Calaveras Big Trees State Park

We have visited this park quite a few times at different seasons and every time it is just marvelous! It is simply magical to witness these trees that have lived majestically through thousands of years. The visitor center provides great details about the life cycle of these trees, has a gift shop, and a movie theater. Plenty of parking and we did see a pop up food service. North grove had points 18-26 closed for some reason so we had to return on the same path. Only Verizon had cell service here and only at the visitor center but not inside the trail.

I used a California State Parks Library Pass and borrowed a hiking backpack from my local library and I'm still in awe. The park is absolutely breathtaking. Towering sequoias, peaceful trails, and that clean, healing forest air. As a struggling lung disease gal - thank you Mother Nature for the healing air. ❤️‍🩹 What made this trip so special was knowing my own family stood in front of these very trees over a hundred years ago. Being in the same space, breathing the same air, was powerful and grounding. It felt like time folded in on itself. To anyone who has something negative to say about this park: maybe try visiting a state that doesn't have any state parks. Be humble, not hateful. Nature doesn't owe us perfection but it offers peace if you let it. Thank you to the state park system and our libraries for making this healing experience more accessible. This was more than a hike it was a full-circle moment. I’m forever thankful for such an incredible experience.

We took a little trip up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park to show my brother around while he was here for the holiday weekend. The park was BUSY but what did we expect its the last weekend of summer. We chose Big Trees because of their accessible trails as my grandma is 86 and has a hard time walking far, this was somewhere we could take her out on nature and still use her wheelchair. The North Grove trail is the most ADA accessible it is a roughly 2 mile loop, however it is partially under construction at this time. The loop consists of 26 stops that have information on the park map about the area. Stops 17-end are currently closed for repairs and ADA upgrades. We hiked the trail from the big stump to stop 14 and then back and up to the visitor center. There are a few spots that the path way leans so the wheel chair wanted to go right or left and there is some loose gravel on the path from the stump to the visitor center but this trail was very doable with grandma in her wheel chair. It was a fairly fast trail with alit of scenery. It would be suitable for young children, families, and those with loved ones in wheel chairs or with mobility issues. We will be taking her back when the other half of the trail is open again and we can take her for some other sights.

7-13-25 it is a beautiful park but most of the big trees are fallen or in the main trail which was closed under construction at the day we have been there. I liked habitant museum and the gift shop. Parking are available in multiple locations and entrance fee is 10 bucks each car. Check the pictures.

It was just beautiful out there. Magnificent trees. Entry is $10 n you can enter n exit multiple times in a day. I opted for North grove hike as it's a 1.5 mile hike n easy to do with a 8months old. Stroller friendly. It is nice and peaceful and safe too. You will see people walking through out the trail. There was no water in the taps available near the visitor centre.

Pictures could perhaps say a thousand words, but they cannot convey the feeling of seeing a giant sequoia in person. The scale is hard to convey even with angled shots and panorama pictures. It is very humbling to be next to majestic trees that are not only thousands of years old but have massive trunks and are taller than all the other tall conifers. We're glad we took a detour to come see the big trees.

I got married at this state park at the beginning of May 2025 and I truly couldn't have asked for a more perfect experience. I had booked the venue sight unseen. The past eight months of booking and communication naturally came with a bit of nervousness but the entire process was seamless thanks to the outstanding communication from the park staff. From start to finish, they were responsive, informative, and so helpful, making the planning process smooth and stress-free. When the big day arrived, the park was absolutely stunning — even better than I imagined. The natural beauty created the perfect backdrop for both our ceremony and reception, and the atmosphere felt magical. Everything ran perfectly, and it was the perfect day for my perfect wedding. I’m so thankful to have chosen this place for one of the most important days of my life. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a breathtaking, well-managed outdoor venue!

This was one of my favorite things I went to see in this area. The guides are very useful and fascinating. The trees are ... WOW! They're so big, the pictures don't do them justice. The beauty and history of this place makes it very worth going to.

