Near Dead Giant Trail
Huckleberry Meadow sits off to the right side of the trail. In the summer, flowers can be seen blooming all around the meadow.
Near Dead Giant Trail
Even though the trail features the Dead Giant, you can get up close with other Giant Sequoias. They're everywhere!
Near Dead Giant Trail
Black bears can be seen throughout the Giant Forest. Enjoy these animals from a safe distance, and everyone will have a great day!
Near Dead Giant Trail
The Dead Giant. Despite having lost its top, the tree is still gigantic!

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Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Dead Giant Trail

4.0 (1 Rating)
Short hike through a forest of Giant Sequoias that takes you past a large, dead sequoia and ends at the Squatters Cabin.
0.3
mi
Distance
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingHistoricalWildflowersWildlife
Access Issues
The Giant Forest may be closed in the winter due to Snow and Ice, so you may have to snowshoe in to reach the dead Giant. In the summer when shuttles are running, you may need to park at the Museum and ride the shuttle in to the trailhead.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
0.34mi
Distance
0ft
Elevation Gain
67ft
Elevation Loss
15%
Max Grade
6,776ft
High Point
6,702ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
The Dead Giant Trail starts on the Crescent Meadow Road and meanders through the Giant Sequoia Trees to the remains of one of these massive trees. The trail is a fairly wide dirt track that meanders through the woods. You'll pass a handful of live sequoias until you arrive at a very large dead sequoia standing defiantly against the elements. The tree doesn't have its top, but still towers over hikers who stop to appreciate its sheer size. You can hike around the tree to get a sense of just how large these trees can be. Once you have taken your photos, the trail continues toward the Squatters Cabin. You'll pass a meadow on the right hand side of the trail, which contains wildflowers in the summer after the snow has melted and temperatures have warmed. Bears can be seen feeding in the forest throughout the spring and summer, so keep your eyes peeled. When you arrive that the Squatters Cabin, the trail runs into the Huckleberry Trail. From here, you can follow the trail to the right to do a short loop back to the road, which you can hike down to get back to your car. If you go to the left, you can follow the Huckleberry Trail and Soldiers Trails to create a larger loop.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
David Hitchcock