Kings Canyon
Visiting Big Stump grove and Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park
USA
We were excited to explore Kings Canyon National Park and spend a day on the trails. Our day was cut short however, as Hwy 180 in Kings Canyon was closed beyond the Hume lake road junction. Due to this, we were only able to explore the Big Stump Grove and the Grant Grove area.
In the Big Stump Grove area most of the old growth giant sequoias were logged between 1883-1891. Even though all that was left of these giants was a stump, it was still an impressive sight. This grove is home to the Mark Twain stump which is from a tree that the army cut down in 1891. The sequoia was then displayed in New York and London to demonstrate the size of these giant trees. Aliya found the nooks and crannies of the stumps a great spot to play hide and seek and practice her walking skills.
As we looped back there was a fallen sequoia that spanned the loop trail and was labeled as the Fallen Monarch on the map. This tree has become hollowed out over time and Janet stood by the root system to give a sense of scale to this fallen giant.
To explore this area we parked at the Big Stump Picnic area and walked down the Big Stump Trail. The trail is shaded and narrow and leads down to a loop trail. Where the Big Stump and Shattered Giant Trails meet, you can then loop back around to the Picnic Area. It was neat to be able to go right up to the stumps and their size is truly impressive.
Our next stop was up the road to Grant Grove, this area is most well known for the General Grant tree which is one of the largest living trees in the world, standing tall at approximately 268 feet. The tree trunk has a massive circumference, measuring about 107 feet. The General Grant Tree is also known for its historical significance, being named after Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.
Due to the road closure at the Hume Lake junction which was posted as being due to a landslide, we then headed over to Sequoia National Park. We will make sure to return when all the roads are open so we can fully explore this amazing park! Happy exploring!
