1
Message froM Park suPerintendent gary olson â WelcomeâtoâCalaverasâBigâTreesâStateâPark,âoneâofâCaliforniaâsâmostâoutstandingâstateâparks.âThisâparkâwasâcreatedâ toâpreserveâandâprotectâ twoâgrovesâofâgiantâsequoiasâtheâworldâsâlargestâtrees.âAlthoughâNativeâAmericansâandâearlyâEuropeanâexplorersâhadâseenâtheâbigâ treesâearlier,â itâwasnâtâuntilâA.T.âDowdâwanderedâ intoâ theâCalaverasâNorthâGroveâinâ1852â thatâ theâworldâ learnedâofâ theseâ trees.âSituatedâwithinâ theâ centralâSierraâNevadaâmixedâconiferâ forest,â theâparkâalsoâprotectsâportionsâofâ theâStanislausâRiverâandâBeaverâCreek,â ancientâ volcanicâ formations,â andânaturalâmeadows.âWithinâ theâ parkâ youâwillâ findâcampgrounds,âhikingâtrails,âaâVisitorâCenter,âWarmingâHut,âandâopportunitiesâforâmanyâtypesâofâoutdoorârecreation.âParkâstaffâandâDocentsâofferâeducationalâprogramsâthatâwillâenhanceâyourâunderstandingâandâenjoymentâofâthisâspecialâplace.âLookâinsideâthisâguideâforâmoreâdetails.â Ifâyouâhaveâvisitedâtheâparkâbefore,âyouâmayânoticeâsomeâchangesâthisâyear.âThereâisâaânewâboardwalkâinâtheâNorthâGroveâmeadow,âwhichâwasâbuiltâbyâaâcrewâfromâtheâCaliforniaâConservationâCorps,â alongâwithâparkâ staff.â Theâboardwalkâprotectsâ theâmeadowâsâ fragileâplantâandâanimalâlifeâfromâfootâtraffic.âAânewâvisitorâcenterâisâunderâconstructionânearâtheâNorthâGroveâparkingâlot.âFundingâforâthisâ$2.7âmillionâprojectâisâcomingâfromâtheâ$500,000âdonatedâbyâtheâCalaverasâBigâTreesâAssociationâandâtheâ2006âvoterâapprovedâPropositionâ84âbonds.âThisâbondâmoneyâdoesânotâimpactâtheâcurrentâCaliforniaâbudget.âWeâareâlookingâforwardâtoâaâlargerâspaceâforâvisitors,ânewâexhibitsâandâaudioâvisualâprograms,âasâwellâasâmuchâneededâworkspace.âWeâhopeâyouâwillâvisitâourânewâcenterâwhenâitâopensâinâ2013.âYouâmayâalsoânoticeâthatâcertainâpartsâofâtheâparkâlookâmoreâopenâthanâduringâyourâpreviousâvisit.âInâearlyâDecemberâ2011,âaâviolentâwindstormâblewâdownâhundredsâofâtreesâthroughoutâtheâpark,âcausingâaâtwoâââweekâclosureâdueâtoâsafetyâconcernsâandâcleanupâefforts.âTheâNorthâGroveâcampgroundâwasâhitâespeciallyâhard.âSeventyâlargeâtreesâwereâcompletelyâuprootedâandâsmashedâpicnicâ tables,âbearâboxes,âbridges,âandâcampfireâ rings.âPhotographsâofâ theâdamageâcanâbeâviewedâinâtheâVisitorâCenter.âWeâanticipateâthatâtotalâcleanupâofâtheâparkâwillâtakeâmostâofâthisâyear.âWeâappreciateâyourâpatienceâasâweâworkâtoâmakeâtheâparkâsafeâandâaccessibleâforâallâourâvisitors.â IâinviteâyouâtoâimmerseâyourselfâinâtheânaturalâworldâofâCalaverasâBigâTreesâStateâPark.âWhetherâyouâplanâtoâkickâbackâandârelaxâorâdoâsomeâstrenuousâhiking,âIâhopeâyouâtakeâtheâtimeâtoâobserveâandâexperienceâwhatâisâhere.âItâisâaâspecialâplace,âwithâmuchâtoâdiscover.âEnjoy!
Giantâ Sequoiasâtheâ worldâsâ largestâ treesâareânativeâ onlyâ toâ theâ westernâ slopeâ ofâ CaliforniaâsâSierraâ Nevadaâ mountains.â Twoâ grovesâ ofâ theseâmagnificentâ treesâareâprotectedâwithinâ theâpark.âTheâeasilyâ accessibleâNorthâGroveâ isâhistoricallyâsignificantâ asâ theâ Giantâ Sequoiaâ discoveryâ site.âTheâ moreâ remoteâ andâ pristineâ Southâ Groveâcontainsâtheâlargestâtreesâinâtheâpark.
inside this guide
ParkâActivitiesâbyâSeason.......................................Pgs.â2â3âHikingâTrailâDescriptions.......................................Pg.â4NaturalâResourcesâProgram..................................Pg.â5AmazingâFactsâaboutâGiantâSequoias...............Pg.â5CampgroundâMapsâ&âInformation.....................Pgs.â6â7OtherâLocalâOutdoorâRecreationâOpportunities..........................................................................................Pg.â8TheâCalaverasâBigâTreesâAssociation.................Pg.â8
Calaveras Big trees state Park aCtivity guideVol. I, No. 1 ArNold, CAlIforNIA free
faCts aBout Calaveras Big trees state Park
â˘âLocatedâ3âmilesâeastâofâArnoldâonâHighwayâ4.â˘âOpenâdailyâfromâsunriseâtoâsunset.ââ˘âNoâcellâphoneâserviceâinâtheâpark.â
â˘âP.O.âBoxâ120â/â1170âE.âHighwayâ4âââââArnold,âCAââ95223â˘âLatitude/Longitude:ââ38.2719/â120.2867â˘âElevationâatâNorthâGrove:ââ4,750âfeetââ
â˘âRangerâStation:â(209)â795â2334â˘âVisitorâCenter:â(209)â795â7980âorâ(209)â795â3840â˘âCAâStateâParksâwebsite:ââwww.parks.ca.govââ˘âCalaverasâBigâTreesâAssociation:âwww.bigtrees.org
Š 2010, California State Parks. 090-P68758. North Grove Trail
2
Photo by Alan Beymer. Dogwood Blossoms
Park aCtivities
â Thereâareâlotsâofâoptionsâwhenâitâcomesâtoâparkâactivities.âThisâisâaâfourâseasonâpark,âandâtheâpossibilitiesâvaryâbyâseason.âManyâactivitiesâcanâbeâenjoyedâonâ yourâownâandâatâ yourâownâspeed.âOtherâ choicesâareâinterpretiveâprogramsâofferedâbyâtheâparkâstaffâandâvolunteersâthatâwillâ enhanceâ yourâ knowledgeâ andâ understandingâ ofâ theâ park.â Theseâactivitiesâ areâ postedâ inâ frontâ ofâ theâ Visitorâ Centerâ andâ atâ theâ ParkâEntranceâStation.âBeâsureâtoâpickâupâaâparkâbrochureâwhichâhasâaâmapâofâtheâentireâpark.âTrailâguidesâareâavailableâforâfourâofâtheâsevenâmainâtrails.âPlanâtoâstopâbyâ theâVisitorâCenterâwhereâyouâcanâ interactâwithâhandsâonâdisplays,âwatchâaâslideshowâaboutâtheâpark,âandâtalkâwithâourâknowledgeableâDocentsâandâStaff.âTheâstoreâinâtheâVisitorâCenterâsellsâbooks,âclothing,âandâchildrenâsâitemsâthatâmakeâgreatâsouvenirsâofâyourâvisit.âAllâsalesâstayâinâthisâparkâandâdirectlyâsupportâparkâinterpretiveâandâeducationalâprograms.âTakeâaâlookâatâtheseâpagesâtoâseeâwhatâisâofferedâinâeachâseason.
