South Grove Trail

South Grove Trail is one of the top hikes for experiencing the redwoods in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Passing through the South Grove Natural Preserve, it features the largest trees in the park and is home to nearly 1,000 mature giant sequoias. South Grove Trail is slightly less crowded than North Grove Trail, giving it a more remote and primeval atmosphere. The trailhead is located by the parking lot 8.5 miles south of the parkas entrance. The route begins by passing through a pleasant grassy meadow, over a bridge crossing Beaver Creek, and then proceeds to climb a moderately steep hillside. This region is characterized by dense forest with an understory of Pacific dogwoods. The giant sequoias dominate the ponderosa pines, sugar pines, incense cedars, and white firs. They can reach heights of up to 325 feet and diameters of 33 feet and have a distinctive red tint to their bark. Some of these trees are estimated to be 2,000 years old, and they are the largest living objects on the planet. Hikers may opt to take a side trail to the Agassiz Tree, the largest tree in the park, adding a roundtrip distance of 1.2 miles.