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Calaveras Big Trees State Park | Introduction
Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Sacramento, south of Lake Tahoe, and north of Yosemite National Park, right off Highway 4. Established in 1931, this state park was created to protect this spectacular grove of giant sequoias. The park is mainly divided into two sections: North Grove and South Grove. The North Grove Trail is known for being flat and easy to walk, often dubbed the "less crowded Muir Woods." One reason for the lighter crowds is its distance from major metropolitan areas; it's about a three-hour drive from San Francisco. Our trip was a continuation of our previous two days' Yosemite and Highway 395 fall foliage tour. We drove west from Highway 395, camped one night at Calaveras Big Trees, and then returned to San Francisco via Highway 4.
The park, true to its name, is filled with majestic trees, offering a peaceful and natural environment.
I put together a simple checklist for beginners.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park | Campgrounds
In the summer, the campsites here are extremely popular. We chose the North Grove Campground, which has 70 campsites, but there's also the Oak Hollow Campground as an option. The park also offers four small cabins for visitors to reserve.
- Comfort: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The campsite is located in a dense forest, the terrain is flat, and the environment is very comfortable overall. Since we visited in the fall, the nighttime temperatures were quite low. Additionally, due to fire season restrictions, campfires were prohibited, so we retired to our tent early to stay warm.
- Space: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The campsites are quite spacious. Although the parking area can only accommodate two vehicles, there’s enough space for several families to camp together without feeling crowded.
- Cleanliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The facilities were clean and well-maintained, enhancing the overall camping experience.
- Convenience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The campsite is close to hiking trails, making it very convenient. However, because the campground is large, the restrooms are a bit far. The park’s remote location means that nearby towns are small, and it’s not as easy to find supermarkets or restaurants as it is in Bay Area campgrounds. The overall experience is similar to camping in a national park.
- Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a fan of sequoia forests, I was very pleased with the camping environment here. Visiting in the fall has the added bonus of enjoying the autumn scenery. One thing to note is that there are bears in the forest. We heard a bear rummaging through someone’s car in the distance that night, so be sure to store your food properly.
The trail to North Grove passes through a large meadow, located right next to the campsite.
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Calaveras Big Trees State Park | Scenic Trails
Must See | North Grove Trail
North Grove is one of the main attractions in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Despite being the most popular area, there are still relatively few visitors, creating a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. The North Grove Trail is about 1.67 miles long and has a flat path, making it suitable for visitors of all ages.
At the trailhead, you can see the famous Discovery Stump, the remaining stump of a massive sequoia that was cut down. The first person to discover this sequoia grove was an explorer named Dowd, who stumbled upon the magnificent forest in 1852 while chasing a bear. Because no one believed his description of the giant trees, he led a group back to the site, and their findings were later featured in the news. To further explore and profit from the discovery, the giant tree was felled and sent to San Francisco for exhibition. It took five men 22 days to cut down the tree, and today we can still see the remaining stump.
Giant sequoias are visible throughout the trail, their incredible height leaving visitors in awe. Benches are placed along the trail so visitors can lay down and gaze up at the towering trees.
In addition to the sequoias, there are many other tree species here, such as mountain dogwood. In the fall, its leaves change color, adding to the scenic beauty of the season.
At the trailhead, you can pick up an English guide, which is surprisingly detailed for a state park. Important points along the trail are numbered, allowing visitors to learn more about the ecology and history of the forest.
One of the highlights of the trail is the Father of the Forest, a fallen, hollowed-out giant tree whose trunk is so wide that adults can walk through it.
The history of the park also reflects the damage humans have inflicted on nature. One of the saddest stories is that of a sequoia named Mother of the Forest. Its bark was stripped away by humans to create souvenirs, eventually killing the giant tree because it could no longer transport water. The remains of this tree are preserved to remind future generations to cherish and protect the natural environment.
River Trail
Near the Discovery Stump on the North Grove Trail, there is a fork that leads to Grove Overlook and River Trail. Since the focus of this trip was to enjoy the fall scenery, after completing the North Grove Trail, we specifically returned to the River Trail to admire the autumn colors. Although we initially planned to go to Grove Overlook, we found that the path to the overlook had fewer trees, and the autumn scenery wasn't as stunning as on the River Trail.
The River Trail is about 1 mile long. Although short, it offers diverse scenery and even more vibrant fall colors than we saw at June Lake.
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