Totally awesome park not to be missed. Just gazing up at these giants, who have lived a thousand or two years is simply awe-inspiring. And to imagine the people who first saw them decided to chop them off just so they could send it on a money-making exhibit really makes me sad. Thankfully, there was enough public indignation that this park has been preserved so we and hopefully our decedents can continue to admire these beautiful trees. This park is pretty easy to get to, not far from Sacramento, with small towns nearby. Entrance fee is only $10 per vehicle, not per person, and there's free guided tour. The park has a north grove and south grove trail. We took the north grove, where the trees are not as big but more easily accessible and family friendly, with most of the trail paved and even, with little elevation. Also, the north grove has daily tour which fit easier with our travel schedule. Such a lovely place, definitely worth a visit.

So far this year, we've visited Calaveras Big Trees SP six times. The first time was the day after the last snow, and the most recent was yesterday (July 23). For literally decades, I took this park for granted. In elementary school, we took field trips to this park, so as I got older, it didn't seem very special. Sort of like, "Hey, look, there's a big tree. There's another one. And another one. There's a lot of big trees here. Big trees? Big whoop." It wasn't until one time we visited and met a couple vacationing from Boston, and they were marveling at how big the trees are, and the forest in general. Seeing the park through their eyes made me realize once again how special Big Trees SP is, and what a wonderful resource, too. Fresh air, a burbling river and creeks, and mostly peace and quiet. And less than a 2 hour drive from home, too. We have hiked most of the trails in the park (not counting the fire roads), and they all have something different to offer. The Lava Bluffs trail comes alive with wildflowers in the spring, but you have to hit it at the right time of season, and if you're going in late spring or any time during the summer (the wildflowers will be gone by then), take a LOT of water, because the trail gets a lot of sun and you can dehydrate quite easily. Trails in the South Grove area are less crowded because they require a longer drive from the Visitor's Center, but they're well worth the effort. I've fished in both the Stanislaus river and Beaver Creek in the park but have never caught anything. I know there's fish, because I can see them. I'm just a lousy fisherman. I wouldn't say that I didn't have any luck, though, because I consider myself lucky to be able to spend some time by a beautiful stream with a line in the water no matter what happens. Anyway, that's why it's called 'fishing' and not 'catching'. We have also taken our bikes (regular bikes, not e-bikes) to ride at CBTSP. Let me tell you, the ride down to the river was fun, fun, fun! OTOH, the ride back up was very much less fun. Got a great feeling of accomplishment from riding back up that long, steep grade, but not something we're planning to do very soon! This is not unique to CBTSP, but the rangers and docents put on a lot of programs during peak times. You can take a birding walk, see wildflowers, or explore the night sky (I think that's actually the program for tonight, July 24 - I wish we were there!), or a ton of other fun and interesting things. Also, as others have mentioned, many local libraries have State Parks Passes to check out and use for free. Our local library lends the passes for three weeks.

I used a California State Parks Library Pass and borrowed a hiking backpack from my local library--and I'm still in awe. The park is absolutely breathtaking. Towering sequoias, peaceful trails, and that clean, healing forest air. What made this trip so special was knowing my own family stood in front of these very trees over a hundred years ago. Being in the same space, breathing the same air, was powerful and grounding. It felt like time folded in on itself. To anyone who has something negative to say about this park: maybe try visiting a state that doesn't have any state parks. Be humble, not hateful. Nature doesn't owe us perfection--but it offers peace if you let it. Thank you to the state park system and our libraries for making this healing experience more accessible. This was more than a hike--it was a full-circle moment.

This was the first time my kids and brother have seen Giant Sequoias and the whole family loved the North Grove Trail, an easy 1.7 mile hike with subtle numbered placards along the way to explore the 20+ sites along the trail. The entire park has been a tourist attraction since 1852 and is considered the oldest still operating tourist attraction in California. You get a sign of how careless people are when you see the stump of a huge tree that was purposefully cut down in the 1800s. It was 1,400+ years old and the stump was so large it was once used as a dancefloor. We hiked as early as possible and no one else was on the trail, the air is clean and the trees are so grand you'll have to use 0.5x zoom if you are trying to take a picture of the whole thing. The only dangerous thing that happened was a pine cone dropped a couple feet from where we were walking with a pretty hard impact from falling from so high.

