The trip begins and ends at the small city of Smithton, on the Bass Highway, but the rest of the route follows sealed roads through remote wilderness down the West Coast, then inland through the temperate rain forest.

There are tons of places to stop, walk on the beach, hike through the forest and learn about aboriginal heritage. If you’re looking for a a day (or three) of outdoorsy adventure in Tasmania, you’ve got to try the Tarkine Drive.

This guide to Tasmania’s Tarkine Drive includes:

• Driving directions
• Road conditions
• Petrol, food, and services on the Tarkine Drive
• Driving times
• Where to stay
• 15 places to stop along the Tarkine Drive

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

What is the Tarkine?

The Tarkine is a region in Tasmania’s North West. (FYI: It’s pronouned “tar-kine”, rhymes with “fine”, not “tar-keen”, rhymes with “mean”.) It’s named after the Indigenous Tarkiner people who traditionally lived in the area. However, the proper Indigenous name for the area is “takayna”.

The Tarkine is known as one of the world’s largest temperate rainforests. It’s full of big old growth eucalypts, myrtle, leatherwood and pines, tree ferns and lush vegetation in every shade of green.

Some of the plants are from species that date back millennia to the age of the Gondwana supercontinent. There are also unique coastal and buttongrass plains ecosystems to explore.

The region has almost no permanent residents, but it has lots of wildlife including one of the only surviving wild populations of endangered Tasmanian Devils.

You can also find some of the richest Indigenous sites in the Tarkine, including shell middens and rock carving sites.

The Tarkine is definitely off the beaten path so it’s not overrun with tourists, but it is still easy enough to get around.

While the local tourism authorities are promoting the Tarkine Drive, and parts of the region are in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, most of the Tarkine is unprotected.

This means that logging and mining are occurring in old growth habitats. Watch this excellent documentary about the Tarkine and see what you think. It definitely inspired me to visit before it’s gone.

Driving Directions for the Tarkine Drive

The Tarkine Drive is a loop road trip that starts and ends in Smithton in North Western Tasmania, Australia. The route is only about 205km long and can be driven in one day, but since there is so much to see along the way, many people prefer to take a few days. Driving directions are as follows:

• From Smithton go southwest along the A2 to Marrawah
• Next, go south down the coast to Couta Rocks on the C214
• At Couta Rocks turn left to stay on the C214 and continue until the Kanunnah Bridge
• Just before the bridge turn right onto the C218
• Follow the C218 north to Edith Creek where it becomes the B22.
• Take the B22 back to Smithton.

The entire route is well signed so you won’t get lost. You can travel the loop in either direction, but I did a counter-clockwise loop so I’m describing it that way here. I also made a custom, clickable Google map for you with all the stops highlighted!

You will need your own transport to see the Tarkine Drive – there are no public buses. It’s easiest to hire a car in Devonport, Launceston, and Hobart. I use Discover Cars since it lets you compare prices from lots of different car hire companies. That way you can be sure you are getting the best deal.

Tarkine Drive Road Conditions

The entire Tarkine Drive is sealed (paved). It used to have a gravel portion on the C218, but it’s sealed (paved) now.

In general, it’s a two lane road with few opportunities for passing. There are several sections that are very twisty and despite being sealed, the road is a bit bumpy. There are also a handful of single lane bridges. Most of the route has very little traffic.

Petrol, Food and Services on the Tarkine Drive

The entire Tarkine Drive is quite remote and there are a few stretches where you’ll go quite a while without passing any services.

In particular, the only places there are any services are Marrawah and Arthur River. Marrawah has a small general store, a pub, a post office and petrol available. Arthur River has a small store with a take-away counter but no petrol.

There are very few public toilets on the drive so plan ahead. There are toilets at Green Point Beach, the Arthur River Ranger Station, the Edge of the World Viewpoint, Julius River, Milkshake Hills and Dip Falls. They may not have toilet paper so bring your own.

And if you can’t get to a toilet, be sure to go well away from camps, roads, and tracks, bury your waste and pack out your toilet paper.

READ NEXT: How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)

There is no mobile phone coverage on parts of the route. You will likely lose service along the coast between Marrawah and Arthur River and on the inland portion through the forest. As I said, the road is well-signed, so as long as you stay on the main road, you will be fine.

Driving Times for the Tarkine Drive

You can definitely drive the Tarkine Drive in a single day. It takes about 3.5 hours to do the loop with no stops.

But many of the stops will take you an hour or more, so it’s best to split the trip up over several days. Two days is great but three is even better. I spent two days on my trip, but wished I had three.

Where to Stay on the Tarkine Drive

There are not that many accommodation options along the route.

