Visiting the giant trees

[Gingko]

You want big trees? Bite the bullet and see them in Sequoia National Park. You will not regret it. They are beautiful. Stay in one of the cabins in the park.


https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm


https://www.visitsequoia.com/

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by 509

There is NOTHING in the world like a Sierra Redwood. That is my professional opinion as a Forester that has worked in both redwood regions and most of the American west.

By "Sierra Redwood" are you talking about the giant Sequoias? I always thought sequoias were different types of trees than redwoods. Guess I was wrong.

Edit: OK, I checked the Sequoia National Park website, where they have an article on just this question (link below). Although giant sequoias and redwoods are both are connifers, they have important differences that make them different trees, so a sequoia is not a redwood, and vice versa. While I suppose there may be some redwoods in the Sierras, the Sequoias are not "Sierra Redwoods."

Among the differences:

Natural habitat
Shape and size (Giant sequoias are the largest trees on earth by volume; redwoods are the tallest)
Method of reproduction
Foliage
Cones and seed
Woody structure
Color of bark.

Link to the article: https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/onli.../cook/sec2.htm

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Agree. They just really aren't the same. I grew up in the SF Bay Area. I have seen the redwoods from hither and yon. In my opinion, if you want to be blown away by giant trees, you need to go see the coastal redwood/sequoias. And, in my opinion, the best place to do that is in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods state/federal park in CA.

Of course, that's my personal opinion. But, I've lived in CA most of my life. I have also lived in most of western WA, and on the Columbia River Gorge, up to the Canadian border, and grew up in the SF Bay Area, spending a lot of time in the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains.

So, based on my experience in all of the areas above, and in all of the amazing national forests I've seen and worked in as a forest service employee - it's my opinion that the best place on earth that I know of to enjoy giant trees (redwoods/sequoias) is Jedediah Smith state/federal park just outside of Crescent City, CA.

[NW4me]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Agree. They just really aren't the same. I grew up in the SF Bay Area. I have seen the redwoods from hither and yon. In my opinion, if you want to be blown away by giant trees, you need to go see the coastal redwood/sequoias. And, in my opinion, the best place to do that is in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods state/federal park in CA.

Of course, that's my personal opinion. But, I've lived in CA most of my life. I have also lived in most of western WA, and on the Columbia River Gorge, up to the Canadian border, and grew up in the SF Bay Area, spending a lot of time in the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains.

So, based on my experience in all of the areas above, and in all of the amazing national forests I've seen and worked in as a forest service employee - it's my opinion that the best place on earth that I know of to enjoy giant trees (redwoods/sequoias) is Jedediah Smith state/federal park just outside of Crescent City, CA.

I concur with NoMoreSnow:

The two kinds of "giant redwoods" are in fact different species (look them up). The ones in the Sierras are more massive, the ones on the coast grow taller.
IMO what makes the coastal redwoods the greatest aesthetic experience is that the forest itself has so much more life in it -- owing to the coastal moisture
and mild temperatures, there'll rhododendrons, abundant ferns, etc. -- carpets of green. By comparison, the Sierra redwoods don't have as much of an understory.
So if you have time to visit only one, I'd suggest the coastal redwoods... they're a long drive from San Francisco (5 - 6 hours), but it's a fun and scenic trip
in its own right (especially in the spring).

And indeed the Jedediah Smith state park is amazing. And there's a tiny town nearby (called Hiouchi) where you could stay the night, if you want to sleep
right by the big trees and maybe visit them at first light.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

The trilliums should be blooming now, and into June. They are so pretty. I also found some giant red mushrooms - please them alone and they are poisonous from what I have leaned. At any rate, the undergrowth is very lush all year round with green ferns, but in spring you will also get the trillium flowers and mushrooms. Just magical.

[509]

Originally Posted by NW4me

I concur with NoMoreSnow:

The two kinds of "giant redwoods" are in fact different species (look them up). The ones in the Sierras are more massive, the ones on the coast grow taller.
IMO what makes the coastal redwoods the greatest aesthetic experience is that the forest itself has so much more life in it -- owing to the coastal moisture
and mild temperatures, there'll rhododendrons, abundant ferns, etc. -- carpets of green. By comparison, the Sierra redwoods don't have as much of an understory.
So if you have time to visit only one, I'd suggest the coastal redwoods... they're a long drive from San Francisco (5 - 6 hours), but it's a fun and scenic trip
in its own right (especially in the spring).

And indeed the Jedediah Smith state park is amazing. And there's a tiny town nearby (called Hiouchi) where you could stay the night, if you want to sleep
right by the big trees and maybe visit them at first light.

That is the problem when using "common names". They are different species.

But.....I find coastal redwoods "interesting", but really not much different than the Douglas-Firs in Oregon and Washington.

The Sierra Redwoods...don't need an understory. The "restored" Sierra Redwood stands will let you see the trees.

So I suggest....Sierra Redwoods. The coast redwoods are fine trees, but the Sierra Redwoods are unique in the world.

PS....I hated working in the coastal Redwoods. Wet, humid, hot all in the same day!! BUT, coastal Redwoods are one of the greatest lumber trees in the world. They sprout, and you can have a 30 diameter tree in 30 years!! They grow in dim light...2% light compensation point. Other than growing on soils that are suspectible to erosion one of the great trees in the world.

BUT....for visual impact....Sierra Redwoods.....AND they are TOTALLY WORTHLESS as a commercial tree speices.

[delhidi]

I loved driving up 101 and driving through the Avenue of the Giants and stopping in Ferndale. The trees are amazing and Ferndale is such a cute town with lots of Victorian houses and neat shops. There's also a B&B called the Gingerbread House.

[Schwartzmann]

Sequoia National Park has the General Sherman tree... the largest living tree in the world... and a bunch of other Sequoias. It is quite impressive. In parts of the park, you are driving 7000+' above sea level. From Sequoia National Park, it is pretty easy to get to Yosemite National Park.

[CaliforniaPlaya]

Originally Posted by sandycat

That’s what I thought to do, but then I thought, if I’m flying all the way to CA from NC why would I want to hang in Fresno? I wonder if there are flights to Crescent City from RAleigh. One day we will spend two weeks in CA exploring all there is to see. It’s on my bucket list. But for now, I have big trees on my mind!

There is one daily flight Crescent City to Oakland in the morning and the return flight in the evening.
I would head to that area if I wanted to see the redwoods, but that is because I prefer to be on the coast.
You obviously have lots of options here. Let us know what you decide on.