My family and I did a road trip to Arnold. We were curious to check out this state park. I am so glad we did. It was about a 9-minute drive from our Airbnb to the entrance. A beautiful state park full of ancient sequoias! The entrance fee was $6, very affordable. There are many trails that you can experience. Parking by the visitor center is limited. We walked the north grove trail, it's family-friendly, but no dogs are allowed. I did see a couple of people turn back with their dogs. Multiple guided tour groups were walking around, very interesting. My son loved it! He was so amazed by the trees and the surroundings. This state park is underrated, but it's a must if you're in town.

We frequent Angels Camp as we have a family cabin in the area and Calaveras Big Trees State Park is one of our favorite places to visit! It is quite magical - the air is fresh and cell service is limited so it's a nature lover's paradise. As you hike around the park, you are surrounded by beautiful, magnificent, giant sequoias every which way you look. This is the perfect place to get lost in nature, and disconnect for a while. Our favorite time to visit is Spring and Fall as the weather is perfect. If you are looking for a lovely, enchanted forest to explore and connect with nature, Calaveras Big Trees State Park is the place to be! Highly recommend!

My sister recommended this park after going with her daughter's girlscout troop. We decided to get a nearby rental and spend a couple of days in the forest. The park was beautiful, lots of history and also options to hike a lot - or just see some cool nearby attractions. The kids had fun, and there really were some big trees at this place. Nice spot to enjoy nature.

Cool family friendly experience. They have so many trails I'm not sure they have camping. They also have a place for you to grab hot food. They have a visitor center where you can collect souvenirs and also gain knowledge about the park. They have lots of parking some closer to the trails. They have parking for both buses and passenger vans, it's slightly more if you are in a van or bus. It's definitely a cool place to spend time to get away from the city, which means no reception when you're in the park. There's some areas that have Wi-Fi so keep in mind you will be disconnected from technology. Also please please bring bug spray of some sort because there are lots of mosquitoes, I was unprepared so I would want others to be prepared for this being that mosquitoes can bring diseases. I saw some people with dogs so I guess it's dog friendly.

16/9/25-12:30-I've never seen Sequoia's before. I was impressed! Parking is $10 unless you have a free pass from the Calif. State Library available from your local library. I kept taking pic after pic. This place felt magical and spiritual, like the Druids and Celtics must of felt. I was astounded by their sheer size and beauty. Don't miss this State Park. Incredible place!

Nice, peaceful campsite in the trees! We went in October 2024 over Indigenous People's Day weekend and there weren't many mosquitoes at all. The weather was mild, and we were able to drive down the road ~30 minutes to Lake Alpine. There was barely anyone at Lake Alpine that Sunday afternoon, although the lodge was open. There were some folks fishing and it was nice enough to hang out on the beach, enjoy the sun, and have the kids wade in. Notes on the campsites (note every site has its own water spigot which was so useful, but it did mean the kids were playing with the water ALL WEEKEND LONG): 44 - We stayed there, at end of loop so didnt feel surrounded by other campers. Slanted, room for 2 big tents. 49 - Very big, but not level. Shaded. Right across from bathrooms. Private because only site on that side of the road. 58 + 59 - Nice & flat, shade, right by marsh. 60 - Not for us, too small. 61 + 62 - Good to book together. Flat, right by marsh. 62 not very shaded. 64 - Not very flat ground. 65 - Very flat. 66 - Ok but small. 67 - Good site, big, shaded, flat. 68 + 71 - Big, shaded, kind of flat.

Beautiful place to explore nature . Parking lot near visitor center is small, you have to get there early . Trails are family friendly , but do not allow dogs.

