Hiking the Bear Hill Trail in Sequoia National Park
Distance (One Way via Giant Forest Museum): 1.7 miles / 2.7 km
The Bear Hill Trail in Sequoia National Park is one of many alternative day hikes that visitors in Giant Forest typically use to create any number of loops throughout the Giant Sequoias.
That being said, the Bear Hill Trail can also be an alternative option to hike to Moro Rock from the Giant Forest Museum—an option that so few visitors tend to explore in comparison.
At any rate, I think the Bear Hill Trail makes for a great day hike if it isn’t your first time visiting Sequoia National Park. I say this because there are many other day hikes where the Giant Sequoias grow in much more pronounced clusters, but if you’re the type of visitor that prefers to escape the majority of crowds in the busier parts of a National Park, then the Bear Hill Trail may be the perfect choice for you—especially if you’re interested in seeing wildlife as you hike!
Bear Hill Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Bear Hill Trail is located either at the Giant Forest Museum or at the trailhead parking for Hanging Rock, the far southern end of the Bear Hill Trail.
Considering these options, know that the Giant Forest Museum is one of the most popular trailheads in Sequoia National Park, meaning that it may be easiest to find parking elsewhere and ride the free Sequoia shuttle to the museum to begin the Bear Hill Trail.
Google Maps Directions: Bear Hill Trailhead (Giant Forest Museum)
Hiking Checklist - Sequoia-Kings Canyon
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
That being said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the Sierra Nevadas are home to a large black bear population, bear spray is not allowed in either Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park.
Hiking the Bear Hill Trail
Since the most common parking area for the Bear Hill Trail is located at the Giant Forest Museum, the route shown below begins here, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away from the start of the trail.
Big Trees-Sunset Rock Junction
Following the Giant Forest Museum, go right toward the Big Trees Trail, and the split for the Bear Hill Trail will be found shortly ahead.
On a different note, the trail to the left leads to Sunset Rock, which, for obvious reasons, I highly recommend considering during the late evening hike, as the views down the Marble Fork of the Kaweah are truly second to none at sunset!
Read My Separate Post: Sunset Rock Trail
Bear Hill-Big Trees Junction
About halfway between the Giant Forest Museum and the start of the Big Trees Loop, the Bear Hill Trail branches off from the paved trail.
At this split, go right to begin the Bear Hill Trail. However, if you’re interested in hiking the Big Trees Trail and the Hazelwood Loop located shortly ahead, I recommend checking out my separate articles linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Big Trees Trail / Hazelwood Nature Loop Trail
Bear Hill Trail
Hence the name, the Bear Hill Trail immediately begins climbing after the split, and this continues for the first 0.6 miles (1.0 km) until the trail passes by the summit.
That being said, the Giant Forest Museum Trailhead to Hanging Rock is still the route I recommend hiking Bear Hill, because after this quick ascent, the rest of the trail follows a nice, easy descent for the majority of the hike down to Crescent Road.
When the Bear Hill Trail begins to curve to the right, the top of the hill will be found shortly ahead.
Bear Hill-Old Bear Hill Road Junction
This is the first of two times that Old Bear Hill Road meets the Bear Hill Trail.
At this split, simply go straight toward the second junction shortly ahead.
Bear Hill
This is where the trail passes by the summit of Bear Hill on the left-hand side.
From here, the remaining distance down to Hanging Rock is almost entirely downhill.
Second Bear Hill-Old Bear Hill Road Junction
Immediately after the Bear Hill Summit, the Bear Hill Trail/ Old Bear Hill Road splits once again.
Here, go left to continue on the Bear Hill Trail toward the Charles Young Tree.
Bear Hill-Auto Log Junction (Colonel Young Tree)
Finally, the last split in the Bear Hill Trail is where the hike meets the Charles Young Tree and the trail that descends down to the Auto Log, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) down toward Crescent Road.
That being said, hiking down to the Auto Log via Bear Hill is one of the easier ways to visit this fallen Giant Sequoia, as parking in the small lot next to the log can be challenging during the day, especially during the peak summer travel season!
In any case, go left to remain on the Bear Hill Trail to Crescent Road and the Hanging Rock Trail just beyond.
After the Charles Young Tree, there is roughly another 0.5 miles (0.8 km) left to reach Crescent Road.
Crescent Meadow Road
The end of the Bear Hill Trail is where the trail crosses over Crescent Meadow Road to meet the Moro Rock, Hanging Rock, and Sugar Pine Trails, located just down Moro Rock Loop Road from this junction.
That being said, hikers can also choose to walk the road down to the Moro Rock Shuttle Stop and ride the free Sequoia shuttle back to the Giant Forest Museum for a much easier one-way adventure!
Read My Separate Post: Moro Rock Trail / Hanging Rock Trail / Sugar Pine Trail
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
