Have you ever driven through a giant tree or walked through a historic drive-thru tree? We have! We’ve visited a walk through tree in Yosemite, the Pioneer Cabin Tree in Calaveras Big Trees State Park (that fell during a winter storm in 2017), the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree, the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree, and the Klamath Tour-Thru Tree.
Unlike those drive-through trees, the drive-through tree in Sequoia National Park wasn’t made by cutting into a live tree.
Found along Crescent Meadow Road in the Giant Forest, Tunnel Log is a carved opening through a fallen tree estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. The tree fell across the road in 1937 from natural causes and was cut through to make a visitor attraction in the summer of 1938. When it fell, the tree stood 275 feet high and was 21 feet in diameter at the base.
Tunnel Log is still open to vehicles today.
When Crescent Meadow Road is open to private vehicles, you can drive through the 17 foot wide, 8 foot high Tunnel Log. When the road is closed, the free park shuttle stops at Tunnel Log so you can hop out and take photos.
Know Before You Go
- Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log is located on Crescent Meadow Road in the Giant Forest
- If you are able to drive your personal vehicle on Crescent Meadow Road, you can drive through the Tunnel Log. If your vehicle is too big, there is a bypass. If you have to ride the park shuttle, you can get out and walk through the Tunnel Log.
- Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are basically treated as the same park — even the National Park Service combined both parks into one website.
- The combined area of these two parks is 865,952 acres. Most of it is wilderness back country.
- The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Occasionally, winter storms will close roads leading into the parks until they can be plowed.
- Admission fees are good for seven days and both parks. They are $35.00/vehicle, $30.00/motorcycle, $20.00/individual entry on foot or bicycle, $15.00/person for a non-commercial group.
- There are five free admission days: the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the first day of National Park Week, the National Park Service Birthday, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.
- Weather varies a lot by season and elevation, which ranges from 1,370 feet to 14,494 feet. Bring layers and be prepared!
- Cell service is not available in most areas. You may get service in Grant Grove and at the Foothills Visitor Center. WiFi is available at the Foothills Visitor Center, the Grant Grove Visitor Center, and in the lobby of Wuksachi Lodge.
- Pets are not permitted on any trails at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In campgrounds and picnic areas, pets must be kept on a leash of no more than six feet at all times.
