Calaveras Big Trees

The weather couldn’t be more spectacular to continue our tour of Northern California. Our last stop on our tour was through Amador County; we had a fun-filled visit through the cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek and Plymouth. To refresh your memory or to take a first time tour please read the hub below.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Discovering-Amador-County

If we continue through Jackson South on Hwy 49 we will reach a spectacular sight on our next stop called, ‘Calaveras Big Trees,’ an amazing site and home to the ‘Giant Sequoias.’ This area became a State park in 1931 to preserve this sight and it has been a major tourist attraction since 1852. It is considered the longest tourist facility in California.

In this Hub I will be discussing Sequoias and Redwood Trees. Just to clarify, a Redwood tree is part of the Sequoias Family and also precedes in the Calaveras State Park. I added this little tidbit so you, the reader will not be confused, like me. So come along with me as we discover the ‘Calaveras Big Tree State Park.’

The Sequoias and Redwood trees are a sight to see, they are so beautiful and amazing, they don’t call them ‘Giants’ for nothing. When you are in the present of these trees it will fascinate you and take your breathe away at how spectacular they are. The Sierra Redwood trees are the largest trees in the world.

Facts:

Giant Redwoods, live up to 2,000 years old and are the largest trees in the world. Many Sierra Redwoods are between 250 and 300 feet tall, the tallest being about 325 feet high. Although, their height is impressive, the real wonder lies in its bulk. Many trees have diameters in excess of 30 feet near the ground.

Giant Sequoias, Live up to 3,200 years old and have disappeared everywhere except on the Sierra Redwoods, in California’s Sierra Nevada’s west slope. The Giant Sequoias are shorter and fatter, but they can grow up to 270 feet high and 20-25 feet in diameter,

The park offers two groves; the North Grove contains about 100 mature giant Sequoias, and the South Grove that is less visited, about 1000 Trees. The North Grove includes the “Discovery Tree”, also known as the ‘Big Stump’ that fell in 1853, leaving the giant stump and was determined to be 1,244 years old when it felled.

The South Grove boast the largest redwood tree called Louis Agassiz tree. This tree is 250 feet tall but is over 25 feet in diameter six foot above the ground.

This Park includes several trails in both groves but also offers great campgrounds and picnic areas. An opportunity for trout fishing or take a dip in the Stanislaus River….burrr, that water is cold.

Every year people travel from all over the world to see these towering giants. These trees grow to awe-inspiring heights, when you consider that these trees started as just a seed and have lived so long on this earth.

Also in the forest of trees included the Big-Leaf Maples, Dogwoods and Hazelnuts trees and other shrubs that will begin turning color in Fall. The best time to see this is late October or early November. This is really a beautiful time to see this Park with the peak of red and yellow leaves gracing these trees.

I hope you have all enjoyed your tour of the ‘Giant Sequoias’ in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. This is a site to behold with nature at its grandeur.