Natural water slide in Giant Sequoia National Monument

July 7, 8:02 PMLA Outdoor Recreation ExaminerSeth Smigelski

Previous Next

3 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the LA Outdoor Recreation Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Take the plunge at the end of this water slide

On a hot summer day in the Sierras, what could be better than a water slide? Answer: a natural water slide. Fortunately, Giant Sequoia National Monument is nice enough to offer one. However, you wouldn't know it from the park literature. Nature’s slip-n-slide goes unmentioned in handouts and websites. For that reason, many visitors miss out on this unadvertised attraction.

It is always a good idea to ask locals for recommendations wherever you travel. A park ranger was kind enough to suggest the slide, but this attraction is too good to leave to word-of-mouth alone. Natural water slide, meet the internet.

North of the town of Johnsondale, a remote creek flows over a smooth rock. At the bottom of the rock there is a small pool where sliders are dumped off, punctuating a recreational ride down the creek with a refreshing exclamation point. The water slide is further off the Western Divide Highway than other attractions in Giant Sequoia National Monument, (The Trail of 100 Giants, Needles Lookout, and Dome Rock), but the mirth is worth the drive.

How to use a natural water slide: Starts from a standing position at the top of the chute. Take a few steps the and sit down on the slick moss-covered rock. Your momentum and the force of the water will push you down the slide. Lie back like a pencil, or paddle with your hands to accelerate. Have fun and be safe.

Going down headfirst or “superman style” is a popular variation

• Check out this "slideshow" to see a run down the rock

Unlike a man-made water park, this slide is free! No fee or permit is required, so get out there and enjoy.

To get to the waterslide: From the intersection of Western Divide Highway and Parker Pass Road (south of the Trail of 100 Giants), head east on Parker Pass Road. Turn north on Lloyd Meadow Road (Forest Route 22S82) and take that road for several miles until there is an area for parking on the right side of the road. A dirt fire road (Route 22S90) leads uphill to the left. Park where it is permitted and hike up the fire road up for half a mile. As the road rounds a bend, the creek will be visible pouring over a large rock. Break off the trail here and get ready for the most fun you can have in Giant Sequoia National Monument.

View Hiking the Sierra Nevadas in a larger map

	You might also like:
	Quaking Aspen Campground South of Sequoia proper, Quaking Aspen Campground provides great access to the Sequoia trees and trails of Giant Sequoia National Monument.
	Needles Lookout This 5-mile round-trip hike crosses a pine forest to an impressive fire tower with panoramic views.
	Trail of 100 Giants This easy one-mile loop visits a grove of Giant Sequoias that are the prize of Giant Sequoia National Monument.
	Dome Rock Located just off the Western Divide Highway, the short walk to the top of Dome Rock offers great views of the valley below.
	Sierra Nevada hike directory This listing explores the great hiking opportunities in the Sierras. Start right here for more Sequoias, peaks, lakes, and streams.