Moro Rock

Moro Rock is a granite dome in Sequoia National Park between Giant Forest and Crescent Meadow, 2,050 m (6,725 feet) high. A stone stairway of 350 to 400 steps and about 240 m (800 feet) leads to the top; it was completed in 1931 and replaced a wooden staircase from 1917. The stairs follow the rock's natural crevices and so protect its fragile surface. The rock is said to take its name from a bluish-colored horse called Moro in the 1860s. From the top you have a sweeping view in every direction.

In summer, free shuttles run from the Giant Forest Museum to the Moro Rock parking area, and on weekends the road is closed to private vehicles. The parking lot is small and can fill even on weekdays. When snow falls the road closes, and the stairway is closed because of ice. The climbing routes are often closed in summer to protect nesting peregrine falcons, which does not affect people using the stairs. The thin air makes the climb more strenuous, so take it slowly.