Redwood Canyon Trail

Redwood Canyon is the kind of place that makes you forget Sequoia National Park's famous front-country crowds exist. You'll drop into one of the world's largest groves of giant sequoias on a well-shaded trail that winds through a cathedral of old-growth trees, many of them massive enough to park a car inside. The canopy keeps things cool even in summer, and the forest floor is soft with duff and ferns. You can tailor your visit — a short two-mile out-and-back gives you a solid taste, while the full loop through Hart Tree and the Fallen Goliath stretches into a proper day hike or overnight trip. The grove sees a fraction of the traffic that General Sherman pulls, so you'll actually hear the forest. This trail is for anyone who wants the giant sequoia experience without the theme-park atmosphere.