seasonal water flows. To look upon a montane meadow is to see a critical natural process at work. Thankfully, Crescent Meadow, one of the Sequoia National Park's healthiest examples of a montane meadow, is easily visible on your tour of Giant Forest, and it is an excellent stop when paired with a visit to the granite dome viewpoint known as Moro Rock.

Surrounded by giant sequoias and filled with burgeoning flowers, lush grasses, and ferns in the summer, it's easy to see why John Muir called Crescent Meadow the "Gem of the Sierra." A beautiful 1.5-mile trail encircles the boot-shaped portion of the meadow, and this is a great walk for families looking to extend their exploration of the Giant Forest. Crescent Creek enters the meadow at the south end, and a trail also leads to Log Meadow, which sits just east of Crescent Meadow. The hike to Tharp's Log, the former abode of Hale Tharp, is only a mile from the meadow as well. Crescent Meadow is also the western end of the High Sierra Trail that runs for nearly 60 miles east to Mount Whitney.

Note that it is especially important to stay on established paths in such a fragile environment. Wetlands are very easily damaged by heavy traffic. Fallen logs can make excellent viewpoints if you want to get out into the meadow a bit. Also, while the Giant Forest can be beautiful in the off season, the road to Crescent Meadow is often closed in winter.

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

National Park Pass

Pros

Picturesque meadow backed by massive trees. Start of High Sierra Trail.

Cons

None.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Features

Wildflowers
Old-growth forest

Location

Comments

08/27/2017
One of the best spots in the park to locate black bears. Arrive around sunrise with a telephoto lens (minimum 200mm) to capture a memory, or just stand there and marvel at these wonderful creatures.
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