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Giant Sequoia in the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite
The following is a list of Giant Sequoia groves. All
groves are located in moist, unglaciated ridges and valleys of the
west slope of the Sierra Nevada range in California, USA. They occur
between 1370-2000 m (4500-6500 ft) altitude in the northern half of
the range, and 1700-2250 m (5500-7500 ft) in the south. Groves in
the northern half of the range (north of the Kings River) are widely
scattered and mostly small, while those south of the Kings River
are more numerous. The total area of all the groves combined is
approximately 14,416 ha (35,607 acres). The groves are listed from
north to south in the list below.
This list is based on four different sources, with slightly
varying views on what constitutes a discrete grove; the differing
interpretations are noted in italics. The lists of groves
were compiled by Rundel (1972; recognizing 75 groves), Flint (1987;
recognizing 65 groves), Willard (1994; recognizing 65 groves), and
the Giant Sequoia National
Monument Visitor's Guide (2003). Currently, the U.S. National Park Service cites
Rundel's total of 75 groves in its visitor publications. The
updated lists from Willard and Flint are now known to be more
accurate, therefore some of Rundel's 75 grove's have been removed
from this list. Below compiles a list of 68 sequoia groves.[1]
North
of the Kings River
Eight scattered groves north of the Kings River; locations
listed individually:
- Placer County Grove. In Tahoe
National Forest, Placer County. The
northernmost grove, with only six trees, the largest 3.6 m (12 ft)
in diameter. 39°03′30″N 120°34′30″W / 39.05833°N
120.575°W / 39.05833; -120.575 (Placer County
Grove) 1580 m.
- North Calaveras Grove.
In Calaveras Big Trees State
Park, Calaveras County. The
first grove documented, in 1852. 38°17′N 120°18′W / 38.283°N
120.3°W / 38.283; -120.3 (North Calaveras
Grove) 1450-1480 m.
- South Calaveras Grove.
In Calaveras Big Trees State
Park, Tuolumne County. Includes
the Agassiz tree. 38°15′N 120°14′W / 38.25°N
120.233°W / 38.25; -120.233 (South Calaveras
Grove) 1450-1500 m.
- Tuolumne
Grove. In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa
County. 37°46′N 119°48′W / 37.767°N
119.8°W / 37.767; -119.8 (Tuolumne
Grove) 1700-1800 m.
- Merced Grove.
In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County. 37°45′N 119°50′W / 37.75°N
119.833°W / 37.75; -119.833 (Merced
Grove) 1700-1800 m.
- Mariposa
Grove. In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa
County. Includes 'Grizzly Giant' tree 37°31′N 119°36′W / 37.517°N
119.6°W / 37.517; -119.6 (Mariposa
Grove) 1750-2050 m.
- Nelder Grove.
Three units, partially logged; site of the Shadow of the Giants National Recreation Trail. In Sierra National Forest, Madera County. 37°26′N 119°35′W / 37.433°N
119.583°W / 37.433; -119.583 (Nelder
Grove) 1600-1700 m.
- McKinley Grove. In Sierra National Forest, Fresno County. 37°01′N 119°06′W / 37.017°N
119.1°W / 37.017; -119.1 (McKinley
Grove) 1900-1950 m.
Kings
River watershed
The 16 groves in the Kings River watershed are in Kings Canyon National Park
(KCNP), the northern section of Giant Sequoia National
Monument (GSNM), or Sequoia National Forest (SeNF),
in southernmost Fresno County and Tulare County:
- Indian Basin Grove (GSNM) A mid-size grove, mostly logged. It
can be accessed by paved roads. The grove contains many young
sequoias approaching diameters of up to 10 feet. 36°48′N 118°56′W / 36.8°N
118.933°W / 36.8; -118.933
1800-2000 m.
- Converse
Basin Grove (GSNM). Once the second-largest grove, but much
logged around 1890-1900; good regrowth of young trees. Home of the
'Boole' tree, the sixth largest tree by volume. Also home of the
'Chicago Stump', left over from a tree cut for the 1893 World
Columbian Exposition. 36°48′N 118°58′W / 36.8°N
118.967°W / 36.8; -118.967
1800-2000 m.
- Lockwood Grove (GSNM). 36°48′N 118°52′W / 36.8°N
118.867°W / 36.8; -118.867
1700-1800 m.
- Monarch Grove (GSNM). Immediately north of the Agnew Grove,
near Monarch Wilderness boundary. On Forest Service GSNM
map.
- Evans Grove
(GSNM). Heavily logged, before 1920. 36°48'N 118°49'30"W 2050-2250
m.
- Agnew & Deer Meadow Grove (GSNM). 36°47′20″N 118°46′45″W / 36.78889°N
118.77917°W / 36.78889; -118.77917
1950-2000 m.
- Cherry Gap Grove (GSNM). Logged. Located
between Converse Basin Grove and Grant Grove, near McGee Overlook (36°46′40″N 118°57′30″W / 36.77778°N
118.95833°W / 36.77778; -118.95833).
2070 m.
- Abbott Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°46′N 118°58′W / 36.767°N
118.967°W / 36.767; -118.967 1900
m. Listed by Rundel and Flint; very small (largely logged); too
few trees to qualify as a grove according to Willard.
