- Best time to visit Sequoia: April, May, October and November. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: July, with about 194,206 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.8 times as many as January.
- Quietest month: February (38,716 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
- Heat: average highs reach 97°F in July; July and August are dangerous for long hikes in the middle of the day.
- Wettest month: January, with 4.9 inches on average.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Visits (typical) | High / low (°F) | Precipitation | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 40,325 | 58° / 38° | 4.9 in | 0 in |
| February | Very quiet | 38,716 | 60° / 41° | 4.3 in | 0 in |
| March | Quiet | 63,064 | 64° / 43° | 4.0 in | 0 in |
| April ★ | Moderate | 87,369 | 69° / 45° | 2.5 in | 0 in |
| May ★ | Busy | 129,750 | 79° / 54° | 1.2 in | 0 in |
| June | Busy | 129,852 | 90° / 62° | 0.4 in | 0 in |
| July | Busiest | 194,206 | 97° / 69° | 0.1 in | 0 in |
| August | Busiest | 183,607 | 97° / 68° | 0.0 in | 0 in |
| September | Busy | 144,770 | 91° / 62° | 0.2 in | 0 in |
| October ★ | Moderate | 111,987 | 79° / 53° | 1.2 in | 0 in |
| November ★ | Quiet | 70,127 | 66° / 44° | 2.4 in | 0 in |
| December | Quiet | 53,944 | 57° / 38° | 3.7 in | 0 in |
Weather figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Ash Mtn station (1,708 feet above sea level), 0 miles from Foothills Visitor Center. Higher parts of the park are colder and snowier. Visitor numbers are the median of 2022 to 2025 monthly recreation visits from the National Park Service.
By season
- Spring (March to May): 22% of the year’s visits; average highs 64° to 79°F.
- Summer (June to August): 41% of the year’s visits; average highs 90° to 97°F.
- Fall (September to November): 26% of the year’s visits; average highs 66° to 91°F.
- Winter (December to February): 11% of the year’s visits; average highs 57° to 60°F.
Weekends and holidays
Even in a quiet month, holiday weekends fill parking lots and campgrounds. The 2027 federal holidays to plan around:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18
- Presidents Day: Monday, February 15
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
- Juneteenth: Saturday, June 19
- Independence Day: Sunday, July 4 (observed Monday, July 5)
- Labor Day: Monday, September 6
- Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day: Monday, October 11
- Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 25
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the park service’s fee-free days. The last one in 2026 is Veterans Day, November 11; the 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked. Free days are often busier. See the crowd calendar for all 64 parks.
Weather, in the park service’s words
Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, weather conditions vary widely between areas. In summer, the sequoia groves have comfortable temperatures and the foothills are hot and dry. Snow lingers on high-mountain passes well into summer. In fall, conditions can range from summer-like to winter-like. Winter brings snow to sequoia groves and rain to the foothills. Be prepared for tire chain requirements. Spring is a great time to hike in the foothills and snow begins to melt at higher elevations.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Today at Sequoia
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Foothills Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
Sources
- National Park Service visitor use statistics (IRMA): monthly recreation visits, 2022 to 2025
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 (monthly)
- National Park Service Data API: weather overview (public domain)
Last checked 1 November 2026.