Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Location Data:

Location: 4 miles NorthEast of Arnold on Highway 4
Elevation (range): 4,000-5,000 feet
Rating: 4/5
Other Information: Open year-round, although camping is limited in the winter.
Date Last Visited: Saturday, May 4, 2002 through Sunday, May 5, 2002

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Introduction:

Calaveras Big Trees State Park got it's name when A.T. Dowd, a hunter, found the North Grove of giant sequioas in the 1850's while chasing a wounded bear. He told others of the trees, and the grove soon became known as the "big trees" of Calaveras County. The park was created in 1931 to preserve this grove. Later, other land containing many more trees, including the South Grove area, was added to the park.

The North Grove is the most popular. There is a nice flat one mile trail through the grove, where you can see a number of the large trees. Sadly, you can also see the human influence and idiocy of old, including the tunnel dug through the "Pioneer Cabin Tree", and the "Mother of the Forest", which was skinned alive to create an exhibit to take to Europe. And then there's the "Big Stump", where yet another tree was cut down, and a house built on top of the stump. The North Grove also features the "Three Senses Trail", a short (600 foot) interpretive trail. Visitor Center and Campfire Center are also located nearby.

The South Grove is larger and is supposedly even better than the North Grove. I have not yet seen it, though. The South Grove is an 8+ mile drive on a winding road from the park entrance.

Camping is available year-round in the North Grove campground, and during the summer in the Oak Hollow Campground. I haven't seen Oak Hollow, but the North Grove campground features a mix of flush and pit toilets, and has showers available, as well as bear boxes (make sure you lock your food up!). Reservations are required in the summer, but not in the winter.

If you run out of things to do at the park, there are a couple of caverns nearby to explore, located just SouthWest on Highway 4 (near Arnold). If you head NorthEast, you can also check out Bear Valley, a number of lakes, or the great hiking near Ebbett's Pass.

Getting There:

From the Western side of the Sierras: From Angel's Camp (located at the intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 49), take Highway 4 NorthEast for about 35 minutes. The park is located 4 miles NorthEast of the town of Arnold.

From the Eastern side of the Sierras or from Lake Tahoe: Take Highway 89 to Highway 4 and then follow Highway 4 SouthWest all the way over Ebbett's Pass, through Bear Valley, and down to the park. The road is closed over Ebbett's Pass in the winter, so check the conditions before you go. Also note that this route is very narrow, winding, and steep for a large distance, so large vehicles (motor homes) and trailers are not recommended.

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 Northern Sierra Camping Copyright © 2002 Kevin Sage