- Kennedy
Grove (GSNM). 36°46′0″N 118°49′20″W / 36.766667°N
118.82222°W / 36.766667; -118.82222
2050-2250 m. Contains the 13th largest giant sequoia in the world,
The Ishi Giant.
- Little Boulder Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°45′10″N 118°49′0″W / 36.75278°N
118.816667°W / 36.75278; -118.816667
2000 m.
- Boulder Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°45′N 118°49′W / 36.75°N
118.817°W / 36.75; -118.817 2050
m.
- Landslide Grove (GSNM). 36°45′0″N 118°51′50″W / 36.75°N
118.86389°W / 36.75; -118.86389
2050-2250 m.
- Bearskin Grove (GSNM). 36°45′0″N 118°54′40″W / 36.75°N
118.91111°W / 36.75; -118.91111
1850-1900 m.
- Grant Grove
(KCNP). Includes 'General Grant'.
36°45′N 118°58′W / 36.75°N
118.967°W / 36.75; -118.967
1750-2000 m.
- Sequoia Creek Grove (KCNP). 36°43′50″N 118°58′20″W / 36.73056°N
118.97222°W / 36.73056; -118.97222
1850 m.
- Big Stump Grove (KCNP/GSNM). 36°43′N 118°58′W / 36.717°N
118.967°W / 36.717; -118.967 1850
m.
Kaweah
River watershed
The 23 groves in the Kaweah River watershed are all in Sequoia
National Park or in private ownership, except the
northernmost:
- Redwood Mountain Grove
(KCNP/GSNM). The largest grove, 1240 ha (3100 acres), with 15,800
sequoias 30 cm (one foot) or more in diameter at the
base.
- Lost Grove. Contains no very large trees, but one tree with a
large flaring base, with a perimeter of 104.6 feet
(31.9 m).
- Muir Grove.
Contains one tree of great size.
- Skagway Grove.
- Pine Ridge Grove.
- Suwanee Grove.
- Giant Forest
in Sequoia National Park. Includes half of the ten largest trees by
volume, including the largest, 'General
Sherman', and 8,400 others 30 cm (one foot) or more
diameter at their base.
- Redwood Meadow Grove.
- Castle Creek Grove.
- Atwell
Mill Grove. The highest elevation Giant Sequoias are in this
grove, this grove contains three trees that are among the thirty
largest giant sequoias in the world.
- Oriole Grove.
- New Oriole Grove.
- Eden Creek Grove.
- Horse Creek Grove.
- Cahoon Creek Grove.
- Case Mountain Grove. Mostly in private ownership.
- Coffeepot Canyon Grove.
- Surprise Grove.
- Homers Nose Grove.
- Board Camp Grove.
- South Fork Grove.
- Garfield
Grove. Home of 'King Arthur', ninth largest by volume. Now
includes Dillonwood Grove.
- Devils Canyon Grove.
Tule River and Kern River
watersheds
The 21 groves in the Tule River and Kern River watersheds are mostly in Giant Sequoia National
Monument (GSNM), with some areas in Sequoia National Park
(SNP), California State Forest (CSF) and Tule Indian Reservation
(TIR); all in southern Tulare County.
- Dennison Grove (SNP).
- Upper Tule Grove (GSNM). Included on Forest Service GSNM
map.
- Maggie Mountain Grove (GSNM).
- Silver Creek Grove (GSNM).
- Mountain Home Grove (CSF / GSNM).
Home of the 'Genesis' tree, seventh largest by volume, this grove
also contains the smaller Middle Tule Grove
- Burro Creek Grove (GSNM).
- Wishon Grove (GSNM). South of Silver Creek Grove. Included
on Forest Service GSNM map.
- Alder
Creek Grove (GSNM / private); also known as Hossack, Pixley, or
Ross Creek Grove. Home of 'Alonzo Stagg', the fifth largest tree by
volume. Also home to the Waterfall tree, which has the largest
circumference and diameter at ground level of any sequoia.
- McIntyre
Grove (GSNM).
- Carr Wilson Grove(GSNM); also known as Bear Creek Grove.
- Freeman Creek Grove (GSNM).
- Black Mountain Grove (GSNM / TIR /
private). Heavily logged in 1984, though mature sequoias were not
cut.
- Red Hill Grove (GSNM / private).
- Peyrone Grove (GSNM / TIR).
- South Peyrone Grove (GSNM) New discovery by Willard in
1992.
- Long
Meadow Grove (GSNM), Site of the Trail of 100 Giants and one
tree of great size.
- Parker Peak Grove (TIR).
- Cunningham Grove (GSNM).
- Starvation Creek Grove (GSNM).
- Packsaddle
Grove (GSNM).
- Deer Creek Grove (GSNM). The southernmost grove.
References
- Flint, W. D. (2002). To find the biggest tree.
- Rundel, P. W. (1972). An annotated checklist of the groves of
Sequoiadendron giganteum in the Sierra Nevada, California.
Madroño 21: 319-328.
- Willard, D. (1994). The natural Giant Sequoia groves of the
Sierra Nevada, California - an updated annotated list. USDA
Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-151: 159-164.
- Giant Sequoia National Monument Visitor's Guide. (2003).
See also