for More inforMation: Visitâourâwebpageâatâwww.parks.ca.govâorâcallâusâatâtheâVisitorâCenter:â(209)â795â7980âandâ(209)â795â3840âorâRangerâStationâ(209)â795â2334.
suMMerâ Summerâisâtheâbusiestâtimeâofâyearâhere,âwithâtheâparkâfullyâopen,âwarmer,âdrierâweatherâandâmanyâvisitorsâenjoyingâtheirâvacations.
Join Park staff and volunteers:
Jr. Rangers:âDesignedâforâourâ7â12âyearâoldâvisitors,âweâmeetâbehindâtheâVisitorâCenterâonâmostâsummerâdaysâatâ10âAMâforâanâhour.âEarnâparkâmementosâandâlearnâaboutâtheâpark.ââ
Jr. Cubs:â Ourâ 3â6â yearâ oldâ friendsâ andâ theirâ designatedâ adultsâ areâinvitedâtoâjoinâusâbehindâtheâVisitorâCenterâonâmostâsummerâmorningsâatâ10âAMâforâupâtoâanâhour.âLearnâaboutâtheâparkâwithâageâappropriateâactivities.ââ
North Grove Guided Walks:âEachâdayâweâmeetâinâfrontâofâtheâVisitorâCenterâatâ1:00âPMâforâaâwalkâthroughâtheâhistoricâNorthâGroveâofâGiantâSequoias.âExperienceâtheâtreesâinâpersonâwithâaâknowledgeableâguide.ââ
Evening Programs:âCampfireâPrograms,âNightâWalks,âandâAstronomyâNightsâareâofferedâseveralânightsâaâweek.âLookâforâtheâpostedâscheduleâforâdetails.ââ
Creek Critters:âMeetsâonceâorâtwiceâaâweekâatâBeaverâCreekâtoâexploreâlifeâinâtheâcreek.âCheckâtheâpostedâscheduleâforâdetails.ââ
Family Day:âThisâfunâfilledâdayâoccursâonâtheâthirdâSaturdayâofâAugustâeachâyear.âVisitâwww.bigtrees.orgâforâdetails.ââ
FromâMemorialâDayâweekendâthroughâLaborâDayâweekend,âtheâVisitorâCenterâ isâ openâ SundayâThursdayâ fromâ 9:00â AMâ5:00â PM,â andâFridayâSaturdayâfromâ9:00âAMâ6:00âPM.
to do on your own:
â˘â Hikeâanyâofâourâsevenâmaintainedâtrailsâ(seeâtrailâdescriptionsâonâpageâ4).
â˘â Campâinâoneâofâourâtwoâlargeâcampgrounds,âfiveâenvironmentalâsites,âorâtwoâgroupâcampsâ(seeâpagesâ6âââ7âforâcampgroundâinformation).
â˘â SplashâandâfishâinâBeaverâCreekâorâtheâStanislausâRiver.ââBeâcautiousâatâtheâriverâitâhasâsomeâdangerousâClassâVârapids.ââ
â˘â Haveâaâpicnicâinâoneâofâtheâpicnicâareasâlocatedâthroughoutâtheâpark.âââ˘â Rideâyourâmountainâbikeâorâhikeâonâourâmanyâmilesâofâfire/dirtâroadsâ
(seeâtheâparkâbrochureâforâaâmap).ââ˘â Opportunitiesâaboundâforânatureâphotography,âbirdâwatching,âstarâ
gazingâorâjustâdoingânothing!â
Š 2010, California State Parks. 090-P70290. Jr. Ranger Program
3
sPring and autuMn
â Springâandâautumnâareâoftenâtheâmostâbeautifulâtimesâtoâvisitâtheâpark.âShowyâwhiteâdogwoodâblossomsâinâspringâandâcolorfulâleavesâinâtheâautumnâcreateâaâstrikingâcontrastâwithâtheâmassiveâSequoiaâtrunks.âItâisâalsoâaâtimeâofâvariableâweatherâconditions,âwithâsnow,ârainâandâsunshineâallâpossibilities.âBecauseâofâthis,âtheâtimingâofâtheâdogwoodâbloomâandâfallâcolorsâvariesâfromâtoâyear.âIfâyouâwantâtoâarrangeâyourâvisitâforâtheseânaturalâevents,âyouâcanâleaveâaâpostcardâwithâusâinâtheâVisitorâCenter,âandâweâwillâsendâitâtoâyouâwhenâitâsâtimeâtoâvisit.âYouâcanâalsoâcheckâourâwebsiteâforâupdates.â Theâopeningâandâclosingâofâparkâroads,âtrailsâandâcampgroundsâalsoâvariesâduringâtheseâseasons.âToâensureâthatâyouâareâpreparedâforâtheâconditions,âitâisârecommendedâthatâyouâcheckâonâroadâandâweatherâconditionsâbeforeâyouâvisit.âForâroadâconditionsâcallâCaltransâatâ1â800â427âROAD.ââ
Join Park staff and volunteers:
Guided ToursâofâtheâNorthâGroveâonâSaturdaysâatâ1:00âPM.ââIfâthereâisâsnowâonâtheâground,âitâwillâbecomeâaâSnowshoeâTour.âMeetâatâeitherâtheâVisitorâCenterâorâtheâWarmingâHutâcheckâforâpostedâsigns.âToursâlastâ1.5âhours.ââ
School ToursâcanâbeâarrangedâinâadvanceâforâApril/MayâandâSeptember/October.âContactâtheâSchoolâTourâcoordinatorâatâ(209)â795â7980âorâvisitâourâwebpageâforâmoreâinformation.â
The Visitor Centerâhoursâvaryâduringâtheseâseasons.âTheâVisitorâCenterâisâopenâonlyâonâweekendsâandâholidaysâforâmuchâofâtheâspring.âItâisâopenâdailyâstartingâinâAprilâthroughâNovemberâwithâvaryingâhours.âCallâorâcheckâourâwebsiteâforâtimes:â(209)â795â3840âorâwww.bigtrees.org.âââ
Saturday SeminarsâareâsponsoredâbyâtheâCalaverasâBigâTreesâAssociation.âTheseâeducationalâprogramsâareâfreeâwithâparkâadmissionâandâopenâtoâtheâpublic.âCheckâtheirâwebsiteâforâdatesâandâtopics:âwww.bigtrees.org
Docent Trainingâclassesâareâofferedâduringâspringâandâfall.âToâbecomeâaâParkâDocent,âyouâmustâcompleteâaâmandatoryâfourâhourâDocentâorientationâclass,âwhichâisâofferedâonlyâinâtheâspringâandâtheâfall.âAfterâyouâcompleteâtheâorientation,âyouâcanâparticipateâinâotherâtrainingsâforâtheâmanyâDocentâjobsâthatâareâavailableâatâtheâpark.âItâsâaâgreatâwayâtoâexperienceâtheâpark,âmeetâotherâlikeâmindedâpeople,âandâcontribute.âCallâtheâVisitorâCenterâforâmoreâinformationâ(209)â795â7980.