There are a few self-contained holiday home rentals in Marrawah, but there are many more in Arthur River. I think Arthur River is a logical place to stay overnight because it’s closer to the halfway point of the trip. Unfortunately, there aren’t any places to stay on the eastern, inland portion of the loop.

In Arthur River, there are a few places to stay:

• Arthur River Spa Cottage: Cute cottage with an incredible view of the river mouth. Check prices.
• Sunset Holiday Villas: Two-bedroom suites with a full kitchen and a great view. Check prices.
• Arthur River Lodge: Beautiful five-bedroom house is great for groups. Check prices.
• Arthur River Beach House: Gorgeously updated beach house with a great patio. Check prices.

If you’re up for roughing it, there are a bunch of great places to camp along the Tarkine Drive. I stayed at the Prickly Wattle campground just south of Arthur River. It was really quiet and had some beautiful shaded sites. Plus… we glimpsed a Tasmanian devil in the wild at dusk!

Here’s my complete list of all the campsites along the Tarkine Drive:

• Green Point Campground, Marrawah (Free)
• Arthur River Cabin Park, Arthur River (Contact them for rates)
• Manuka Campground, Arthur River (Check in and pay at Arthur River Ranger Station)
• Peppermind Campground, Arthur River (Check in and pay at Arthur River Ranger Station)
• Prickly Wattle Campground, Arthur River (Check in and pay at Arthur River Ranger Station)
• Julius River Forest Reserve on highway C218 (Free, self-contained caravans only)

Places to Stop on the Tarkine Drive

Here’s my list of the best places to stop on the Tarkine Drive. It includes viewpoints, short walks, longer hikes and other places of interest. You don’t have to stop everywhere to experience the Tarkine – just pick the ones that appeal to you.

Green Point Beach

From Marrawah take Green Point Road, then Beach Road towards the coast to reach Green Point Beach. There’s a small campground here, popular with experienced surfers who make the trek out to the West Coast to brave the huge swells.

West Point Reserve

Take the gravel side road out to West Point Reserve to visit Tasmania’s westernmost point. Known as nunga in the local Indigenous language, the area boasts tons of Indigenous cultural sites. The easiest ones to find are the massive shell middens.

Arthur River

This is the largest “town” on the Tarkine Drive, but town is pretty generous a label for such a small place.

Be sure to stop at the river mouth and take a walk down to the beach.

The ranger station and visitor centre is also worth a stop to get tips on local walks, camping and wildlife.

There’s also a small store that does take-aways across from the visitor centre if you’re craving fish and chips. It was a hot day when we came through, so we stopped in for an ice cream.

Arthur River Coastal Walk

If you are up for a longer walk, you can follow the coast north from the river along a set of beaches and walking tracks to Church Rocks.

Park your car at the lot next to the inland side of the bridge, then head down to the beach. Follow the beach around the corner, using inland tracks to bypass rocky headlands. Be sure to go at lower tides if you don’t want to get a shoe full of water and sand. (Ask me how I know….)

Arthur River Cruises

Lots of people rave about the Arthur River Cruises, but unfortunately I didn’t have time on my Tarkine Drive road trip. They do two different full-day guided cruises up the river with a couple of different stops plus lunch. Advance bookings required.

The Arthur River is one of Tasmania’s last wild rivers with no roads, industry or hydro on it, so it’s a great place to experience nature and maybe even spot some wildlife!

Edge of the World Viewpoint

This viewpoint may not be at the actual edge of the world, but it kind of feels like it.

There’s a boardwalk path and a viewing platform leading out to a point just south of the mouth of the Arthur River. If you look due west, all you can see is the ocean stretching out before you – there’s nothing between you and South Africa!

There’s a small picnic area here, toilets and free barbecues, but it’s a pretty windy spot for a cook out. To find the viewpoint, turn west on Airey road, just up the hill from the south side of the Arthur River Bridge.

Sundown Point Reserve

Known as laraturunawn in the local Indigenous language, Sundown Point is an important Indigenous cultural site. You can walk an hour along the coast to visit some Indigenous rock carving sites.

Unfortunately I didn’t have time to make it out there on my trip and I’m sad to have missed it since Indigenous heritage in the Tarkine is so rich. To find the rock carvings, take Sundown Point Road into the coastal community of summer shacks, then follow the coast north to the mouth of Sundown Creek.

READ NEXT: How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking

Western Explorer

This road is a whole extra adventure on its own. A few kilometres after the main road turns inland, you’ll reach the junction with highway C249, better known as the Western Explorer.

