Packing for Adventure

We spent two days in Kings Canyon National Park, but much of the park was closed in 2023 due to severe winter storms that damaged Highway 180, the primary road into the canyon. With limited access, we had to reevaluate our plans.

On our first day, after packing up our trailer, we made the hour-and-a-half drive from Sequoia National Park to our campground on the Kings Canyon side. We visited the General Grant Tree, checked out a few overlooks, and had our misadventures with the Boole Tree. The overlooks were beautiful, but drivebys are sufficient. We did stop for a picnic at Panoramic Point.

On day two, we headed back into Sequoia National Park to hike to Tokopah Falls and revisit the Big Trees Trail. Back on the Kings Canyon side, we stopped at the Big Stump and made a return visit to the General Grant Tree.

General Grant Tree

This is the 2nd largest Sequoia tree in the world, just behind the General Sherman Tree. I thought it was just as impressive, with the added benefit of being less crowded and easier to access. The surrounding grove features a nice, easy, and short loop trail to enjoy as well.

One interesting note about this tree is that it was officially named the Nation’s Christmas Tree back in 1926, a title still honored every December.

How do Sequoias get so big anyway?

These massive trees grow bigger and live longer than almost any other living things on earth, thanks to the following factors:

• Insulating Bark – Their bark, rich with tannins and up to about 2 feet thick, protects against fire, insects, and disease. 
• Many Tiny Seeds – A giant sequoia can produce up to about 400,000 tiny seeds per year (about the size of an oat flake).
• Lifelong Growth – Giant sequoias continually grow throughout their lives, adding volume year after year.
• Widespread Roots – Their shallow roots spread 100-200 feet outwards and can intertwine with neighboring trees, thus sharing resources.

The Fallen Monarch

As impressive as the General Grant Tree is, my favorite part of the Grant Grove by far was the Fallen Monarch. I was so fascinated by the Fallen Monarch that I’ll be dedicating an entire post to it next week!

Big Stump

First of all, you can skip the trail that takes you here and take a shortcut. The shortcut is right next to the park entrance on the side of the road. If you can’t find it, ask the entry attendant and they’ll point you right to it.

I honestly didn’t really know what to expect when coming to see a tree stump, but I loved it! I thought it was so fun to climb up the cute ladder and walk around on the huge stump! I went up and down the ladder three times and felt like a kid again.

So this stump is all that is left of what was once known as the Mark Twain Tree. It sounds like it was probably over 1,300 years old at the time it was cut down back in 1891. Sections of the trunk were shipped to New York and London for display.

It really is tragic the nonchalant way these ancient beauties were exploited. But at least it was a way to bring to light the need for protecting these magnificent giants.

Up Next

In next weeks post I will detail my number one favorite spot in all of Kings Canyon National Park- the Fallen Monarch!

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