The Balch Park Road climb from near Springville offers a long and challenging ascent deep into the Southern Sierra Nevada's giant sequoia groves. Prepare for approximately 18 miles of sustained climbing, gaining nearly 5000ft to reach Balch Park at around 6,400ft altitude. You'll need to conquer demanding gradients averaging around 5-6%, featuring numerous relentless ramps exceeding 10-15%, especially through the winding forest sections. You'll experience the climate shift from potentially hot foothills to cool, dense Sierra forest. Services are virtually non-existent, so carry ample supplies. Always check the Tulare County and Sequoia National Forest road status before attempting this climb, as the upper sections are typically closed out of season due to snow until late spring or early summer (very likely still closed or only just opening in early May). Reaching the magnificent sequoias is a stunning reward for the effort.