This remote and unsealed road links the northern part of the West Coast to the southern part at the town of Corinna. It’s bumpy and slow-going, but safe for two-wheel drive vehicles. We drove it on a weekday and saw two other cars!

Sumac Lookout

As the road winds away from the coast, it enters the temperate rain forest section of the Tarkine. One of the best places to get a good look at it is the Sumac Lookout viewpoint.

As highway 214 winds down the hill towards the Arthur River, turn right and go up the hill to the lookout. (Don’t cross the bridge.) The lookout is a 2 minute walk from the car park and has a great view of the Arthur River and surrounding forest.

Julius River Walking Tracks

The green on green on green of the temperate rainforest at Julius River made it one of my favourite parts of the Tarkine Drive. There are two short loop walks at Julius River.

The shorter one takes about 30 minutes. It leaves from the end of the carpark and runs next to the river, over a bridge and then up a hill back to the start. The forest scenery here is primeval, with tree ferns and lots of ancient plants that date back to Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent that formed most of the modern continents.

The longer walk takes about 40 minutes and makes a loop through the forest, but I didn’t find it nearly as worthwhile.

The picnic ground at Julius river has tables, barbecues and toilets, which makes it a nice place to stop for a break. You can also camp for free here if you are in a self-contained caravan. Tents are not allowed.

Lake Chisholm

A short, paved side road takes you to the carpark for Lake Chisholm. From there, it’s a 30 minute walk down to the shores of the lake. Lake Chisholm is actually an old flooded sinkhole. Apparently you can spot platypus there, but we didn’t see any. (They are most active at dawn and dusk and we were there in the middle of the day.)

The lake itself is kind of interesting, but the huge old growth trees along the way were the real draw for me. It’s also a good spot to see wildlife. We startled a pademelon and its joey along the track.

READ NEXT: Best Places to See Wildlife in Tasmania

Milkshake Hills

The side trip to Milkshakes Hills is worth the trip to see a completely different ecosystem. The short gravel side road to the Milkshake Hills carpark runs through open temperate forest that is recovering from a bushfire.

Once at the car park, the walking track spends a few minutes in the forest, before emerging into the open and climbing up one of the hills. From a top you get a great view of the rainforest and some of the buttongrass moorlands. It’s about a 30 minute trip up the hill and back.

Trowutta Arch

This arch is one of the most popular destinations on the Tarkine Drive, and also one of the most spectacular.

Trowutta Arch formed when two sinkholes collapsed. The near one is full of rubble but you can walk through the arch to see the far one, which is full of water. It’s a visually stunning place, covered in moss and ferns.

It’s an easy 30 minute walk to the arch but you’ll want to spend more time there taking photos.

To reach Trowutta Arch, take Reynolds Road south from highway C218 in Trowutta, then turn left onto Gun road and follow it to the carpark. Both Reynolds road and Gun Road are gravel, but they are fine for 2-wheel drive vehicles. Watch-out for active logging on the drive in.

Bonus: Dip Falls and the Big Tree

While these two sights aren’t located directly on the Tarkine Drive loop trip, they are well worth a side trip from the Bass highway since they are also part of the Tarkine region.

Beautiful Dip Falls drops 30 meters down a rocky cliff face into the dip river. It flows over volcanic columns that reminded me a bit of Svartifoss in Iceland!

There’s a really well-built set of stairs and viewing platforms that takes you down into the canyon to view the falls from the bottom. You can also get a great view of the top of the falls by crossing the river on the road bridge, then taking a short track to another viewing platform.

Just a kilometre up the road from the falls is a grove of giant old growth trees, including one fittingly called “The Big Tree”. You can reach the trees via a short 2 minute path. The Big Tree is believed to be over 400 years old and has a circumference of 16 meters around the base. That’s pretty big!

To reach Dip Falls and the Big Tree, take highway C225 south from the Bass highway east of Stanley. Follow the signs at each junction to stay on the C225 to the falls. The last few kilometres are on a gravel road, but it’s easy driving for 2-wheel drive vehicles. From the falls, continue on to the north for another kilometre. Look for a pull out on the right hand side and the start of the track to the Big Tree.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when planning my roadtrip on the Tarkine Drive but I’m sooo glad we went. It’s such a beautiful place and is still quite off the beaten path. I loved learning about the Indigenous culture too.

There were only a few cars at most of the places we stopped. We even had some of them all to ourselves. If you find yourself in Tasmania, make time to drive the Tarkine. I promise you’ll love it.

MORE TASMANIA POSTS:

• The Best Things to do in Strahan and Tasmania’s West Coast
• Best Places to See Wildlife in Tasmania
• 40+ Things to do in Devonport and Tasmania’s North West
• How to spend the weekend in Hobart, Tasmania: 2-day Itinerary
• 22 Things to Do on the Tasman Peninsula Near Port Arthur
• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Maria Island, Tasmania
• The Best Things to Do on Bruny Island, Tasmania

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Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website!

