• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

  • Road Construction Delays in Sequoia NP through Mid-Aug. (if entering/exiting via Hwy. 198)

    Expect 20-minute to 1-hour delays on weekdays and 20-minute delays on weekends along main road through parks. Weeknight closures with one pass through the construction zone at 11:30 p.m. See link to schedule and map or call 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1,). More »

  • 22-foot Vehicle Length Limit in Sequoia National Park

    Planning to see the "Big Trees" in Sequoia National Park? If you enter/exit via Hwy. 198, all vehicles must be less than 22 feet in length. Even vehicles towing trailers must be less than 22 feet in combined length. Longer vehicles must enter at Hwy. 180. More »

  • Road Conditions in the Parks

    For the latest road and weather conditions, call 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1) More »

Seasonal Position of Fire Scars

Graphic showing fire scar details of a annual tree ring

NPS graphic

This image (figure 2 from Caprio & Swetnam 1995) illustrates the potential position of fire scars within an annual growth ring. It shows specific areas of an annual ring used to designate intra-annual fire-scar positions. Through detailed examination of where a scar was formed within a ring the approximate season of past fire occurrence can often be determined. Understanding the tree-ring growth phenology in a particular area further enhances the interpretation of this information.

In the Sierra Nevada scars formed in the earlywood (EE to LE) indicate fire occurrence during early-to-mid summer (uncommon in the southern Sierra Nevada). Scars formed in the latewood (L) indicate fire occurrence during late summer while dormant season scars (D) indicate fires late in a year (latewood and dormant season scars are the most common in this region).

Did You Know?

Before and after photos of the Giant Forest restoration.

Nearly 300 buildings, a gas station, sewage treatment plant, hotel, two markets, and over 24 acres of asphalt were removed during the Giant Forest Restoration Project in Sequoia National Park.