This junction in Giant Forest marks where the short, family-friendly Hazelwood Nature Trail meets the Alta Trail's beginning stretch toward the high country. Most people stick to the half-mile nature loop through intimate sequoia groves, but the junction serves as a gateway for those heading deeper into the wilderness or simply looking to connect different trail segments in the Giant Forest area.
Overview
The Hazelwood Nature Trail delivers one of Giant Forest's quieter sequoia experiences, tucked away from the crowds that pack the Big Trees Trail across Generals Highway. The 0.5-mile loop starts with a gentle climb on paved trail, passes through a tunnel carved into a fallen giant sequoia, then circles through dense groves where the canopy blocks most direct sunlight. At 6,400 feet elevation and with only 50 feet of climb, it reads like a nature walk, but the sequoias here grow as large as anywhere in the park.
The Alta Trail junction sits where this intimate loop connects with a much more ambitious route. While most visitors turn around after completing the nature trail, the Alta Trail continues west toward the Giant Forest Museum and east toward Alta Peak — a 20-mile round trip that climbs over 4,000 feet to one of the best viewpoints in the southern Sierra.
What to Expect
The paved section leads uphill at an easy 6.5% grade to the fallen sequoia tunnel, a classic photo stop that's been drawing visitors since the early park days. Past the tunnel, the trail becomes dirt and narrows as it enters the loop portion. The 6-foot-wide path stays smooth and well-maintained, with maximum grades hitting 10% on short sections.
The loop section winds through what feels like a sequoia cathedral — tall, straight trunks rising into green darkness overhead, with minimal understory and soft duff underfoot. The intimate scale here contrasts with the more open groves along other Giant Forest trails. You're walking among giants, but in a setting that feels enclosed rather than monumental.
At the Alta Trail junction, signage clearly marks the connections. The Alta Trail heads west back toward the Giant Forest Museum area, making this junction useful for creating longer loops that connect multiple trail systems. Eastbound, the Alta Trail begins its long march toward the high country and Alta Peak.
Tips & Logistics
Park at the Hazelwood Nature Trail lot, about one-third of a mile east of the Giant Forest Museum on Generals Highway. The trailhead sits less than a quarter mile from the museum and roughly 17 miles north of the main Ash Mountain entrance station. Parking fills up during peak summer and fall weekends, but turnover is quick since most people complete the loop in 30-45 minutes.
The trail stays accessible most of the year, though snow can cover the upper elevations from December through March. Summer brings the heaviest crowds, but the enclosed nature of the sequoia groves means you're rarely dealing with the mob scenes common at other Giant Forest destinations.
No permits are required for the nature trail itself, but if you're using this junction to access the Alta Trail for longer adventures, standard wilderness permits apply for overnight trips. Day hiking the Alta Trail requires no permits but demands significantly more preparation than the nature loop.
Water is available at the Giant Forest Museum but not along the trail itself. The short distance makes this a non-issue for the nature trail, but factor in water needs if you're continuing on the Alta Trail. Bear canisters are required for any overnight trips, and bear spray is prohibited throughout both Sequoia and Kings Canyon.