Standing with my head all the way back, I still can’t fathom the size of the tree before me. No matter how many times I’ve been, it’s hard to wrap my mind around the enormity of the sequoias. To stroll through a land filled of these silent giants fills you with joy and wonder. It’s almost like recapturing the wonder you felt as a child. Yes, people visit Sequoia National Park to see its namesake trees, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what to expect.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon Basics

Location

The parks are located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, about 200 miles north of Los Angeles, 220 miles south of Yosemite Valley, 275 miles south of San Francisco, and 375 miles west of Las Vegas.

Fees

Admission is $35 per vehicle and valid for 7 days. (The fee includes both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.)

Gas

There’s one gas station in Sequoia, located in front of the Stony Creek Lodge in the middle of the park.

Cell Service

Cell service is highly limited within the parks. On a few of the outer trails like Buena Vista Trail, I’ve been able to get signal. Otherwise, cell service is not available.

Where to Stay

There are several lodging options in the park ranging from camp grounds, basic hotels, cabins, and one high-end hotel. There are also a few vacation rentals outside the parks.

My favorite place to stay is at the Stony Creek Lodge. Ideally situated in the middle of the park, it offers charming rooms. And, as there’s only 11 rooms, there’s not a mess of people so you can enjoy the quiet of the Sequoia National Forest around you.

Another great option is the Grant Grove Village. It has it all – hotel, rustic cabins, and a large campground. Rooms in all the lodging in the park fill up months in advance, especially during peak seasons.

There are also more hotel options in Three Rivers, just outside the park.
Booking.com

Psst: Here are 15 of the best places to camp on the West Coast.

How Long to Spend in the Parks

If you want to do Sequoia and Kings Canyon properly, plan on spending at least two days there. Though, you can easily spend a week there and still not see everything. Yes, it’s possible to visit both parks as a day trip, but you’ll miss 90% of both. Don’t short change yourself. Sequoia is my favorite national park in the US. It’s my happy place. And, if you take your time with the park, it may become yours, too.

Best Time to Visit

I love visiting the park in September or October. The crowds have thinned and being out in the fresh, cool mountain air is highly invigorating for hiking. During the winter months, a lot of the park is closed due to snow. However, there are some trails that you can snowshoe. And, seeing the red of the sequoias against the white snow is pretty awesome.

Weather and Elevation

The main portion of Sequoia National Park is around 7,000 ft/2100 m. Make sure that you stay hydrated and have plenty of water with you. The valley floor of Kings Canyon is around 5,000 ft/1520 m and is always at least 10 degrees warmer than Sequoia.

Wildlife

The American Black Bear can be found throughout both Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Unless provoked, they most likely will not be interested in you. However, keep a wide berth from bears (at least 100 yds). If hiking in the back country, you should have bear spray handy. In the lower portions of Kings Canyon, rattlesnakes can be found. Again, do not provoke the snakes. If they’re on the trail, wait until they have cleared.

READ NEXT: Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers

Guidebooks and Maps

If you want to do a lot of hiking in the park (highly recommend), than my go to book every time I visit is the Falcon Guide Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  My copy is getting beat up but I find it’s trail descriptions to be accurate. And, it provides elevation and distance charts for each hike, which is really helpful for planning.

My Tips for Visiting

As a local, here are my tips for getting the most out of your visit to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Get an early start when visiting the parks. There can be long lines at the entrance stations in summer and weekends. And, there’s something about hearing how alive the forest is when there’s no one else around. If you’re on a budget, bring your own food as park food is expensive. However, make sure you have the proper containers to store it as bears have a highly perceptive sense of smell. There’s several places throughout the park where you can refill water.

Things to Do in Sequoia National Park

See the Sequoias

Sequoias are among the oldest living trees in the world. And, they are one of the most resilient trees. Their bark can get up to 2 feet thick, helping them withstand a multitude of natural disasters, including fire. In fact, sequoias need fire to survive. Sounds odd, right? But, their cones only open from the heat allowing the seeds to come out. And, you’ll see lots of sequoias with burnt out trunks, and those trees are still thriving.

Amazingly, there are only about 75 sequoia groves in the entire world. And, all of them are found in California in the Sierra Nevadas. Sequoias require a cool climate to thrive. Because of this, you’ll only find them at elevations between 5,000 and 7,000 feet.