to do on your own:Hike,âbike,âski,âsnowshoe,âpicnicâandâcampâŚâorânot.ââItâallâdependsâonâtheâcurrentâconditions.
winter
â WinterâisâaâquieterâtimeâtoâenjoyâtheâNorthâGroveâareaâofâtheâpark.âTheâmainâparkâroadâandâallâcampgroundsâareâclosedâduringâtheâwinterâmonthsâcheckâourâwebpageâatâwww.parks.ca.govâforâexactâdates.â Thereâisâoftenâbutânotâalwaysâsnowâatâthisâelevationâforâmuchâofâtheâwinter.âToâfullyâenjoyâtheâsnow,âbeâsureâyouâareâpreparedâwithâproperâclothingâandâaâsafeâvehicle.âForâclothing,ârememberâyourâABCâs:âAnythingâButâCotton!âOnceâcottonâgetsâwetâ itâwillâmakeâyouâcolderâandâcanâleadâtoâhypothermia.âLayersâofâwoolâorâsyntheticsâwithâaâwaterâresistantâouterâlayerâworkâbest.âDonâtâforgetâaâhat,âglovesâandâsnowâboots.âOnâsunnyâdays,âyouâmayâneedâsunglassesâ andâ sunscreenâ asâ theâ snowâ canâ stronglyâreflectâ theâ sunâsâ energy.â Roadâ conditionsâ onâ Highwayâ4âcanâchangeârapidlyâasâstormsâmoveâinâandâout.âWhatâmayâstartâoutâasâaâclearâroadâinâtheâmorningâmayâendâupâcoveredâinâseveralâfeetâofâsnowâbyâtheâafternoon.ââItâisâbestâtoâdriveâeitherâaâfourâwheelâorâallâwheelâdriveâvehicle,âandâalwaysâcarryâchains.âYouâmayâbeâturnedâaroundâorâcitedâbyâtheâCaliforniaâHighwayâPatrolâifâyouâdonâtâhaveâchainsâinâyourâvehicle.âToâcheckâonâcurrentâroadâconditions,âcallâ1â800â427âROAD.âââRemember:âinâtheâsnow,âtakeâitâslow.âââ
Join Park staff and volunteers:
The Warming HutâatâtheâendâofâtheâNorthâGroveâparkingâlotâisâopenâonâweekendsâandâholidaysâfromâThanksgivingâthroughâlateâMarchâfromâ11:00âAMâtoâ4:00âPM.ââEnjoyâaâcozyâfire,âcomplimentaryâwarmâdrinks,âandâcamaraderieâwithâ fellowâvisitorsâ andâparkâ volunteers.âDonationsâareâappreciated.
Snowshoe Toursâ areâ offeredâ onâ Saturdaysâ andâ someâholidaysâatâ1:00âPM.âBringâyourâownâsnowshoesâorâborrowâaâpairâofâoursâforâthisâtour.âToursâlastâaboutâ1.5âhoursâandâstartâatâtheâWarmingâHut.âTheyâareâpacedâforâtheâabilitiesâofâtheâgroup.âVisitorsâthatâareânotâdressedâsafelyâforâtheâweatherâmayânotâbeâallowedâtoâjoinâtheâtour.ââââ
The Visitor Centerâ isâ openâ onâ weekendsâ andâ mostâholidaysâfromâ11:00âAMâtoâ4:00âPM.ââ
â Weâ oftenâ hostâ specialâ eventsâ inâ theâ winterâ suchâ asâourâ Winterâ Wonderlandâ celebrationâ inâ December,â orâSnowshoeâThompsonâDaysâinâFebruary.âCheckâwww.bigtrees.orgâforâmoreâdetails.ââ
to do on your own:
â˘â Snowâplayâ isâ allowedâ inâ theâNorthâGroveâ area.ââBuildâaâsnowperson,ârideâaâsled,âorâsimplyâmarvelâatâtheâbeauty.â
â˘â BringâyourâownâcrossâcountryâskisâorâsnowshoesâandâtravelâtheâNorthâGroveâtrailâorâtheâ3.5âmileâloopâoutâtheâparkâroadâandâbackâthroughâtheâcampground.â
Photo by Alan Beymer. Autumn Snow on the dogwoods
4
hiking trails
â Thereâareâ sevenâmaintainedâhikingâ trailsâ inâ theâparkâasâwellâ asâmanyâmilesâofâfireâ roads.âTheyâofferâaârangeâofâdifficultyâandâhighlightâtheâvariedâfeaturesâofâtheâpark,âincludingâtheâGiantâSequoias,âtheârushingâStanislausâRiver,âandâtheâLavaâBluffsâformation.âForâyourâsafetyâandâtheâenjoymentâofâothers,âdogsâandâbicyclesâareâonlyâallowedâonâfireâroadsâandâpavedâroads.âDogsâmustâbeâonâleashâatâallâtimesâinâallâCaliforniaâStateâParks.âCheckâtheâparkâmapâforâlocationsâofâtrailsâandâroads.âTrailâguidesâareâavailableâforâtheâNorthâGrove,âSouthâGrove,âBradleyâGrove,âandâLavaâBluffsâtrailsâandâcanâbeâpurchasedâatâtheâVisitorâCenterâorâpickedâupâatâtheâtrailhead.âPleaseâstayâonâtheâtrailsâwhenâhiking,âtoâprotectâtheâplantâandâanimalâlifeâofâtheâpark.âWhenâtheâparkâroadâclosesâforâwinter,âtheâonlyâtrailâthatâcanâbeâaccessedâisâtheâNorthâGrove.âTheâfollowingâisâaâbriefâdescriptionâofâeachâtrailâandâitsâprominentâfeatures.
north grove area
North Grove Trail:âThisâgentleâ1.7âmileâloopâwillâtakeâyouâthroughâtheâhistoricâgroveâofâGiantâSequoiasâdiscoveredâinâ1852.âTheâBigâStump,âMotherâandâFatherâofâtheâForest,âandâtheâPioneerâCabinâTreeâ(atâoneâtimeâaââdriveâthroughââtree)âareâallâlocatedâalongâthisâtrail,âasâwellâasâaboutâ100âveryâlargeâGiantâSequoias.âTheâtrailâbeginsâandâendsâatâtheâfarâendâofâtheâNorthâGroveâparkingâlot.âThisâtrailâisââstrollerâfriendlyââwhenâdry.âAllowâ1â2âhours.ââââ
Three Senses Trail:âLocatedânextâtoâtheâBigâStump,âthisâ isâaâveryâshortâ loopâofâ justâaâ fewâhundredâyards,âintendedâtoâhelpâvisitorsâenjoyâaâsensoryâexperienceâofâtheâforest.âTrailâmarkersâdisplayâbothâprintedâwordsâandâBraille.âAllowâ20âminutes.
