Moro Rock & Hanging Rock - Sequoia National Park

It’s the last day of National Park Week, so today we’re heading to the very first National Park I ever visited in California. Sequoia National Park is our country’s second oldest National Park, established in 1890…and you can view this post for ten of my favorite spots inside the park. Today we’re hiking two trails that I absolutely love, and I encourage you to visit them together if you have the time (though they can absolutely be enjoyed individually too). Join me at Hanging Rock and Moro Rock.

Hanging Rock

Hanging Rock Trail is located along the one-way loop section Crescent Meadow Rd in the heart of Sequoia National Park. This hike is certainly one of the easiest in all of Sequoia at under a 1/2 mile round trip with just over 100 feet in elevation gain…but it offers some of the most impressive views in the whole park. Right off the parking area you’ll see a giant burned out Sequoia tree at the trailhead, and the trail is easy to follow surrounded by pine trees. Once you reach the top of this short hike, the views open to an incredible overlook of Generals Highway below as well as the massive rock hanging precariously balanced at the edge of the cliff.

Enjoy exploring the area…just be extra careful and watch for slippery and loose gravel along the cliff, especially after recent rain or snow. This hike is always much less crowded than Moro Rock (I’ve had the whole stop all to myself before) and you can complete the full hike easily in under 30 minutes…though I encourage you to give yourself more time to scramble and explore the surrounding granite rocks. This overlook is a prefect stop for a Sequoia picnic too.

Roosevelt Tree

Once you’ve finished hiking Hanging Rock Trail, you can take the short 1/4 mile drive to Moro Rock, but I prefer to stay parked in the quieter Hanging Rock parking lot and walk to Moro Rock. It’s only a 5 minute hike and the surrounding nature is beautiful to behold. A special added bonus to this walk is the easy 0.2 mile detour to Roosevelt Tree. This giant Sequoia was named after Theodore Roosevelt following his visit to the area in 1903. This short path is uncrowded and definitely worth a stop before continuing to the Moro Rock trailhead.

Moro Rock

Moro Rock is one of Sequoia National Park’s more popular landmarks and rightfully so. The top of the rock stands 6,725 ft above sea level, boasting magnificent views of the San Joaquin Valley to the west and deep into the wilderness to the east. This is another short hike at under 1/2 a mile, but there are over 350 rough steps you must climb here to reach the famous overlook point. Carved out of concrete, the ramps and stone carved steps were constructed in 1931 by the Civilian Conservation Corps thanks to FDR’s New Deal. It’s a wonderful adventure to weave and wind up the narrow staircase (which at certain areas is only wide enough for on hiker to pass at a time). This is a short but steep climb, and while the sudden drop offs are safe thanks to many hand rails and multiple resting spots along the trail, this hike might not be for anyone with a strong fear of heights or easy onset vertigo. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the scenery you encounter from the narrow overlook surrounded by safety railing at the top of this trail is hard to beat. You might break a bit of a sweat on the climb, but incredible views of Generals Highway weaving 3000 feet up the side of the canyon, snow topped mountain peaks, blue skies, and Hanging Rock visible way in the distance are a true reward for all your efforts.

Know Before You Go

• Please remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. Pack out everything you pack in and stay on the designated paths. If you’re not familiar with the Leave No Trace Principles, consider familiarizing yourself with them before your trip. Please help leave this special place better than you found it so its natural beauty can be enjoyed for years to come.

• There are restrooms and trash cans available at the trailhead for Moro Rock.

• The small parking area at Morro Rock can fill up quickly in the busy Summer months, and at certain times shuttles are the only way to reach Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow Rd.

• In Winter the road and staircase here can close due to dangerous ice and snow conditions.

• Always plan ahead when exploring at higher elevations…bringing sun protection, layers, and plenty of water.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon Points of Interest

• Grant Grove
• Big Stump Trail
• Tunnel Rock
• Parker Group
• Tunnel Log
• General Sherman
• Halstead Meadow

The view of Moro Rock from Hanging Rock Trail

Sequoia & Kings Canyon Top 10 Travel Guide

Thank you so much for joining me today inside Sequoia National Park, and for celebrating National Park Week with me over the last few days as visited Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lower Yosemite Falls. If you haven’t subscribed to my Newsletter yet, you can still do so below. Signing up will provide you immediate access to free Travel Guides for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite Valley, and Lassen Volcanic National Park.

In Summary & Behind the Blog Video

For a virtual visit to Hanging Rock and Moro Rock, see my Behind the Blog video below. Until next time, I hope you find adventure and encouragement where ever you go.

Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps in offsetting the cost of running this site so we can continue to provide you with free content to help you plan your next adventure.