Today I thought I would share some pictures of one of the places we visited on our trip through California earlier in the year. I had always wanted to see the tall trees. What I now know is that big trees can mean several different types – all in California. What we actually saw was The General Sherman tree (a Sequoia), the biggest tree (by volume) in the western hemisphere, in Sequoia National Park.
We started our journey to Sequoia from Yosemite and it took us around 4 hours, climbing to 6 thousand feet above sea level more than once on route. When we eventually reached the edge of the park we still had quite a drive to reach the main area where there is a cluster of ‘big trees’. We made a brief stop at Lodgepole for a bad sandwich with little else on offer before heading onwards to wards the big trees.
Big trees was a relative term, in fact although on the park maps only a few of the biggest were made note of, we drove through some absolute whoppers and the grove of trees that the General Sherman itself was in, was positively teaming with them.
Top image: The General Sherman tree.
It was a pretty incredible sight, walking though them, (sometimes quite literally as some fallen ones have features like a carved out tunnel,) craning your neck and squinting to view the top most branches.
Bottom image: Beetle Rock, with a view out over towards the California coast
I love the pictures we have here – the perspective and sense of the enormity of the trees and I’m really glad we went end though it required a massive detour on route to Vegas. In actual fact, Sequoia is much more of a wilderness experience if you really want to get back to nature – 100 times more ‘empty’ than Yosemite was. We only spent about an hour there, spotting in at the visitor centre, mindful of the fact we had another 3 or more hours to drive south to our stop that evening in Kernville.
Have you ever seen the big trees?
Love,
Rebecca
xo
PS Want to read more about my trip to California?
- Yosemite National Park
- The Wynn and Encore, Las Vegas
These posts really make me want to jump on a plane and head off. I’d never really fancied the states much as a holiday destination until recently – the 2 things that have changed my mind are your holiday posts and Man V Food.
We’ve just got back from America and went to 2 of the Man V food places. My husband loves that programme – it was on the TV constantly before we left, although now thankfully has been replaced by the Olympics.
Ha ha – is that a dubious reason to want to visit America?!
I so wanted to see the big trees. Next time, maybe.
Also, I need your hat. Love it!
Oh look out for it soon Esme – I’ll be writing about it
I figured we wouldn’t be making that drive again so decided we had to go but it was a massive detour and took a day out of our itinerary for just a brief stop really. I’m glad we did though
I would love to see the giant trees. My dad (a gardener) used to try and get me to pronounce all the Latin names when I was little – his favorite one was Metasequoia glyptostroboides, the smallest redwood which grows to at least 200ft!
Like!
More lovely images to fuel my excitement for our Calafornia road trip! Looking forward to hearing even more. X
Oops California x
Aw so jealous, we had planned to go a road trip through America for our first anniversary and this was going to be one of our spots to visit. However we had a wee baby girl in April instead so the trip won’t be happening for a while. Great to see your pictures. I would love to hear more about your trip x