Grove Overlook Trail:ââThisâtrailâbeginsâaâshortâdistanceâbeyondâtheâBigâStump,âbranchingâoffâofâtheâNorthâGroveâTrailâjustâpastâtheâ#2âmarker.âItâclimbsâtheâridgeâaboveâtheâgroveâandâparallelsâtheâNorthâGroveâTrailâforâaboutâ½âmileâtoâprovideâviewsâofâtheâupperâpartsâofâtheâBigâTrees.âItârejoinsâtheâNorthâGroveâTrailânearâtheâFatherâofâtheâForestâandâtrailâmarkerâ#13.âFromâthereâyouâcanâwalkâeitherârightâorâleftâonâtheâNorthâGroveâTrailâtoâreturnâtoâtheâtrailhead.âAllowâ1â2âhours.
south grove area
South Grove Trail:âThisâtrailâtravelsâthroughâtheâSouthâGroveâNaturalâPreserve,âhomeâtoâaboutâ1,000âmatureâGiantâSequoias,âandâtheâlargestâtreesâinâtheâpark.âThisâmoderatelyâdifficultâtrailâconsistsâofâaâ3.5ââmileâloopâthroughâtheâlowerâpartâofâtheâgrove,âwithâaâ3/4âmileâlongâspurâtrailâleadingâtoâtheâAgassizâTreeâtheâlargestâinâtheâparkâforâaâtotalâofâ5âmiles.âTheâSouthâGroveâTrailheadâparkingâareaâisâlocatedânineâmilesâpastâtheâparkâentranceâstationâonâtheâmainâparkâroad.âThereâareârestroomsâatâtheâtrailhead,âbutânoâdrinkingâwater.âAllowâ2.5âtoâ4âhoursâforâthisâhike,âandâbeâsureâtoâbringâwaterâandâwearâsturdyâshoes.
Bradley Grove Trail:âThisâ2.5âmileâroundâtripâmoderateâloopâtrailâtravelsâtoâaâgroveâofâyoungâGiantâSequoiasâthatâwereâplantedâinâtheâ1950sâbyâsummerâparkâcaretakersâandâconservationistsâOwenâandâAdrienneâBradley.âToâaccessâtheâtrail,âstartâhikingâonâtheâSouthâGroveâTrail.âJustâafterâcrossingâtheâbridgeâoverâBeaverâCreekâ(aboutâ600âyards),âlookâforâaâtrailâsignâandâboxâwithâtrailâguidesâandâfollowâtheâtrailâtoâtheâleft.âTheâBradleysâwereâconcernedâaboutâtheâdangerâofâwildfireâtoâtheâGiantâSequoiasâinâtheânewlyâacquiredâSouthâGrove,âsoâtheyâdecidedâtoâcollectâseedlingsâandâreplantâthemâinâthisâlocationâasâaâsafeguard.âThisâisâaâniceâareaâforâwildflowersâinâtheâlateâspring.âAllowâ1â2âhoursâandâbringâdrinkingâwater.
other trails
River Canyon Trail:âThisâisâNOTâaâgentleâstrollâalongâtheâriver,âbutâaâveryâstrenuousâhikeâintoâandâoutâofâtheâStanislausâRiverâCanyon.âTheâhikeâisâ8âmilesâroundâtrip,âwithâanâelevationâchangeâofâoverâ1,000âfeet.âOnâsummerâafternoonsâthisâsouthâfacingâslopeâcanâbeâveryâwarm.âToâaccessâtheâtrail,âstartâhikingâonâtheâNorthâGroveâTrail.âJustâpastâmarkerâ#2,âtakeâtheâtrailâtoâtheârightâ
andâfollowâitâupâtoâtheâScenicâOverlookâ(notâtheâGroveâOverlookâ trail).â Atâ theâ farâ endâofâ theâScenicâOverlookâparkingâlot,âyouâwillâfindâaârestroom,âaâdisplayâdescribingâtheâtrail,âandâaccessâtoâtheârestâofâtheâtrail.âFromâhere,âyouâwillâdescendâ1,000âfeetâoverâ3âmilesâtoâtheâStanislausâRiver.âFromâthere,âyouâwillâretraceâyourâsteps,âtravelingâ3âmilesâandâascendingâ1,000âfeetâbackâupâagainâtoâtheâScenicâOverlook.âBeâsureâyouâareâphysicallyâableâtoâdoâthisâhikeâandâcarryâplentyâofâdrinkingâwater.âThereâisânoâtrailâguideâforâthisâtrail,âbutâitâisâshownâonâtheâparkâmap.âIfâyouâdecideâtoâwalkâbackâalongâtheâparkâroad,âbeâawareâthatâitâisâaâlotâlongerâandâjustâasâhot.âAllowâ4â6âhours.ââ
Lava Bluffs Trail:â Thisâ 2.5â mileâ loopâ trailâ willâ takeâyouâ throughâ variedâ environments,â acrossâ aâ volcanicâformation,âandâalongâaâhistoricâwaterâditch.âThisâdiverseâareaâ hostsâ theâ parkâsâmostâ colorfulâ springâwildflowerâdisplaysâ andâ excellentâ birdwatching.â Thereâ areâ manyâsteepâ sectionsâ alongâ thisâ trail,â includingâ someâ withâdifficultâfooting.âBecauseâtheâtrailâfollowsâaâsouthâfacingâslope,âitâcanâbeâenjoyedâmoreâinâtheâspringâorâfallâratherâthanâonâhotâsummerâafternoons.âThisâisâtheâonlyâtrailâinâtheâparkâwithâpoisonâoak,âbutâitâisâeasyâtoâavoidâifâyouâareâcareful.âTheâtrailâbeginsâatâtheâLavaâBluffsâparkingâarea,âaboutâ5âmilesâfromâtheâparkâentranceâonâtheâmainâparkâroad.ââAllowâ2â3âhours,âandâbringâplentyâofâwater.ââ
Fire/Dirt Roads:ââYouâareâwelcomeâtoâhikeâorâbikeârideâonâanyâofâtheâparkâsâfire/dirtâroads.âAllâareâshownâonâtheâparkâmap.ââDogsâonâleashâareâallowedâonâtheseâroadsâasâwell.âYouâcanâpurchaseâaâBicyclingâGuideâtoâtheâparkâinâtheâVisitorâCenterâ($1.00).
