July 13, 2024 - California
Big Trees Loop Trail
 
A little further down Generals Highway from the General Sherman Tree parking was the Giant Forest Museum.  This was near the Big Trees Trail we wanted to hike.  The Giant Forest Museum is also on the western edge of the Giant Forest grove and an excellent trailhead for all the trails into the Giant Forest.  There was parking at the Giant Forest Museum but the lot was full.  We ended driving back north on Generals Highway, past the General Sherman Tree parking, to Lodgepole Visitor Center and Village.  There was plenty of parking there.  More importantly, there was a shuttle bus you could catch to the Giant Forest Museum. Which we did.
 
There is lodging, a store, and a little museum at the Lodgepole Visitor Center and Village.  A good base from which to see Sequoia National Park.  If's an hour's drive along winding roads to get here if you are staying outside the park.  Ask me how I know!
   
Inside the Giant Forest Museum was this display which shows you how big these sequoia trees really are by comparing them to the Space Shuttle, the Titanic and Statue of Liberty.
   
This healthy, big sequoia called The Sentinel stands just outside the Giant Forest Museum.
   
 
   
Hiking the short trail along Generals Highway to the Big Trees Loop trail.
   
And here we are, starting out on the .6 mile Big Trees Loop Trail.
   
A fallen giant.
   
Our first look at Round Meadow that the trail loops around.
   
Magnificent Tree.
   
 
   
Another pretty meadow ringed by Sequoias.
   
Just like the Tower of Pisa, this sequoia tree is leaning.
   
 
   
Bottoms.
   
Tops.
   
Got all of this one!
   
 
   
Break time!
   
Papa tree.  Baby trees.
   
 
   
Nothing lives forever.
   
A round boulder has fused with this sequoia tree.
   
Twins.
   
 
   
Beautiful hike.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
This tree looks like normal at the base but splits into two trees.  It was named "Ed by Ned" by two brothers in 1906.   They are two individual trees that grew so close together their bases fused.
   
P42
   
A brick outline of "Ed by Ned's" base, roughly 34 ft by 25 ft.
   

Lynnette and Joe stand in front of a slab from the front of a giant sequoia, cut down in 1950 because it threatened to fall on rental cabins.  The tree was 2,210 years old.  The powers-that-be eventually realized overnight facilities in sequoia groves was a bad idea and removed them.  2,000 year-old sequoias are no longer cut down.

Mature sequoias survive all but the very hottest fires.  Thick, fibrous bark holds very little sap or pitch, so it is not very flammable.

We really enjoyed the Big Trees Loop Trail.  It is not very long, is flat, and can be hiked in less than an hour.

After Big Trees Loop Trail, we drove back up Generals Highway to the Big Stump Grove area and then west out Highway 180 to Fresno, where we dropped Joe off at the airport.  Then Lynnette and I drove south down Highway 99, then east on Highway 189 to Three Rivers, where our Airbnb was.
   
 
   
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