There is something special about exploring a national park with a sketchbook in your bag. I spent a couple of days around Sequoia National Park, stopping at different locations whenever a view caught my attention. I kept my setup very simple: a pen, a small watercolor kit and my sketchbook. Sketching this way slowed the trip and made it more personal. Instead of just taking photos, I had time to examine each place.
You don’t need to travel far away from home for a sketch. All about it in my previous post here.
Lemon Cove
My sketching trip actually started before I entered Sequoia National Park, while staying in Lemon Cove. I stayed at a lovely The Parks Inn Bed and Breakfast that I would definitely recommend, with kind owners, a delicious breakfast, and a very peaceful atmosphere. On the balcony, the view drew my attention. Warm hills and greenery framed the quiet rural landscape. I opened my sketchbook and captured the scene making it a quiet and relaxing beginning to the trip.
Vista Point
There are several vista points along the road into Sequoia National Park. I decided to stop at the one that inspired me the most. The distant mountains formed part of an interesting composition. The winding road added movement. Even the road signs invited me to sketch right away. This is exactly why I enjoy traveling with a small watercolor kit. I can stop almost anywhere, open my sketchbook, and start working within a few minutes. First, I drew the main shapes and details with my pen. Then added watercolor to bring in the warm mountains, blue sky, shadows, and feeling of the landscape.
Tokopah Falls Trail
One of my favorite nature sketches from this trip came from the Tokopah Falls Trail. I found an amazing place with mountains rising in the distance, tall pine trees all around, and the river moving through the foreground. I usually sketch urban scenes, so sitting in the middle of nature and trying to capture a landscape felt quite different. It was a fun challenge, and I especially enjoyed using loose pen lines and watercolor washes instead of trying to describe every single tree or rock.
Tunnel Log
Tunnel Log was one of those places where I knew I had to sketch quickly when I saw the opportunity. It is located near the General Sherman shuttle area. It usually attracts many visitors who stop to photograph. For a short moment there was almost nobody around, so I found my spot and started drawing before the scene became busy again. A huge fallen tree, a dark tunnel opening, the surrounding forest, and patches of sunlight formed an unusual subject. This scene became one of the trip’s most recognizable sketches.
Crescent Meadow Loop
While walking the Crescent Meadow Loop, I found a quiet spot with a beautiful view across the meadow and into the surrounding forest. It was a hot day, so finding a place to sketch in the shade felt especially good. I loved the contrast between the bright green meadow in the sunlight and the darker trees surrounding it, with one massive sequoia tree creating a strong vertical element in my composition. I started with loose pen lines and then added layers of watercolor, keeping the sketch spontaneous rather than trying to make every detail perfect.
Spending a couple of days sketching around Sequoia National Park reminded me that travel sketching does not require a complicated setup or hours in one location. Each sketch now reminds me not only of what these places looked like, but also of where I was sitting, how the weather felt, and what was happening around me while I painted. If you enjoy traveling and want to experience places a little differently, bring a small sketching kit on your next trip. You may be surprised by how much more you notice when you stop, sit down, and draw.