Š 2010, California State Parks. 090-P68679. North Fork of the Stanislaus River
5
Š 2010, California State Parks. 090-P68706. Spring in the Big Trees.
aMazing giant sequoia faCts
â˘â GiantâSequoiasâ(Sequoiadendronâgiganteum)âareâtheâlargestâtreesâonâearth.ââ
â˘â TheâmostâmassiveâGiantâSequoiaâ knownâ isâ theâGeneralâShermanâTreeâinâSequoiaâNationalâPark,âwhichâisâ275âfeetâtallâandâ36.5âfeetâinâdiameter.ââIfâyouâwantedâtoâhugâthisâtree,âyourâarmsâwouldâneedâtoâbeâ103âfeetâlong!â
â˘â TheâoldestâknownâGiantâSequoiaâlivedâforâ3,200âyears.âThinkâaboutâit!â
â˘â TheâancestorsâofâGiantâSequioasâdateâbackâ150âmillionâ yearsâ toâ theâ Jurrassicâ Periodâ andâ wereâonceâ widespreadâ acrossâ Northâ Americaâ andâpartsâofâEurope.ââ
â˘â TheâonlyâplaceâGiantâSequoiasâgrowânowâ isâonâtheâwestâslopeâofâtheâSierraâNevadaâMountainsâinâ California.â Theâ 75â distinctâ grovesâ areâ foundâwithinâaânarrowâbandâaboutâ260âmilesâlongâandâ15âmilesâwide,âatâitsâwidestâpoint.
â˘â Oneâ coneâ fromâ aâ Giantâ Sequoiaâ containsâ anâaverageâ ofâ 200â seeds.â Aâ matureâ bigâ treeâ canâhaveâ7,000âcones.âThatâmeansâeachâ largeâGiantâSequioaâcanâhaveâasâmanyâasâ1,400,000âseeds!â
â˘â Oneâseedâisâaboutâtheâsizeâofâaâflakeâofâoatmeal.âItâwouldâtakeâ91,000âseedsâtoâweighâoneâpound.
â˘â GiantâSequoiasânotâonlyâareâadaptedâtoâsurvivingâfire,âtheyâneedâfireâtoâclearâtheâgroundâforâtheirâtinyâseeds.âThickâbark,âhighâbranches,âandâfireâresistantâtanninsâprotectâtheâtreesâfromâfire.ââ
â˘â Giantâ Sequioasâ haveâ shallowâ rootsâ thatâ canâextendâ100âfeetâoutâfromâtheâtree.âItâtakesâaâlotâofâwater,ânutrientsâandâsunlightâtoâgrowâaâBigâTree!
â˘â Nativeâ Americanâ peopleâ haveâ livedâ nearâ theseâtreesâ forâ thousandsâ ofâ years.â Someâ earlyâEuropeanâ explorersâ notedâ sightingsâ inâ theirâjournalsâasâearlyâasâ1833,ââbutâitâwasnâtâuntilâA.T.âDowdâstumbledâuponâtheâCalaverasâNorthâGroveâinâ1852âthatâtheâworldâlearnedâofâtheseâtrees.âââ
â˘â Thereâisâmuchâmoreâtoâlearnâaboutâtheseâamazingâtrees.â Findâ outâ moreâ atâ theâ Visitorâ Center,â byâattendingâ parkâ interpretiveâ programs,â orâ byâreadingâourâtrailâguides.
the gift of fire
â FireâisâjustâasâimportantâtoâSierraâNevadaâforestsâasâareâsoil,âwater,âsunâandâair.âTheseâforestsâevolvedâ inâtheâpresenceâofâ frequentâfires,âandâ individualâ treeâspeciesâhaveâveryâspecificâadaptationsâthatânotâonlyâallowâthemâtoâsurviveâfire,âbutâinâsomeâcasesârequireâexposureâ toâfireâ inâ certainâpartsâofâ theirâ lifeâ cycles.âBeforeâhumansâarrived,âfiresâwereâstartedâmostlyâbyâlightningâandâmightâburnâuninterruptedâforâmonthsâatâaâtime.âTheâfirstâpeopleâtoâarriveâhereâoverâ12,000âyearsâagoâlivedâwithâfireâandâeventuallyâusedâitâtoâimproveâ theirâ foodâ supply,â createâbetterâ basketryâmaterials,â andâ keepâ routesâ forâ travelâandâtradeâopen.âItâhasâonlyâbeenâwithinâtheâlastâ120âyearsâthatâtheânextâwaveâofâhumanâimmigrantsâdecidedâthatâfireâwasâdestructiveâandâshouldâbeâeliminatedâfromâtheâforest.âââ TheânaturalâresourceâmanagersâatâCalaverasâBigâTreesâareânowâdealingâwithâresultsâofâthisâdisastrousâdecision.âWhileâtheâlush,âthicklyâforestedâlandâmayâlookâbeautifulâtoâtheâcasualâobserver,â itâ isânotâ aâhealthyâorânaturalâ situation.âEnvironmentalâ scientistsâhaveâusedâdataâfromâtreeârings,âearlyâphotos,âandâoralâhistoriesâtoâlearnâthatâfiresâonceâburnedâthroughâthisâ landscapeâasâoftenâasâeveryâfiveâyears.âWhenâfiresâburnedâthatâ frequently,âtheâamountâofâfuelâwasâkeptâlowâsoâthatâtheâfiresâdidânotâbecomeâhugeâandâdestructive.âTheâ forestâwasâmoreâopen,âwhichâ letâ inâmoreâsunlightâ forâwildflowersâandâshrubs,âandâcreatedâoptimumâconditionsâforâwildlife.âAndâtheâtreesâthemselvesâwereâhealthierâsinceâtheyâwerenâtâinâstiffâcompetitionâwithâotherâtreesâforâwaterâandâsunlight.âAâhealthyâforestâinâtheâSierraâshouldâhaveâaboutâsixtyâtreesâperâacreâ(theâsizeâofâaâfootballâfield),âbutâinâmostâareasâofâtheâparkâthereâmayâbeâseveralâhundred.âââ EnvironmentalâScientistsâatâtheâparkâareâusingâseveralâmethodsâtoârestoreâtheâforestâtoâaâhealthier,âmoreâopenâcondition.âAmongâtheseâtoolsâisâprescribedâfire,âwhichâisâusedâoverâlargeâareasâtoâreduceâtheâfuelsâonâtheâground.âButâsomeâareasâareâsoâthickâwithâsmallâtreesâandâfuelâthatâthisâisâtooâdangerous.âThinningâofâtheseâareasâusingâchainsawsâoftenâneedsâtoâbeâdoneâfirst,âandâyouâmayâseeâpilesâofâlogsâwaitingâtoâbeâburnedâsafelyâinâsomeâplaces.âTheâgiantâsequoiaâgrovesâareâtheâtopâpriorityâforâthisâtypeâofâworkâandâitâisâlikelyâthatârestorationâworkâwillâbeâhappeningâwhileâyouâareâhere.âItâmayâseemâstrangeâtoâseeâcrewsâcuttingâtreesâdownâinâaâparkâwhereâtheânaturalâenvironmentâisâprotected,âbutâitâisâcriticalâtoâtheâsurvivalâofâthisâforestâtoârecreateâoriginalâopenâandâhealthyâconditions.âââ
