Overview

Hype:

The Tokopah Falls Trail is one of the most popular trails in Sequoia National Park. A quintessential Sierra canyon trail, it features a thundering river, immense granite canyon walls towering over you, alpine meadows and pine woods. Waterfalls are always a big draw, and on a summer holiday weekend there’s a nearly-constant stream of people on the trail.

Trail Condition: Class 1 (Trail is either paved or gravel. Navigation skills are not needed because there is only one trail or because there are signs. Elevation gains are gradual or there are stairs.)

Time: 3-5 hours

Length: 2.8 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 710 ft

Fees: Park Entrance

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Getting There

Navigate to 36.605094, -118.722723.

Route

From the trailhead, follow the well-traveled trail northeast for 1.9 miles to the base of Tokopah Falls.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Sequoia National Park, California

Coordinates: 36.610984, -118.694071

Interactive Guide Map

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July 25, 2019 Trip Report

By Tara Dye

Trip Members

Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye, Shawn Parker, Marci Parker, Callie Parker, Wade Parker, Aria Parker, Lillian Parker,

Story

We started at the Lodgepole Visitor Center instead of taking the shuttle just one stop up the road. We hiked for a little bit and saw a bear off the trail. The kids were mostly unfazed. After about a mile, it started raining. The kids were not amused. Marci pulled out a couple of emergency blankets from her pack, and the kids used them for umbrellas. Madi and Savannah were not happy at all about hiking in the rain. Cooper rode on my shoulders for the entire hike. He had a jacket on, so he didn't care about the rain. We hiked for quite a while and got concerned about it getting pretty late. The kids all stopped and waited with Marci along the trail in a sheltered spot, while Shawn, Callie, and I did the rest of the hike to the falls. We took some pictures then started down. We picked up the kids and hike down together. The kids and I ended up falling about a mile behind the Parkers. At one point, I was carrying all 3 kids, but that didn't last for long. I made Savannah hike and carried Madi and Cooper for a while longer. Marci and Callie came back when I was about half a mile from the trailhead and helped give moral support to Madi and Savannah. Shawn met us at the trailhead with the car.

Pictures