Visiting the General Sherman TreeTwo trails lead to the Sherman Tree. Parking for the Main Trail is off the Wolverton Road (between the Sherman Tree and Lodgepole); just follow signs. The trail runs half a mile (0.8 km) down to the tree. It has a few stairs and is paved. As you walk, you'll enter the Giant Forest sequoia grove. Exhibits along the trail explain the natural history of giant sequoias. The walk back is uphill. Those with disability parking placards can park in a small lot along the edge of the Generals Highway. From there, a wheelchair-accessible trail leads a short distance to the tree. If you don't have a placard but can't manage the Main Trail, during shuttle season you can ride park shuttles (all are wheelchair accessible, and some kneel) to the accessible trail. Another option, if you can do the initial downhill walk, is to park at the Main Trail, walk down to the Sherman Tree, then continue down to the shuttle stop along the Generals Highway. A shuttle can return you to your parking area, eliminating the uphill walk. A fence protects the shallow roots of the Sherman Tree. Please help us protect the tree by staying on the paved trail. Statistics about the General Sherman Tree
In 2021 the General Sherman Tree Was Wrapped as Fire Approached Giant ForestThe General Sherman Tree was one of numerous giant sequoias wrapped in a protective aluminum material as the KNP Complex Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire, burned upslope toward Giant Forest in mid-September of 2021. While giant sequoias are fire-dependent and able to withstand the heat of moderate fires with their thick, insulating bark, more severe fires have damaged or killed many large sequoias in the past six years. Thus, additional precautions were taken to prevent fire from burning into tree bases and igniting vulnerable fire scars – signs of the many previous fires these trees have survived. Visiting the Sherman Tree in WinterTraveling to visit the General Sherman Tree in winter is more challenging but has its rewards. The timing of winter snow varies tremendously between seasons and is very difficult to predict. Snow can fall anytime from October into June.
On some winter holiday weekends, a winter shuttle may provide transportation from Giant Forest Museum, Wolverton snow play, Lodgepole, and Wuksachi to the Sherman Tree Trail. Exploring FurtherHundreds of monarch sequoias grow in the Giant Forest sequoia grove. The Congress Trail, a paved two-mile loop that begins near the Sherman Tree, offers excellent opportunities to see notable trees. Big Trees Trail, a one-mile (1.6 km) loop around a lush meadow, has interpretive exhibits about the natural history of giant sequoias. For a longer walk, explore the many miles of trails in the area. Beyond the Giant Forest, more sequoia groves await. Visit the world's second-largest tree, the General Grant Tree in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. Other groves such as Redwood Canyon and Muir Grove are destinations for longer hikes. Explore Sequoia Groves
Whether you see them from your car or hike to a remote grove, giant sequoias inspire awe and wonder. Giant Sequoias
Learn about the largest trees in the world, and their relationship to fire and climate. Threats to Giant Sequoias
Learn more about recent threats to giant sequoias in this web article - including hotter droughts, bark beetles, and severe wildfire. Giant Sequoias and Climate
Climate plays a key role in giant sequoia groves. Giant Sequoias and Drought
Recent severe drought and tree mortality prompted research to study the sensitivity of giant sequoias to drought. Giant Sequoias and Fire
Learn more about the role fire plays in giant sequoia groves. |