Photo by Alan Beymer. Chickaree with Giant Sequoia cone
6
CaMPing at Calaveras Big trees: north grove, oak hollow, environMental sites, and grouP CaMP
â TheâNorthâGroveâCampgroundâisânearâtheâparkâentranceâandâwithinâwalkingâdistanceâofâtheâNorthâGroveâofâGiantâSequoias,âtheâVisitorâCenter,âandâCampfireâCenter.âSitesâ1â74âencircleâtheâNorthâGroveâmeadow,âalongâwithârestrooms,âcoinâshowers,âandârunningâwater.â TheâOakâHollowâCampgroundâisâlocatedâ4âmilesâfromâtheâparkâentranceâoffâofâtheâmainâparkâroad.âSitesâ75â129âareâsetâinâaâpineâandâoakâforest,âwithârunningâwater,ârestrooms,âandâcoinâshowers.âââ Environmentalâ Campsitesâ areâwalkâinâ sitesâ awayâ fromâ theâmainâ campgrounds.â Threeâ sitesâareâlocatedâaboutâ1.5âmilesâfromâtheâparkâentrance,âandâtheâotherâtwoâareâ9âmilesâfromâtheâparkâentrance,ânearâBeaverâCreek.âItâisâaâshortâwalkâintoâeachâsite.âEachâsiteâhasâaâpicnicâtable,âfireâring,âportableâtoilet,âandâfoodâstorageâlocker.âThereâisânoârunningâwaterâatâtheseâsites.âReferâtoâtheâparkâbrochureâandâmapâforâlocations.ââ ThereâareâtwoâGroupâCampgroundsâlocatedâacrossâHighwayâ4âfromâtheâmainâpartâofâtheâparkâthatâcanâaccommodateâlargeâgroupsâofâ40âandâ60âpeople.âThereâareârestrooms,âcoinâshowersâandârunningâwaterâatâbothâsites.ââReferâtoâtheâparkâbrochureâandâmapâforâlocations.ââ ToâreserveâaâsiteâbetweenâMayâ15âandâSeptemberâ15,âcontactâReserveAmericaâatâ800â444âPARKâ(7275)âorâTTY:â800â274â7275,âorâwww.parks.ca.gov.âSitesâareâavailableâonâaâfirstâcomeâfirstâservedâbasisâduringâtheâremainderâofâtheâyear.âTheâcampgroundsâareâclosedâduringâtheâwinterâmonths.âCheckâourâwebpageâforâcurrentâinformationâaboutâcampgroundâopeningsâandâclosures.
WhileâyouâareâhereâŚ.âPleaseâreadâtheâfollowingâtoâmakeâyourâstayâsaferâandâmoreâenjoyable.
â Checkâinâtimeâisâ2:00âPM.âCheckâoutâtimeâisâatâNoon.âCampersâwhoâarriveâearlyâwillânotâbeâallowedâtoâcheckâinâuntilâallâdueâoutsâhaveâbeenâconfirmedâout.âIfâspaceâisâavailable,âcampersâmayâregisterâforâadditionalânightsâatâtheâentranceâstationâpriorâtoâcheckâoutâtime.âCampersâwishingâtoâstayâinâtheâparkâafterânoonâonâtheirâcheckâoutâdayâmustâvacateâtheâcampsiteâbyânoonâandâmoveâtoâaâdayâuseâarea.â Quietâhours:âareâfromâ10:00âPMâtoâ8:00âAM.âRadiosâandâotherâsoundsâmustânotâbeâaudibleâbeyondâyourâimmediateâcampsiteâregardlessâofâtheâtimeâofâday.âGeneratorsâmayânotâbeâusedâbetweenâ8:00âPMâandâ10:00âAM.ââ Vehicles:âYourâcampingâfeeâincludesâparkingâinâyourâcampsiteâforâoneâvehicle.âAâdayâuseâfeeâisârequiredâforâeachâadditionalâvehicle.âIfâthereâisâroom,âaâsecondâvehicleâmayâparkâinâtheâcampsite.âThereâisâlimitedâoverflowâparkingâforâaâthirdâvehicle.ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ Water:âDoânotâattemptâtoâconnectâhosesâtoâtheâparkâfaucets.âYouâmayâfillâwaterâtanksâatâtheâRangerâStation.ââ Wastewater:âCollectâwastewaterâfromâdishwaterâorâtrailer/RVâdrains.ââDisposeâofâitâinâanyârestroomâtoilet.ââ Messagesâ mayâ beâ postedâ onlyâ onâ theâ messageâ boardâ atâ theâ parkâ entrance.âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââTheâDumpâStationâinâtheâparkâisâcurrentlyâclosedâuntilârepairsâcanâbeâcompleted.âThereâareâseveralâdumpâstationsâoutsideâtheâpark,âinâtheâlocalâarea,âandâtheyâallâchargeâforâtheirâservice.âAskâatâtheâVisitorâCenterâforâcurrentâinformationâaboutâfeesâandâlocations.
a fed Bear is a dead Bear
â Whileâyouâareâ inâ theâpark,âyouâareâsharingâtheâforestâwithâmanyâanimalsâincludingâBlackâBears.âTheâ parkâ wasâ createdâ toâ protectâ allâ theâ naturalâresourcesâ hereâincludingâ bearsâandâ alsoâprovideâ outdoorâ recreationâ forâ humans.â Inâ orderâtoâ keepâ bothâ youâ andâ ourâ wildlifeâ safe,â weâ askâthatâyouâfollowâcertainâregulations.âInâfact,âfailureâtoâ followâ theseâ regulationsâ (T13CCR4323(b))âmayâresultâinâaâcitationâwithâaâfineâofâupâtoâ$1,000.
Here are the reasons:â Blackâ bearsâ areâ smart,â resourceful,â strong,âhungry,â haveâ aâ highlyâ developedâ senseâ ofâ smell,âandâ canâ weighâ overâ 300â pounds.â Itâ isâ aâmagicalâsightâtoâseeâaâwildâbearâforagingâinâtheâforest,âbutâwhenâ theyâ becomeâ usedâ toâ humansâ andâ humanâfood,â theyâ canâ becomeâ destructive,â aggressiveâandâ dangerous.â Ifâ aâ bearâ becomesâ aâ dangerâ toâhumans,â itâ mayâ haveâ toâ beâ euthanizedâ forâ theâpublicâsâsafety.
