List of giant sequoia groves

The following is a list of giant sequoia groves. All naturally occurring groves of giant sequoias are located in moist, unglaciated ridges and valleys of the west slope of the Sierra Nevada range in California, United States. They occur between 1370 – 2000 meters (4500–6500 ft) altitude in the northern half of the range, and 1700–2250 m (5500–7500 ft) in the south.

Groves in the northern half of the range (north of the Kings River) are widely scattered and mostly small, while those south of the Kings River are more numerous. The total area of all the groves combined is approximately 14,416 ha (35,607 acres). The groves are listed from north to south in the list below.

This list is based on five different sources, with slightly varying views on what constitutes a discrete grove; the differing interpretations are noted in italics. The lists of groves were compiled by Rundel (1972; recognizing 75 groves), Flint (1987; recognizing 65 groves), Willard (1994; recognizing 65 groves), the Giant Sequoia National Monument Visitor's Guide (2003) and the Draft Giant Sequoia National Monument Plan 2010. Currently, the U.S. National Park Service cites Rundel's total of 75 groves in its visitor publications. The updated lists from Willard and Flint are now known to be more accurate, therefore some of Rundel's 75 grove's have been removed from this list. Below compiles a list of 68 sequoia groves.[1]

Contents

North of the Kings River

Name Location Coordinates Elevation Comments
(m) (ft)
Placer County Grove Tahoe National Forest, Placer County 1,580 5,180 The northernmost grove, with only six trees, the largest 3.6 m (12 ft) in diameter
North Calaveras Grove Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County 1,450–1,480 4,760–4,860 The first grove documented, in 1852
South Calaveras Grove Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Tuolumne County 1,450–1,500 4,760–4,900 Includes the Agassiz tree.
Tuolumne Grove Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County 1,700–1,800 5,600–5,900
Merced Grove Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County 1,700–1,800 5,600–5,900
Mariposa Grove Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County 1,750–2,050 5,740–6,730 Includes 'Grizzly Giant' tree
Nelder Grove Sierra National Forest, Madera County 1,600–1,700 5,200–5,600 Three units, partially logged; site of the Shadow of the Giants National Recreation Trail
McKinley Grove Sierra National Forest, Fresno County 1,900–1,950 6,200–6,400

Kings River watershed

The 16 groves in the Kings River watershed are in Kings Canyon National Park (KCNP), the northern section of Giant Sequoia National Monument (GSNM), or Sequoia National Forest (SeNF), in southernmost Fresno County and Tulare County:

Name Location Coordinates Elevation Comments
(m) (ft)
Abbott Creek Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,900 6,200 Listed by Rundel and Flint; very small (largely logged); too few trees to qualify as a grove according to Willard
Agnew Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,950–2,000 6,400–6,600
Bearskin Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,850–1,900 6,070–6,200
Big Stump Grove Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,850 6,070 Includes the Burnt Monarch, the remains of which are larger than any living tree.
Boulder Creek Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 2,050 6,730 Part of Evans Grove complex
Cherry Gap Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 2,070 6,790 Logged. Located between Converse Basin Grove and General Grant Grove, near McGee Overlook
Converse Basin Grove Sequoia National Forest& Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,800–2,000 5,900–6,600 Once the second-largest grove, but much logged around 1890-1900; However, nearly 100 widely scattered old-growth Giant Sequoias remain (apparently bypassed by the loggers), also good regrowth of younger trees. Home of the Boole Tree, which the loggers spared as it was by far the largest tree in the grove and is now identified as the sixth-largest tree by volume. Also home of the Chicago Stump, which is the remnant of the General Noble Tree that was cut for the 1893 [[World Columbian Exposition] the General Noble Tree was the second largest tree in the grove (after the Boole Tree) and it was the largest tree ever cut down. Although not among the very largest Giant Sequoias, the General Noble Tree was perhaps among the top 30 largest Giant Sequoias before it was cut].
Deer Meadow Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,950–2,000 6,400–6,600
Evans Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 2,050–2,250 6,730–7,380 Heavily logged before 1920. Part of Evans Grove complex, which consists of Evans, Boulder, Little Boulder, Lockwood, Kennedy, and Horseshoe Bend Groves.
General Grant Grove Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,750–2,000 5,740–6,600 Includes 'General Grant'
Indian Basin Grove Sequoia National Forest& Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,800–2,000 5,900–6,600 A mid-size grove, mostly logged. It can be accessed by paved roads. The grove contains many young sequoias approaching diameters of up to 10 feet.
Kennedy Grove Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument & Kings Canyon National Park 2,050–2,250 6,730–7,380 Contains the 13th-largest giant sequoia in the world, The Ishi Giant. Part of Evans Grove complex.
Landslide Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 2,050–2,250 6,730–7,380
Little Boulder Creek Grove Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 2,000 6,600 Part of Evans Grove complex
Lockwood Grove Sequoia National Forest& Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,700–1,800 5,600–5,900 Part of the Evans Complex
Monarch Grove Sequoia National Forest& Giant Sequoia National Monument 1,600–1,900 5,200–6,200 Immediately north of the Agnew Grove, near Monarch Wilderness boundary. On Forest Service GSNM map.
Sequoia Creek Grove Kings Canyon National Park 1,850 6,070