Though they’re not as tall as the coastal redwoods, Sequoias are still impressively tall at around 275 feet. And, they’re the largest tree species in the world. In fact, the world’s largest tree is found in Sequoia National Park. The General Sherman Tree is 52,000 cubic feet in volume and 2.7 million pounds in weight! If you can’t fathom that, seeing the tree in person doesn’t help. It’s just a massive tree. However, in the grand scheme of sequoias, General Sherman is still on the young side. The tree is about 2,000 years old. Other trees in the park are over 3,000 years old!

Even with their height, my fascination with Sequoias is with their bases. They’re absolutely massive. They resemble gigantic claws digging into the ground. These claws can get up to 35 feet in diameter! Everything about these trees makes you feel so insignificant. And, that’s a great feeling.

Best Places to see Sequoias

Once you see your first Sequoia from the road, you’ll find them irresistible. And, there are several places where you can see the best of the best.

Moro Rock

After taking a climb to the top of Moro Rock and enjoying the awesome views, there are several short trails in the area that take you past sequoias.

Tunnel Log

And, if you continue past Moro Rock, you can actually drive through a sequoia! In 1937, a sequoia fell across the road. Rather than try to move it, a tunnel was carved out instead. Thus, Tunnel Log was created. It’s a popular spot for photos. You’ll need to go early in the  morning to get a clear shot without a backlog of cars.

Giant Forest Forest Museum

By the Giant Forest Museum, there’s an accessible trail that takes you past some incredible sequoias. And, the great thing about this trail, is that you get to see the sequoias both up close and at a distance. Both viewpoints allow you to appreciate the size of these trees. From a distance, you can easily see how tall they are and how they dwarf all other trees. Up close, the enormity of the trees is the staggering.

General Sherman Tree and the Congress Trail

This a must stop for anyone visiting the park because this is where the General Sherman Tree stands. To be in front of the largest living organism in the world is awe-inspiring. As General Sherman is near the start of the paved trail, many people will go directly to it, take a few pics, and then leave. Please don’t make this mistake.

The 2-mile Congress Trail continues and goes past some incredible groupings of sequoias including the House and Senate groupings. You can also find yourself standing inside the charred trunk of a sequoia. If you only have time to do one small trail, this is the one you must do. Please note that the start of the trail descends about 200 feet. It’s not a problem going down. However, going up can be a struggle. You’re at an elevation of around 7,000 ft. So, your body feels things a bit differently at this higher elevation.

General Grant Grove

A short, paved trail takes you around some incredible sequoias, including the General Grant Tree (the second largest sequoia in the world). I think the widest sequoias are found here. And, if you still need more sequoias (and, without the crowds), go to the end of the overflow parking, where the trail for the North Grove Trail begins. Just shy of 2-miles, it’s an easy loop through a sequoia grove.

Drive the General’s Highway

The road through Sequoia National Park is called the General’s Highway, connecting the Sherman Tree to the Grant Tree. This road is one of the most fun roads you can drive in a national park. Only 33 miles in length, the road weaves its ways through the thick forests of Sequoia.

Entering through the southern entrance of Sequoia through Three Rivers, the General’s Highway is filled with hair pin curves. It’s a difficult and fun stretch of road getting to Moro Rock. Due to the amount of sharp turns, vehicles over 22 ft in length are not permitted on this portion of the road. If curvy, steep mountain roads freak you out, it’s best to enter through the northern entrance of the park. But, once you get to Moro Rock, the road lessens in its intensity.

In some spots, you drive by some incredible sequoias. Their red trunks are unmissable. There are some great pull outs for views. But, as awesome as the General’s Highway is, you need to explore Sequoia on foot.

Hiking in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is a phenomenal place to hit the trails. And, it’s the only way to see the diversity of the park. If you think that Sequoia National Park is just about seeing some sequoias, then you’re in for a surprising treat. Beyond sequoia groves, there’s lush meadows, entry into the high Sierras, waterfalls, and vistas to appreciate. For shorter trails, two of my favorites are Tokopah Falls and Buena Vista Trail.

Tokopah Falls

Past the Lodgepole Visitor Center is parking for Tokopah Falls. This mostly level, 3.8 mile trail follows the Kaweah River to the falls (can be seasonal depending on snow fall totals). Deer can be spotted in the surrounding forest. The trail also offers stellar views of the imposing Watchtower formation (a granite monolith).

Buena Vista Trail

The 2-mile Buena Vista Trail is directly off the General’s Highway between Grant Grove and Montecito Lodge. At trail’s end is an astounding view of the large Redwood Mountain Grove (known as the Sugarbowl) and the mountains to the east. This delightful trail lives up to its name.