Here are the rules:â˘â Doânotâfeedâtheâbearsâorâanyâotherâanimals.ââ˘â Dayâuseâvisitorsâmustâlockâupâallâfood,ârecyclingâ
andâtrashâAT ALL TIMESâ(exceptâwhileâactivelyâeatingâorâpreparingâfood)âinâaâvehicleâincapableâofâbeingâopenedâbyâwildlife.âââ
â˘â Whenâ camping,â allâ food,â drinks,â petâ food,âgarbage,â recycling,â andâ scentedâ itemsâ (soap,âtoothpaste,âcosmetics,âetc.)ââmustâbeâplacedâinâaâ foodâstorageâlockerâAT ALL TIMESâ (exceptâwhileâactivelyâeatingâorâpreparingâfood)âevenâwhenâ youâ areâ inâ theâ campsite.â â Theâ lockerâdoorsâmustâbeâclosedâproperlyâonâbothâendsâwithâbothâchainsâlatched.â
â˘â Doânotâeatâorâdrinkâinâyourâtent.âââ˘â Doânotâleaveâpetsâorâpetâfoodâoutsideâatânight.ââ˘â Reportâallâbearâsightingsâtoâparkâstaff.ââ
â Bearsâ displayâ aggressiveâ behaviorâ byâ showingâtheirâteeth,âstompingâtheirâfrontâfeet,âloweringâtheirâheadâandâarchingâ theirâ back,â orâ chargingâ towardâtheâthreatâ(you).âIfâyouâseeâanyâofâtheseâbehaviors,âpickâupâchildren,â standâ tall,â raiseâ yourâarmsâandâyellââBADâBEARââatâtheâbear.âAlwaysâgiveâtheâbearâanâescapeâroute.âDonâtâthrowâanythingâatâtheâbearâandâdonâtârunâtheyâcanârunâfasterâthanâyou.âAndâguessâwhat?âTheyâreâbetterâatâclimbingâtreesâtoo.Š 2010, California State Parks. 090-P68706. Spring in the Big Trees.
7
your dog in the Park
â Manyâpeopleâwantâ toâenjoyâ theânaturalâbeautyâofâ theâparkâwithâtheirâfavoriteâpet.âInâorderâtoâkeepâyourâdog,âotherâvisitors,âandâparkâwildlifeâ safe,â weâ askâ thatâ youâ abideâ byâ theâ followingâ regulations,âcommonâcourtesyâandâgoodâjudgment.ââ
regulations
â˘â Yourâ dogâmustâ beâ keptâ onâ aâ leashâ andâ controlledâ atâ allâ timesâwhileâinâtheâpark.â
â˘â Leashedâdogsâareâallowedâinâcampgrounds,âpicnicâareas,âpavedâroads,â fireâ roadsâ andâparkingâ lots,â butâ areânotâ allowedâonâ theâsevenâdevelopedâhikingâtrails.ââ
â˘â Doânotâleaveâyourâdogâunattendedâinâtheâpark.â
Oak Hollow Campground
9695 94 93
92 91
9098
99
89
8887
86
84 85
8382
81
8079
78
76
75
123
97
1
2
Visitor Center
Jack Knight HallShop
(authorized personnel only)
Gate 21
Open Meadow
Extra VehicleParking Lots
North
Gro
ve T
rail
Ebbetts Pass
revir eht ot
3 4 5 67
8
91011
12
1314
1518
16
1920
21
22
24
23
25
26
2728
293031
32
33 3435
373840
4243
4445 49
50
St a t e
R
o u t e
4
to Arnold
Big Stump
Overlook Trail
B i g T r e e C r e
e k
ParkEntrance
North Grove Campground
to Angels Camp
5152 53
5455
56 57 5859
60
A B
Gate 23
Gate 22
112 111
113114
110
115
116
117
118
119
109
108
107106
105104
103
102101
100
120
121
122
124125
126127
128129
LEGENDAccessible Feature
Camp Host
Campfire Center
Group Camping
Group Picnic Area
Locked Gate
Nature Trail
Numbered Restrooms
Parking
Picnic Area
Ranger Station
Restrooms
Showers
Telephone
Tent Only
Trail
to overlook (1.3 miles)
to parkway
17
5
#
#
4
3
1
2
7
6
8
9
10
11
6162
63
6465
6667
68
6970
7172
7374
soiK k
Famcamp
39
36
41
North
Gro
ve T
rail
to river (1.3 miles)
Stanislaus River Trail
North GroveTrail
Š 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2012)
For Emergencies Dial 9-1-1.
why?
To protect your pet:â Dogsâinâwildâareasâcanâbeâbittenâbyâsnakesâorâotherâwildlifeâtheyâhappenâtoâstartle,âinjuredâbyâaâporcupineâorâsprayedâbyâaâskunk.âDogsâmayâpickâupâticksâandâthornsâorâbrushâupâagainstâpoisonâoak.âTheyâmayâcontractâaâdiseaseâorâparasiteâfromâparkâwildlife.âTheyâmayâbeâinjuredâbyâaâfall,âentryâintoâtheâswiftâwaterâofâtheâriver,âbecomeâlostâorâhitâbyâaâcar.âLargeâpredatorsâsuchâasâmountainâlionsâmayâevenâkillâanâunprotectedâdog.
To protect park resources: Theâpresenceâorâlingeringâscentâofâaâdogâdisturbsâandâfrightensânearbyâwildlife.â Dogsâ canâ transmitâ diseasesâ andâ parasitesâ toâ nativeâ animals,âincludingâdeer,âfoxes,âandâcoyotes.âDogsâthatârunâlooseâhaveâbeenâknownâtoââharassâorâkillâparkâwildlife.ââ
For the safety and enjoyment of other visitors:âââ Someâpeopleâareâintimidatedâbyâdogsâevenâfriendlyâones.âDogsâreduceâtheâamountâofâwildlifeâthatâhikersâareâlikelyâtoâsee.âAndâirresponsibleâdogâownersâleaveâwasteâalongâtrailsâthatâisâaânuisanceâandâmayâcontaminateâtheâwaterâsupply.