What a place!, worth the drive - which is beautiful too! Go early in the morning, bring a picnic lunch if you can... nice place to spend time here. Talks and activities in the summer. This State Park is a lovely, not to miss gem. Loads of history and of course, Enormous Trees. Many trails. Several benches to look at the beautiful park, so glad it is protected! You can learn more about the trees, timber - and the early exploration, how it became a state park and more! Lots of parking, but crowded in the summer. Bring water on your trail hike and comfy shoes, flat trail with several benches.

First discovered this park in October of 2017, when wildfire smoke engulfed the SF Bay Area. Air quality became so terrible that my toddler couldn't breathe well. After I heard sniffles for an evening that didn't seem to improve, I ensured bags were quickly packed the next day and organized the household to get to cleaner air. Health & safety, first! This park was not only a clean-air refuge spot, I got to trail run with my son. So fun! Cute gift shop onsite, too. During my first trip, I rented us a beautiful cabin on AirBNB. Reflecting, I'd say that was the best choice! You may enjoy a local hotel experience more, but given all the spacious rentals, I'd say check out a home rental first.

Great day trip drive up from south Sacramento County. Nice drive, great roads, personable staff at the park gate, $10 fee, access to visitor center, road ways both paved and rough/gravel, wooden foot paths, trails. Super clean rest rooms at visitor center. Dogs on leashes have limited access to non trail areas. Signs clearly posted when dogs aren't allowed into specific areas. Very clean grounds. Don't litter, pack out your trash. Lots of big trees, some amazing photo opportunities and incredible big trees. Handicap accessible, great for all ages. Such a beautiful place.

If you love nature (even if you just like nature) and are anywhere near this park, GO! The trails, visitors center and scenery are all A+. Giant sequoias, ponderosa/sugar pines, fir and cedar trees surround you with the clean crisp air. We walked the North Grove Trail and took our time, taking lots of pictures and I was birdwatching. Lots of great western birds to be seen and heard on this trail that's under 2 miles and loops, with nearly no elevation gain. We attempted to explore the Beaver Creek Trail but it was a bit confusing if where to go and we were short on time, so didn't walk much of it. I highly recommend this state park. It was an easy day away while staying in South Lake Tahoe in June. Lots of fun goodies and a video to see at the visitors center as well.

Oh, what a magical place. I was staying in Murphys just a short drive away and my friends said "Sequoias" and I answered yes without hesitation. I hadn't seen the Sequoias since I was a kid and nothing was going to stop me from going full on Fern Gully. We arrived to find a parking lot, bathroom facilities, a creek, and several trails to wander down. We didn't have a lot of time so we decided on the North Grove trail because it was only about a mile and a half long. We had a good time following the self-guided tour. It was cool that they offered a sort of map with corresponding numbers that pointed out fun facts, many of them historical. I geek out over this stuff and trees are my thing, I even have a tattoo of one. For the most part you'll see two types of trees, the most exciting ones being the enormous Sequoias. It's really crazy to stand next to one and dream of everything it's experienced in its 1,000+ years time. Sequoias are the third longest-lived tree species and it was pretty rad to see, touch, and smell them. The photos really speak for themselves and I've attached a few and for comparison. I'm just over 5 feet tall. I have no doubt that I'll visit this wise, old forest of the "Big Trees" again and if you ever find yourself close by, do it!

