Want to know what to wear in Sequoia National Park in Summer? This guide tells you EXACTLY what to pack for Sequoia in Summer, Winter, Spring or Fall from hiking clothes, best shoes to wear and all the other Sequoia essentials.
Note: this packing list is not intended as a camping packing list, but instead for those in lodges and hotels who spend their days in the park. If you plan to camp in the national park check out this post.
Weather in Sequoia National Park in Summer
But before we get into what to wear and travel essentials for Sequoia National Park in summer, it is important to know what the weather is going to be like.
July and August are the hottest months to visit Sequoia with temperatures averaging around 22 °C or 71°F. Therefore it is important to pack lots of natural fabrics such as cottons and linens on your packing list.
What to wear in Sequoia in Summer
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So now you know about the weather, we will tell you what to wear in Sequoia in Summer. Traditionally when we create packing lists we normally separate them our by gender to allow for dress codes.
Normally when we put together our packing list guides we split them into men, women and children. However for Sequoia our packing list is universal. That is because practicality is key to any national park packing list. Therefore we recommend all visitors to Sequoia in the Summer pack:
Layers
Although the temperatures in Sequoia in Summer are high, we still recommend adding some layers onto your packing list. We always recommend getting early starts in national parks in summer and Sequoia is no different.
We think the best top layer for Sequoia in summer is a microfiber lightweight fleece. It is warm and insulating but will also pack away easily into your day pack when you aren’t using it.
T Shirts
T shirts are my favorite base layer for Sequoia no matter whether you are visiting in June, July, August or September. As the weather is hot short sleeve are helpful for keeping you cool however long sleeve tees made of natural fabrics such as cotton and bamboo are a great cool pick that can also help protect your skin from the sun.
Convertible Walking Trousers
Any trip to Sequoia involves walking, hiking and outdoor time so we recommend packing convertible walking trousers.
This way you can wear them as trousers in the mornings and change them into shorts for layer in the day.
Hat
The sun can be strong in Sequoia so we recommend having a hat with a wide brim or a baseball cap to protect your eyes.
Rain Jacket
Although there are not many rainy days in Sequoia, they are usually downpours when the come. For this reason we recommend packing a rain jacket in your day pack.
Hiking Socks
If you plan on wearing hiking boots in the park then you will also need hiking socks. If you just plan on wearking sneakers then sneaker socks may be more appropriate.
What to wear in Sequoia in Fall and Spring
All of the above work as great key peices for your national park outfit. However if you are traveling in Spring and Fall you will find the temperatures cooler. For this reason I recommend just adding more layers to your packing list.
My favorite type of top layers for hiking has to be a fleece.
Also I for March and November in particular I would switch out the short sleeve tees for longer length ones.
What to wear in Sequoia National Park in Winter
My what to wear in Sequoia National Park in Winter actually has a lot of overlaps with the items we put on our packing list for any other time of year.
The main difference is in the thickness and amount of items you need. For instance, I still recommend bringing a jacket, however as the temperatures peak just above freezing you will want a thicker and warmer jacket with you than just a pack away one. And it being waterproof isn’t the main concern as Winter only gets around 3 days of rain in each month.
I also recommend buying fleece lined pants instead of convertible walking trousers for extra protection against the cold. And if you don’t have these or don’t want to buy new ones, I recommend wearing leggings under your walking trousers.
And if there is a particular cold snap you may want to throw some thermals onto your list too!
On top of these layers we also recommend having a hat, scarf and gloves with you for cold days in the park.
Best Shoes to wear to Sequoia
So now you know what to wear, we turn our attention to footwear.
Hiking Shoes
No matter the national park I am traveling to I always take hiking boots with me. Now if you plan on doing only a little hiking and sticking to more maintained walkways these might not be necessary. However I like to have them with me whenever I visit a national park so I can do whatever trails I like.
Sneakers
Sneakers are the best comfortable walking shoes for any vacation. Sneakers are great for maintained boardwalks and walkways.
Hiking Sandals
In hotter weather hiking sandals are a good pick for Sequoia National Park.
What to pack for Sequoia – travel essentials
Day pack with rain cover
Any day we spend in a national park we take and pack a day pack. My favorite backpack brand is Columbia but this is a purely personal choice.
Power Bank
Days are long in Sequoia and reception is sporadic at best. For this reason we recommend having a fully charged power bank with you to recharge your phone during the day.
Sun protection
The sun is strong in Yosemite so be sure to have lots of sun protection with a high SPF with you.
Bug Spray / Insect Repellant
The mosquitos are pretty fierce in Sequoia in summer and the shoulder seasons so be sure to pack plenty of bug spray and insect repellant.
Sunglasses
Again the sun is strong so sunglasses are an essential.
Binoculars
Although Sequoia isn’t as renowned for its wildlife as say Yellowstone, the wildlife is still impressive. In fact there are almost 100 different types of mammals in the park. So if you want to see the wildlife that the park has on offer we recommend traveling with a pair of binoculars.
Reusable Water Bottle and Extra Water
We recommend always having a reuable water bottle and extra water with you for any naitonal park visit especially in Summer.
Coffee Thermos and Mug
Your days start early in Sequoia and for me therefore a coffee thermos and mug is absolutely a must pack so I can be caffeinated at the start of the day.
Snacks
Although there are food vendors in Sequoia, the places to stop and grab snacks are few and far between so be sure to pack ample snacks, food and drinks.
Cooler and food containers
As the temperatures are hot and you will be taking food into the park so you will want a cooler and food containers with you.
First Aid Kit
Although no one wants to use a first aid kit on vacation, it is a good idea to pack a first aid kit with you on any national park vacation just in case especially if you plan on going on more remote hikes..
Map
Whether this is a downloaded map on your phone or a physical one it is worth having a map with you that shows the trailheads you plan on taking.
Camera
A camera is a necessity for any visitor to Sequoia.
Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer and a She wee
The toilets in Sequoia outside of the main visitor centreare pretty primitive. For this reason we recommend packing toilet paper, hand sanitizer and a she wee with you.
What not to pack for Sequoia National Park
So now you know what to pack for Sequoia, we will turn our attention to what not to pack.
Drones
Drones are classified as unmanned aircrafts and are as such prohibited from being flown in the park boundaries.
Complete Sequoia Packing Checklist for Summer
- Layers
- T Shirts
- Walking Trousers
- Rain Jacket
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Hiking Boots
- Shoes – either sneakers or hiking sandals
- Backpack and rain cover
- camera
- binoculars
- map
- sun protection
- insect repellant
- quick dry towel
- coffee thermos and mug
- resuable water bottle
- food
- first aid kit