Hiking the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail in Sequoia National Park
Distance: 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
The Crescent Meadow Loop Trail in Sequoia National Park is one of the best day hikes that begins from the High Sierra Trailhead, and it’s one of my personal favorites when it comes to looking for wildlife within Giant Forest.
This is because less-popular trails, like the Crescent Meadow Trail, are much better for experiencing the wildlife in Giant Forest, as opposed to busier day hikes like the Congress Trail—especially if you hike Crescent Meadow in the late evening hours, as shown here.
In any case, the Crescent Meadow Loop is often paired with the Tharp’s Log Trail to create a return loop out of the simple out-and-back trail to Tharp’s Log. However, I personally recommend hiking the full loop around Crescent Meadow separately, and instead creating a return loop to Tharp’s Log with the Log Meadow Loop Trail.
To learn more, I highly recommend reading more in my separate article about Tharp’s Log using the link below.
Read My Separate Post: Tharp’s Log Trail
Crescent Meadow Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail is located at the High Sierra Trailhead, at the very end of Crescent Meadow Road, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) away from the Giant Forest Museum.
That being said, the High Sierra Trailhead is one of the most popular trailheads in Sequoia National Park, as it is used by both day hikers and overnight backpackers traveling as far as Mt. Whitney in the eastern Sierra.
Therefore, parking at the Giant Forest Museum and riding the free Sequoia shuttle during the busy summer travel season may be the easiest option for reaching places like Crescent Meadow.
Google Maps Directions: High Sierra Trailhead (Crescent Meadow)
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 Crescent Meadow Loop Trail
The Crescent Meadow Loop Trail begins at the High Sierra Trailhead and follows the High Sierra Trail for the first 0.2 miles (0.3 km) before it branches off toward the meadow.
Crescent Meadow Loop-High Sierra Junction
This split is where the Crescent Meadow Loop leaves the High Sierra Trail and others, like the Trail of the Sequoias.
That being said, go left to continue on the loop around Crescent Meadow.
Read My Separate Post: Trail of the Sequoias
Crescent Meadow
If you’re someone who is interested in having the opportunity to see bears, deer, and other wildlife in Sequoia National Park, I highly recommend hiking this and other trails similar to Crescent Meadow around the late evening hours, as shown here.
It’s a little-known secret, but this is when wildlife tends to gravitate toward the meadows within Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Crescent Meadow Loop-Log Meadow Loop Junction
The next split in the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail is the Log Meadow Loop Trail.
This is the trail I recommend returning on after visiting Tharp’s Log, but in any case, go straight (left) to continue on the loop around Crescent Meadow.
Read My Separate Post: Tharp’s Log Trail (Log Meadow Loop)
Crescent Meadow Loop-Tharp’s Log Junction
Next, the Crescent Meadow Loop splits with the popular Tharp’s Log Trail, which is the most visited day hike from the High Sierra Trailhead.
That being said, go left once again to continue on the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Tharp’s Log Trail
Cleveland Tree
After the Tharp’s Log Trail, the Crescent Meadow Loop passes by my favorite Sequoia on the entire trail, the Cleveland Tree.
I can only hope this one continues to stand for many more years instead of falling, like so many Sequoias do that grow around the many meadows within Giant Forest.
Crescent Meadow Loop-Tharp’s Log Connector Junction
Toward the back of the loop (the far northern end), the Crescent Meadow Trail splits three times as it begins the return loop to the High Sierra Trailhead.
That being said, go left at all three junctions to remain on the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Tharp’s Log Trail (Log Meadow Loop)
Crescent Meadow Loop-Washington Tree Junction
This is the second of the three different splits.
Again, go left to continue on the Crescent Meadow Loop.
Crescent Meadow Loop-Huckleberry Junction
Finally, the Crescent Meadow Loop splits for the last time before returning to the beginning.
That being said, the Huckleberry Trail heading right can make for a great 1.3-mile (2.1 km) loop with the Dead Giant Trail along the west side of the Crescent Meadow Loop, which you can learn more about in my separate post.
In any case, go left to finish the remaining 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to the High Sierra Trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Dead Giant Trail
At this final split, it doesn’t matter which direction you choose to take in order to return back to the parking area.
Overall, the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail is a great kid-friendly day hike, and it will always be one of my favorite adventures in Giant Forest, as far fewer visitors tend to hike the loop compared to the adjacent and much more popular Tharp’s Log Trail.
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
