List of giant sequoia groves

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; recognising 75 groves), Flint (1987; recognising 65 groves), Willard (1994; recognising 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.

North of the Kings River

Eight scattered groves north of the Kings River; locations listed individually:

1. Placer County Grove. In Tahoe National Forest, Placer County. The northernmost grove, with only six trees, the largest 3.6 m (12 feet) in diameter. 39°03′30″N 120°34′30″W 1580 m.
2. North Calaveras Grove. In Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County. The first grove documented, in 1852. 38°17′N 120°18′W 1450-1480 m.
3. South Calaveras Grove. In Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Tuolumne County. Includes 'Agassiz', 6.8 m diameter, the northernmost surviving large tree. 38°15′N 120°14′W 1450-1500 m.
4. Tuolumne Grove. In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County. 37°46′N 119°48′W 1700-1800 m.
5. Merced Grove. In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County. 37°45′N 119°50′W 1700-1800 m.
6. Mariposa Grove. In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County. Includes 'Grizzly Giant' tree, the largest in Yosemite NP. 37°31′N 119°36′W 1750-2050 m.
7. 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 1600-1700 m.
8. McKinley Grove. In Sierra National Forest, Fresno County. 37°01′N 119°06′W 1900-1950 m.

Kings River watershed

The 14-19 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:

1. Indian Basin Grove (GSNM). 36°48′N 118°56′W 1800-2000 m.
2. 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 seventh 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 1800-2000 m.
3. Lockwood Grove (GSNM). 36°48′N 118°52′W 1700-1800 m.
4. Monarch Grove (GSNM). Immediately north of the Agnew Grove, near Monarch Wilderness boundary. On Forest Service GSNM map.
5. Evans Grove (GSNM). Heavily logged, before 1920. 36°48'N 118°49'30"W 2050-2250 m.
6. Agnew Grove (GSNM). 36°47′20″N 118°46′45″W 1950-2000 m.
7. Deer Meadow Grove (GSNM). 36°46′30″N 118°46′10″W 2300-2450 m. Listed by Rundel and Willard; included in Agnew Grove by Flint.
8. Cherry Gap Grove (GSNM). Logged. Located between Converse Basin Grove and Grant Grove, near McGee Overlook (36°46′40″N 118°57′30″W). 2070 m.
9. Abbott Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°46′N 118°58′W 1900 m. Listed by Rundel and Flint; very small (largely logged); too few trees to qualify as a grove according to Willard.
10. Kennedy Grove (GSNM). 36°46′0″N 118°49′20″W 2050-2250 m.
11. Burton Grove (SeNF). 36°45′30″N 118°50′0″W 2050 m. Listed by Rundel and Flint; included in Kennedy Grove by Willard; not on Forest Service GSNM map.
12. Little Boulder Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°45′10″N 118°49′0″W 2000 m.
13. Boulder Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°45′N 118°49′W 2050 m.
14. Landslide Grove (GSNM). 36°45′0″N 118°51′50″W 2050-2250 m.
15. Tenmile Grove (SeNF). 36°45′N 118°53′W 1900-1950 m. Listed by Rundel and Flint; included in Bearskin Grove by Willard; not on Forest Service GSNM map.
16. Bearskin Grove (GSNM). 36°45′0″N 118°54′40″W 1850-1900 m.
17. Grant Grove (KCNP). Includes 'General Grant'. 36°45′N 118°58′W 1750-2000 m.
18. Sequoia Creek Grove (KCNP). 36°43′50″N 118°58′20″W 1850 m.
19. Big Stump Grove (KCNP/GSNM). 36°43′N 118°58′W 1850 m.

Kaweah River watershed

The 23-27 groves in the Kaweah River watershed are all in Sequoia National Park or in private ownership, except the northernmost:

1. 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.
2. Lost Grove.
3. Muir Grove.
4. Skagway Grove.
5. Pine Ridge Grove.
6. Suwanee Grove.
7. 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.
8. Redwood Meadow Grove.
9. Castle Creek Grove.
10. Atwell Grove. The highest elevation Giant Sequoias are in this grove.
11. East Fork Grove. Listed by Rundel; included in Atwell Grove by Flint and Willard.
12. Redwood Creek Grove. Listed by Rundel; included in Atwell Grove by Flint and Willard.
13. Oriole Grove.
14. Squirrel Creek Grove. Listed by Rundel; included in Oriole Grove by Flint and Willard.
15. New Oriole Grove.
16. Eden Creek Grove.
17. Horse Creek Grove.
18. Cahoon Creek Grove.
19. Case Mountain Grove. Mostly in private ownership.
20. Coffeepot Canyon Grove.
21. Surprise Grove.
22. Homers Nose Grove.
23. Board Camp Grove.
24. South Fork Grove.
25. Dillonwood Grove. Formerly the largest grove in private ownership; purchased in 2001 and added to Sequoia National Park. Logged from 1880s to 1950s. Listed by Rundel; included in Garfield Grove by Flint and Willard.
26. Garfield Grove. Home of 'King Arthur', tenth largest by volume.
27. Devils Canyon Grove.

Tule River and Kern River watersheds

The 18-26 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.

1. Dennison Grove (SNP).
2. Upper Tule Grove (GSNM). Included on Forest Service GSNM map.
3. Middle Tule Grove (CSF / GSNM). Listed by Rundel and identified on Forest Service GSNM map; included in Mountain Home Grove by Flint and Willard.
4. Maggie Mountain Grove (GSNM).
5. Silver Creek Grove (GSNM).
6. Mountain Home Grove (CSF / GSNM). Home of the 'Genesis' tree, eighth largest by volume.
7. Burro Creek Grove (GSNM).
8. Wishon Grove (GSNM). South of Silver Creek Grove. Included on Forest Service GSNM map.
9. Alder Creek Grove (GSNM / private); also known as Hossack, Pixley, or Ross Creek Grove. Home of 'Alonzo Stagg', the sixth largest tree by volume. Also home to the Waterfall tree, which has the largest circumference at ground level of any sequoia.
10. Belknap Grove Complex, which includes
    1. McIntyre Grove (GSNM).
    2. Wheel Meadow Grove (GSNM). Listed by Rundel; included in McIntyre Grove by Flint and Willard.
    3. Belknap Grove (GSNM). Listed by Rundel; included in McIntyre Grove by Flint and Willard.
    4. Carr Wilson Grove(GSNM); also known as Bear Creek Grove. Listed by Rundel and Flint; included in McIntyre Grove by Willard.
11. Freeman Creek Grove (GSNM).
12. Black Mountain Grove (GSNM / TIR / private). Heavily logged in 1984, though mature sequoias were not cut.
13. Red Hill Grove (GSNM / private).
14. Peyrone Grove (GSNM / TIR).
15. South Peyrone Grove (GSNM). New discovery by Willard in 1992; not known to Rundel or Flint.
16. Long Meadow Grove (GSNM), also known as the Redwood Meadow Grove. Site of the Trail of 100 Giants.
17. Parker Peak Grove (TIR).
18. North Cold Spring Grove (TIR). Listed by Rundel and Willard; included in Parker Peak Grove by Flint.
19. Cunningham Grove (GSNM).
20. Starvation Creek Grove (GSNM).
21. Powderhorn Grove (GSNM). Listed by Rundel; included in Starvation Creek Grove by Flint and Willard.
22. Packsaddle Grove (GSNM).
23. Deer Creek Grove (GSNM). The southernmost grove.

References

• Flint, W. D. (1987). To find the biggest tree. Sequoia Natural History Association, Inc.
• 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

• List of the ten largest Giant Sequoias
• List of famous trees