From Giants to Stumps

June 4, 2024
Big Stump Trail and Grant Grove, Kings Canyon National Park
Total distance walked: 4.50 miles

Our group met early in the morning for the long drive into Kings Canyon National Park. We aimed to visit the General Grant Tree—a giant sequoia and a landmark familiar to my friend Marilyn, who served as our driver, guide, and fellow photography enthusiast. Our first adventure was to wander through the towering trees along the aptly named Big Stump Trail. 

Only a few steps in, I paused to inhale deeply. Ah, after a three-week European vacation brimming with city life and bustling crowds, I yearned to be in the tranquility of the wilderness. There I was, standing among the lofty giants in the forest, the air filled with the scent of pine.

Besides evergreens, this area is dotted with many humongous stumps of trees that were either logged in the 1800s or fell on their own.

We followed the undulating path to the Mark Twain Tree. When it was standing, the Mark Twain Tree was one of the largest giant sequoias of its time. 

In 1891, due to the difficulty of traveling to the park and people’s disbelief in the immense size of trees, the US Army cut it down!

It was then displayed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and later in London.

From there we moved on to Grant Grove to see the General Grant Tree.

The General Grant Tree was named in 1867 after Ulysses S. Grant. It’s the largest tree in the grove and the second largest tree in the world. It’s known as the Nation’s Christmas Tree. Back in 1924, a little girl standing next to the tree exclaimed, “What a wonderful Christmas tree it would be.” Upon hearing that, Mr. Charles E. Lee of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce wrote to President Calvin Coolidge who designated the General Grant as the Nation’s Christmas Tree in 1926.

After spending the day exploring and learning about the park, we made our way down to the valley to begin the lengthy journey back home.

Wandering the trails and marveling at nature’s beauty with good friends nourished my soul. It was a good day.

Wildflowers seen on the trails.