Moro Rock Area

Around Moro Rock, there’s the short trail to Hanging Rock offering a different perspective of Moro Rock along the way. Or, you can take a stroll through the sugar pines on the Sugar Pine Trail (3 miles).

Crescent Meadow

If you follow Crescent Meadow Road past the Tunnel Log, you can take a turn around Crescent Meadow (less than 2 miles). From that trail, you can take a short detour to Thorp’s Log. This fallen sequoia is so large, that the homesteader Hale Thorp used it as a small cabin!

Wolverton Area Trails

However, the Wolverton area of the park (past the Congress Trail and Sherman Tree) offers some of the best hiking options. These include a hike around the stunning Long Meadow (2.5 miles) or a big day hike to Alta Peak, offering amazing views from it’s 11,000 ft peak (13 miles). My favorite trail is the Lakes Trail that takes you to three small, but gorgeous mountain lakes. Along the way, you pass along an exposed section along the cliff face with sweeping views (and a sheer drop off). It’s a strenuous 13-mile trail. But, there’s plenty of incredible places to pause and have a small picnic. And, you won’t believe the scenery.

Things to Do in Kings Canyon National Park

And, as an extra bonus, there’s Kings Canyon National Park. Essentially, you get two national parks for the price of one. How can you pass that up? Unfortunately, a lot of visitors to Sequoia National Park don’t venture into Kings Canyon. And, that’s a mistake. The drive down into the canyon alone make it worth a visit. Be advised, that during winter, the road may be closed.

Drive Highway 180

The glacially carved Kings Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the United States at over a mile in depth. The canyon is surrounded by countless 12,000+ peaks. It’s a completely different landscape than that of Sequoia. Along the canyon floor flows the mighty south fork of the Kings River.

Driving along Highway 180 from Grant Grove down into the canyon is an epic drive. The mountain views are out of this world. Happily, there are many pull outs where you can stop and savor the views. And, if you’re the one driving, you’ll need those as you’ll not want to take your eyes off the road.

Hiking in Kings Canyon National Park

Once in the canyon, the hiking options seem endless. Kings Canyon is a gateway to the John Muir Wilderness. Miles and miles of back country trails can have you spending days in nature. It’s even possible to join the John Muir Trail from Kings Canyon. One of the more popular day trails is the 8-mile round trip to Mist Falls.

Most of the trails begin at Road’s End.  One of my favorite hikes from there is Copper Creek Trail. If you don’t have the time or energy to hike the full 20 miles (roundtrip), hike the trail for about a mile. After going up several switchbacks, the views of Kings Canyon from this vantage point are unparalleled. The canyon stretches on in both directions. The bit of effort needed is worth it. But, do beware, rattlesnakes can be seen on that portion of the trail.

Short Walks in Kings Canyon National Park

If you’re not a hiker, you can still make quick stops at Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow. If perfection exists in nature, it is found at Zumwalt Meadow. Every time I visit, I always make time to do the short trail around the meadow. The openness, the greenery, the mountains all come together in a way that makes the area irresistible.

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• Hike the Bear Gulch Cave Trail in Pinnacles National Park

The post Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Big Tree Basics

Getting to Port Renfrew

Port Renfrew is a remote community located in south western Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It’s a 2 hour drive on winding and bumpy roads from Victoria in the east or Duncan to the north east. The roads to Port Renfrew are actually part of the Pacific Marine Circle Route and there is lots of stuff to see along the way. Read my guide to this great road trip.

Port Renfrew is a very small community with a population of about 150 people. There is a small general store if you need supplies. They do have a gas station in town now, but it’s safer to fill up in Sooke or Lake Cowichan in case the station isn’t open when you get there.

If you’re based on southern Vancouver Island, you can see all of these trees on a day trip, but it will be a bit rushed. I recommend staying overnight in Port Renfrew. We stayed at the Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages. They were right on the water with an amazing view. Definitely recommended.

I’ve also camped at the Pacheedaht Campground, which is right on the beach. (They don’t have a website – call them at (250) 647-0090)

Navigating to the Big Trees

Port Renfrew is so small that it doesn’t have cell phone service. You will need to rely on paper maps and maybe a GPS device to find your way to the big trees. The Ancient Forest Alliance has put together an excellent map with turn by turn driving directions. (Click on the images below to download PDFs of the map and driving directions.) However, the map just shows the major roads. I brought my Vancouver Island Backroad Mapbook and it was really helpful to navigate the maze of backroads. In a few confusing spots we also used our Garmin eTrex GPS to figure out which road junction we were at.  Make sure you have a full tank of gas just in case you get lost and drive further than you intended.