8
â Theâ Calaverasâ Bigâ TreesâAssociationâ(CBTA)âisâaânonâprofitâcorporationâ(501c3)âthatâsupportsâ theâ planningâ andâfundingâ necessaryâ toâ deliverâhighâ qualityâ educationalâandâ interpretiveâprogramsâatâ
Calaverasâ Bigâ Treesâ Stateâ Park.âWeâ areâ supportedâbyâ memberships,â revenueâ fromâ theâ giftâ shopâ inâtheâVisitorâCenterâ andâ variousâ fundâraisingâ eventsâthroughoutâtheâyear.âTheâvisionâofâCBTAâisâ toâhelpâensureâ âthatâ eachâ andâ everyâ visitorâsâ experienceâinspiresâ aweâ andâ appreciationâ forâ theâ natural,âculturalâandârecreationalâresourcesâatâCalaverasâBigâTreesâStateâParkâ.â CBTAâ holdsâ severalâ fundâraisingâ eventsâ aâ yearâandâalsoâsponsorsâfreeâseminarsâandâprogramsâthatâareâofferedâtoâtheâpublicâasâpartâofâourâcommitmentâtoâ provideâ educationalâ andâ interpretiveâ programs.ââActivitiesâthatâweâfundâandâsupportâinclude:ââââ˘â JuniorâRangersâ˘â JuniorâCubsâ˘â NorthâGroveâToursââ˘â SchoolâGroupâToursâandâProgramsâ˘â SummerâInternâ˘â SeasonalâInterpretiveâParkâAidesâ˘â FamilyâDayâEventâinâAugustâ˘â WinterâWonderlandâEventâinâDecemberâ˘â VolunteerâTrainings,âEvents,âandâRecognitionâ˘â WarmingâHutâandâSnowshoeâToursâ˘â MaintenanceâofâtheâVisitorâCenterâLibraryâ˘â VisitorâCenterâStoreâManagementâ˘â PublicâSeminarsâandâWorkshopsâ˘â Scholarshipsâ˘â ParkâPublicationsââ ââ CBTAâprovidedâ$500,000âinâmatchingâfundsâforâtheânewâVisitorâCenterâproject.âWeâareâcurrentlyâraisingâfundsâtoâproduceâtheâmultimediaâprogramâthatâwillâbeâpresentedâinâtheânewâvisitorâcenter.ââ Youâcanâlearnâmoreâaboutâusâandâourâupcomingâactivitiesâ andâ programsâ byâ visitingâ theâ CBTAâ webâsiteâatâwww.bigtrees.org.âYouâcanâalsoâfollowâusâonâFacebook.â Weâinviteâyouâtoâjoinâus!âPleaseâvisitâtheâwebâsiteâandâjoinâonline,âorâpickâupâaâbrochureâandâapplicationâinâtheâVisitorâCenter.âMembersâreceiveâdiscountsâatâtheâVisitorâCenterâ storeâwhileâ supportingâ aâworthyâcause.â Allâ fundsâ contributedâ toâ CBTAâ stayâ inâ thisâparkâandâareâtaxâdeductible.â Calaverasâ Bigâ Treesâ Associationâ P.O.â Boxâ 1196âArnold,âCAâ95223ââ(209)â795â3840âwww.bigtrees.orgâ
other loCal outdoor reCreation oPPortunities
Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway:âInâ2005,âtheâ61âmilesâofânarrow,âtwistingâHighwaysâ4âandâ89âthatâlinkâtheâtownsâofâArnoldâandâMarkleevilleâwereâdesignatedâaâNationalâScenicâBywayâoneâofâonlyâsevenâinâCalifornia.âTheârouteâoffersâaccessâtoâaâhugeâarrayâofâoutdoorârecreationalâopportunities,âandâtheâtransâSierraâdrive,âitself,âisâspectacular.âForâmoreâinformation,âcontactâtheâEbbettsâPassâScenicâBywayâAssociationâatâ(209)â795â4789âorâwww.scenic4.org
Caves:âThereâareâseveralâprivatelyâownedâandâoperatedâlimestoneâcavesânearâtheâtownâofâMurphysâthatâofferâtours.âForâinformationâcontact:âMercerâCaverns:â(209)â728â2101âorâwww.mercercaverns.comâandââMoaningâCavern:â(209)â736â2708âorâwww.caverntours.com.ââ
Columbia State Historic Park:âLocatedâaboutâoneâhourâsouthwestâofâtheâpark,ââColumbiaâisâaââlivingâhistoricâgoldârushâtown,âfeaturingâtheâstateâsâlargestâcollectionâofâgoldârushâeraâbrickâbuildingsâandâhostâtoânumerousâlivingâhistoryâevents.âPhone:â(209)â588â9128
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park:âLocatedâ12âmilesâeastâofâJackson,âthisâparkâpreservesâaâgreatâoutcroppingâofâmarbleizedâlimestoneâwithâ1,185âmortarâholesâtheâlargestâcollectionâofâbedrockâmortarsâinâNorthâAmerica.âTheâlandâisâsacredâtoâtheâMiwokâpeople,âandâtheâparkâisâstillâusedâtodayâforâtraditionalâculturalâpractices.âPhone:â(209)â296â7488.ââ
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park:âLocatedâaboutâoneâhourâsouthwestâofâtheâpark,âRailtownâ1897âisâaâuniqueâtreasureâtroveâofâpreservedâsteamârailroadâartifacts.âVisitorsâcanâtourâtheâgroundsâandâtakeâaârideâonâaâsteamâlocomotiveâthroughâtheâSierraâfoothills.âPhone:â(209)â984â3953â
Stanislaus National Forest, Calaveras Ranger District:âFromâtheâHighwayâ4âcorridor,âyouâhaveâaccessâtoâ fourteenâdevelopedâcampgrounds,âsevenâ lakes,â200âmilesâofâmaintainedâtrailâforâaâvarietyâofâuses,âandâtheâStanislausâandâMokelumneâRivers.âManyâprogramsâandâactivitiesâareâ offeredâ duringâ theâ summer.â Skiing,â snowshoeing,â andâ snowmobilingâ onâ groomedâ andâbackcountryâsitesâareâpopularâwinterâactivities.âSitesâclosestâtoâtheâparkâare:ââWakaluuâHepyooâCampgroundânearâDorrington,âLakeâAlpine,âtheâStanislausâRiver,âandâtheâArnoldâRimâTrailâ(www.arnoldrimtrail.org).âForâmoreâ information,âcontactâ theâCalaverasâRangerâDistrictâ inâHathawayâPinesâat:â(209)â795â1381,âTDDâ(209)â795â2854,âorâtheâLakeâAlpineâStationâ(summerâonly):ââ(209)â753â2811âorâvisit:âwww.fs.usda.gov/Stanislaus.âTheirâvisitorâsâguide,âThe Stanislaus Traveler isâfilledâwithâinformation.ââ
White Pines Lake:âLocatedâonâBlagenâRoadâ1âmileânortheastâofâArnold.âThisâpublicâlakeâisâaâwonderfulâplaceâtoâfish,âswim,âkayakâorâcanoe,âbirdwatch,âbringâyourâdog,âhaveâaâbarbecue,âorâgoâforâaâwalk.âThereâisâalsoâaâchildrenâsâplayground,âtheâSierraâNevadaâLoggingâMuseumâandâoneâofâtheâtrailheadsâforâtheâArnoldâRimâTrail.âTheâfacilitiesâareâmaintainedâentirelyâbyâvolunteers.
âş10% offâšOneâItemâonâYourâ âNextâPurchaseâatâ theâCalaverasâBigâTreeâStateâParkâVisitorâCenter