Kaweah River watershed

The 23 groves in the Kaweah River watershed are all in Sequoia National Park or in private ownership, except the northernmost in Sequoia National Forest & Kings Canyon National Park:

Name Location Coordinates Elevation Comments
(m) (ft)
Redwood Mountain Grove Sequoia National Forest Giant Sequoia National Monument & Kings Canyon National Park 1,960 6,430 The largest grove, 1240 ha (3100 acres), with 15,800 sequoias 30 cm (one foot) or more in diameter at the base.
Lost Grove Sequoia National Park 2,030 6,660 Contains no very large trees, but one tree with a large flaring base, with a perimeter of 104.6 feet (31.9 m).
Muir Grove Sequoia National Park 2,070 6,790 Contains one tree of great size.
Skagway Grove Sequoia National Park 1,820 5,970
Pine Ridge Grove Sequoia National Park
Suwanee Grove Sequoia National Park 1,880 6,170
Giant Forest Sequoia National Park 2,130 6,990 Includes half of the ten largest trees by volume, including the largest, 'General Sherman', and 8,400 others 30 cm (one foot) or more diameter at their base.
Redwood Meadow Grove Sequoia National Park 1,690 5,540
Castle Creek Grove Sequoia National Park 1,610 5,280
Atwell Mill Grove Sequoia National Park 2,100 6,900 The highest elevation giant sequoias are in this grove. This grove contains four trees (Diamond, AD, Dean and Arm) that are among the largest giant sequoias in the world.
Oriole Grove Sequoia National Park 2,030 6,660
New Oriole Grove Sequoia National Park
Eden Creek Grove Sequoia National Park 1,720 5,640
Horse Creek Grove Sequoia National Park 1,840 6,040
Cahoon Creek Grove Sequoia National Park
Case Mountain Grove Mostly in private ownership 1,750 5,740
Coffeepot Canyon Grove Sequoia National Park
Surprise Grove Sequoia National Park
Homers Nose Grove Sequoia National Park 2,330 7,640
Board Camp Grove Sequoia National Park
South Fork Grove Sequoia National Park 1,630 5,350
Garfield Grove Near Three Rivers, California 2,030 6,660 Home of 'King Arthur', ninth-largest by volume. Now includes the Dillonwood Grove.
Devils Canyon Grove Sequoia National Park

Tule River and Kern River watersheds

The 21 groves in the Tule River and Kern River watersheds are mostly in Giant Sequoia National Monument, with some areas in Sequoia National Park, Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest-California State Forest and Tule Indian Reservation; all in southern Tulare County.

Name Location Coordinates Elevation Comments
(m) (ft)
Alder Creek Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest / private 2,120 6,960 also known as Hossack, Pixley, or Ross Creek Grove. Home of 'Alonzo Stagg', the fifth-largest tree by volume. Also home to the Waterfall tree, which has the largest circumference and diameter at ground level of any sequoia.
Belknap Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest Part of Belknap Complex consisting of Belknap, Wheel Meadow, McIntyre and Carr Wilson Groves
Black Mountain Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest/Tule Indian Reservation / private 1,950 6,400 Heavily logged in 1984, though mature sequoias were not cut.
Burro Creek Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,550 5,090
Carr Wilson Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest also known as Bear Creek Grove. Part of Belknap Complex
Cunningham Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,870 6,140
Deer Creek Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,800 5,900 The southernmost grove
Dennison Grove Sequoia National Park
Dillonwood Grove Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument
Freeman Creek Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,890 6,200
Long Meadow Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 2,040 6,690 Site of the "Trail of 100 Giants" and one tree of great size
Maggie Mountain Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest
McIntyre Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,720 5,640 Part of Belknap Complex
Middle Tule Grove Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Forest
Mountain Home Grove California State Forest / Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,970 6,460 Home of the 'Genesis' tree, seventh-largest by volume, this grove also contains the smaller Middle Tule Grove in the Sequoia National Forest
Packsaddle Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 2,060 6,760
Parker Peak Grove Tule Indian Reservation 1,980 6,500
Peyrone Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest/Tule Indian Reservation 1,880 6,170
Powderhorn Grove Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument Part of Starvation Creek Complex
Red Hill Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest / private 1,960 6,430
Silver Creek Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,650 5,410
South Peyrone Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest New discovery by Willard in 1992
Starvation Creek Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest 1,730 5,680 Part of Starvation Complex consisting of Starvation Creek and Powderhorn Groves
Upper Tule Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest Included on Forest Service GSNM map
Wheel Meadow Grove Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Forest Part of Belknap Complex
Wishon Grove Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest South of Silver Creek Grove. Included on Forest Service GSNM map

References

  1. ^ http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr151/psw_gtr151_28_willard.pdf

See also