I recommend visiting the trees in the order listed in this guide: First Avatar Grove and Big Lonely Doug, then the San Juan Spruce and the Red Creek Fir, finishing with the Harris Creek Spruce. If you don’t have a 4 wheel drive you will have to miss Big Lonely Doug and the Red Creek Fir. (Or do a few kilometres of logging road walking.)

Driving on Logging Roads

To visit most of these trees you will need to drive on unpaved logging roads. These roads are actively used for logging so drive with your lights on.  Be prepared to pull over quickly if you meet industrial trucks, particularly large fully loaded logging trucks. (They won’t stop for you!) A 4×4 vehicle with high clearance will be helpful to visit some of the trees, but you can visit many of them with a regular car. I’ll let you know in the description for each area what kind of car can make it. No matter what kind of car you bring, make sure you have a working spare tire and know how to change it.

Protecting the Big Trees

The Ancient Forest Alliance discovered, publicized and protected (or attempted to protect) most of the big trees described in this article. The Ancient Forest Alliance is a grass-roots non-profit society working to protect old growth forests in BC and advocate for sustainable forestry practices. They have raised money to construct trails to many of the trees in this article. If you enjoy your visit to the trees, please consider making a donation to their cause or joining their letter writing campaigns. (I give a a recurring donation each month and would love it if you would do the same.) There is still lots more work to do to protect these trees and others.

Respecting the Environment

The big trees are located in remote wilderness areas. There are no toilet or garbage facilities. Please follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out everything you pack in. If you have to go to the bathroom, please dig a small cat hole 70 paces from trails and water sources, then pack out your toilet paper.

Please avoid walking on the root systems of the ancient trees to ensure that they remain healthy and standing for years to come. Even giants don’t like having their feet stepped on! Some of the trees have fencing or barriers around their bases to protect their roots. Please stay on the trail and respect the barriers.

The big trees near Port Renfrew are on the unceded traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation.

How to Visit Avatar Grove

The big trees of Avatar Grove are the closest to Port Renfrew and one of the easiest sites to access. Member of the Ancient Forest Alliance first discovered Avatar Grove in 2009 and named it after the James Cameron film. Avatar grove contains numerous large western red cedars and Douglas firs. The highlight is Canada’s Gnarliest Tree, a huge cedar with numerous gnarly burl growths on its lower trunk. The grove was given protected status in 2012 and is now closed to logging.

There are actually two separate groves at Avatar Grove: the upper grove and the lower grove. You will find Canada’s Gnarliest Tree in the upper grove, reached by climbing wooden stairs and board walks. In the lower grove you’ll find a collection of cedars and firs along a short loop trail. You have to descend a set of stairs to reach the loop. Both trails are under construction and have muddy, slippery and uneven sections, despite the numerous boardwalks and bridges that have already been built. Be sure to wear hiking boots.

Trail Stats: Upper Grove: 500m round trip, 80m elevation gain; Lower Grove: 650m loop, 25m elevation gain

Tree Info: Canada’s Gnarliest Tree (11m circumference), numerous unnamed large red cedars and douglas firs

Driving Information: Avatar Grove is about 10km from Port Renfrew and can be accessed by any car. The last few kilometres of the road are unpaved and bumpy, but regular 2wd cars will be fine if they drive slowly. For complete driving directions refer to the Ancient Forest Alliance map and driving directions pdfs above.

How to Visit Big Lonely Doug

Big Lonely Doug has become a bit of a symbol for the protection of old growth forests in BC. This towering douglas fir stands alone in the middle of a clear cut. Back in 2012 a logger working in the area decided to spare Big Lonely Doug when marking a cut block full of other old growth trees. At the time no one knew that it was the second largest douglas fir tree in the world. The history of how Big Lonely Doug was saved is fascinating. You can read about it in an excellent article on The Walrus. The author of that article, Harley Rustad, has written a book about Big Lonely Doug’s story. It’s such a great book that I included it on my list of the best Canadian adventure books. 

The best place to view Big Lonely Doug is actually from the logging road where you park. You have to stand pretty far back to fit the whole tree into a photo! If you want to get down close to the tree, there is a rough trail marked with blue flags that descends the hillside, weaving around clearcut debris. It’s pretty steep and in a few places you have to climb over fallen logs that are really slippery when it rains. Try to minimize the time you spend right next to Doug to protect his roots.

Trail Stats: 250m round trip, 20m elevation gain.

Tree Info: Big Lonely Doug is 66m tall and has a circumference of nearly 12m.

Driving Information: Big Lonely Doug is located a few kilometres up the road from Avatar Grove so it makes the most sense to visit them one after another. The road past Avatar Grove gets increasingly bumpy and rocky.  But it should still be find for regular cars up until the bridge over the Gordon River. After the bridge the road gets rougher and steeper so you will need a 4 wheel drive. If you only have a 2 wheel drive car you can park at the bridge and walk up the road for about 1.5km to Big Lonely Doug. Be sure to stop and check out the view from the bridge as the Gordon River canyon is spectacular. For complete driving directions refer to the Ancient Forest Alliance map and driving directions pdfs above.

How to Visit the San Juan Spruce

The San Juan Spruce was one of the world’s largest sitka spruce trees by volume. Unfortunately some time in the last year or two the top portion of the tree suffered wind damage. (I haven’t been able to find any news online about this, but when I visited the tree, it was missing it’s top portion and there were tree branch bits on the ground.)

The main trunk still stands, but the tree has lost much of it’s former height. It’s still worth a visit since the beauty of the tree is in it’s huge base with moss and ferns growing out of it. The tree is located in the San Juan Bridge Forest Recreation Site.  For just $10 you can camp near the tree next to the river. In the spring the site is almost carpeted in beautiful Pink Fawn Lilies.

Trail Stats: You can park right next to the tree. No hiking required.

Tree Info: The San Juan Spruce has a circumference of 11.6m and was once 62m tall. Now it is about half that height.

Driving Directions: Most of the drive from Port Renfrew to the San Juan Spruce is on a paved road. The last few kilometres are on gravel roads with active logging. The roads are rocky and bumpy but should not pose any significant challenges for 2wd vehicles. For complete driving directions refer to the Ancient Forest Alliance map and driving directions pdfs above.

How to Visit the Red Creek Fir

The Red Creek Fir is the largest known douglas fir tree in the world. However it isn’t the tallest (there’s a taller one in Cathedral Grove) but it is the biggest by volume. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit it on my trip, but I would love to go back and see it. This is the most difficult to reach of the big trees near Port Renfrew. It requires a longer drive on rougher and unmaintained roads. After the drive there is a short uphill hike to the tree. Along the way you’ll pass several giant cedar trees.

Trail Stats: 1km round trip, 50m elevation gain

Tree Info: The Red Creek Fir is the largest douglas fir tree in the world. It is 74m tall and has a circumference of 4m.

Driving Information: I haven’t actually done this drive, but from what I’ve read online it’s a rough, unmaintained road. You need a 4wd car to make the trip. Consider bringing a saw to clear branches out of the way. The route to the Red Creek Fir passes right by the San Juan Spruce so plan to visit both on the same trip. For complete driving directions refer to the Ancient Forest Alliance map and driving directions pdfs above.

How to Visit the Harris Creek Spruce

The Harris Creek Spruce is the easiest tree to visit on this list since it’s located right next to a paved road. It’s not the largest sitka spruce on Vancouver Island, but it is still pretty spectacular. A wooden fence surrounds the tree to protect it’s roots. (Remember, giants don’t like having their feet stepped on.) This tree stands in a second growth forest since the Harris Creek Spurce was spared when the area was originally logged in the 1890s. It grows right on the banks of Harris Creek and has some wonderfully moss-draped branches.

Trail Stats: You can access the tree via a flat trail that is about 20m long.

Tree Info: The Harris Creek Spruce is 4m in diameter and about 80m tall.

Driving Information: The Harris Creek Spruce is located on the east side of the paved Pacific Marine Circle Route road in between Port Renfrew and Lake Cowichan. However, there is only one small sign to indicate that the tree is there. It’s approximately 8km past the Lizard Lake rec site turn off. Start to watch for the sign on your right after you pass by the tight canyon of Harris Creek and a recent forest fire scar. For complete driving directions refer to the Ancient Forest Alliance map and driving directions pdfs above.

There’s something special about visiting these ancient trees. They’ve been on this Earth for hundreds (or even over a thousand) years and have seen so much in their lifetime. I wonder what they would say if they could talk. I feel honoured to have been able to stand in their presence, even just for a few minutes. I loved my visit to Avatar Grove, Big Lonely Doug and the other big trees near Port Renfrew and I know I’ll have to visit them again. Have you visited any big trees? Tell me in the comments.

More Vancouver Island Posts:

• The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Marine Circle Route on Vancouver Island
• Juan De Fuca Trail Guide: Backpacking on Vancouver Island
• Your Guide to the West Coast Trail in British Columbia
• Cape Scott Trail Guide: Hiking and Camping on Northern Vancouver Island
• Hiking the Big Tree Trail on Meares Island
• Wild Side Trail: Hiking and Camping Guide
• Kayaking in the Johnstone Strait: Everything You Need to Know
• Things to do on North Vancouver Island

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