The family and I came up with some other family members and rented an Airbnb for Memorial Day Weekend. Our airbnb was only a 7 minute drive to this park. The plan was we were going to spend most of our Sunday at the park. We had breakfast and headed over about 10AM and so glad we did. By the time we arrived there was already a line of cars waiting to get in. The line went by fast. It is $12 to enter per car. They take cash and card. We decided to drive past the first parking lot and proceed deeper into the park. We even drove over a bridge that had substantial amount of water rushing underneath it. We saw people park and headed down to be closer to the water so it seems you can do that. We proceeded into the park some more. I'd say we drove about 10 minutes inward from the entrance. We came to a parking lot that was empty and had a few picnic benches and a bathroom that was close to both. When we all got out of our cars we could hear water off into the distance. So we walked towards the sound of the water and found it 2 minutes past the initial picnic tables and the parking lot. To our surprise we found 3 picnic benches and we scored one the closest to the waters edge. Which was nice because we had kids that love water, so it's nice to be that close. So we set up our things on the table and all but 4 of us took off on a hike. When I tell you it felt like we were in some secret forest removed from the rest of the world, that is what I felt. All you heard were the chirping of birds and buzzing of bugs. The air was so clean and it felt as if the sequoias were protecting it all including me as the visitor. When we came up to the water there were some fly fishers in the water but soon left as they said they weren't having any success as they thought the water was too cold. So they were going to move up the stream some to test their waters there. As the day went on people came and went. Those of us who went on the hike were back in about 2 hours and it was determined they clocked in 19,000 miles. Not too shabby. They said the hike wasn't grueling. They could have went further into the woods but they had a toddler in a hiking backpack and a 8 yr old in tow. We left the park around 3PM. By that time not only was our parking lot now full so were the ones we past on the way out. Bathrooms are as expected for a State park. It's a deep hold in a concrete structure so I'll let your imagination take you where it will..lol! We will be back. There is so much to enjoy at this park.

This state park is well maintained, with different varieties of trails to suit most interests. Today we explored the North Grove Trail, which is a 1,7 mile loop within the grove of redwoods. The biggest one in this grove was chopped many years ago but you can walk along its trunk stump which is massive. I suggest if you have time and interest to grab a pamphlet which describes the different trees and history; you can pick that up at the start of the trail in a stand along the trail, and there is a requested 50 cent donation for that if you have it to offer. The scenery is phenomenal and the walk really easy. Plenty of parking available there at the trail head. $10 entry fee to the park per vehicle.

We visited Calaveras Big Trees in September 2024. It was easily one of the best state parks I ever visited. While it may not be as well-known or crowded as Yosemite National Park, there's something truly magical about hiking among the giant sequoias. The park also features several trails, each with varying levels of difficulty and accessibility. We spent most of our time in North Grove and thanks to the friendly park ranger, learned about the Discovery Tree, Mother of the Forest, and the Pioneer Cabin Tree. Highly recommend visiting this park if you're looking for an alternative day trip to Yosemite.

I was hoping to see some snow there, as last year during Thanksgiving we had seen some snow. And although I don't know if it snowed Thanksgiving of this year at the park, it was too warm for any snow this time. In any case, it was still an enjoyable time at the park. Last year, we walked around the "paved" trail close to the entrance of the park that showcased a lot of the big trees. This year, we went to the scenic overlook trail and indeed did reach a very beautiful scenic overlook area, with mountains and trees and some fog resting among the trees. That trail was pretty short - 1.6 miles round trip. On our way back to the parking lot, as it was getting dark, some fog started descending quickly into the park so it gave a nice, haunting atmosphere to take photos of. We initially were not prepared for how cold it was going to be - that is, I had a really warm jacket with a nice hood but would have preferred to wear a beanie instead. The gift shop has beanies but a very small selection, so I ended up just wearing my hood hiking. In any case, I warmed up real quickly while hiking the scenic overlook trail. I would love to try to catch some snow again for any future visits !

this beautiful park I visit lots here camp or hike. and visit center. Open 6am to 6pm

Such a gorgeous sight with river water!! Of course stay safe :) would Go again in a heart beat

Wow! What a beautiful park. We weren't prepared for the amount of snow we encountered during our mid-April visit. We ended up hiking the trails that we could but many were heavily covered in deep snow or washed out from water. What to expect? -tidy, bare bones bathrooms (aka no soap) -small visitors center with a few gift shop items and educational displays -boardwalk trails through a marsh (highly recommend- behind the visitors center) -large sequoia trees -decent sized parking lot -less than a 30 minute drive from Angels Camp

Gorgeous walk through the redwoods. We did the north loop and followed the signs with the little paper guides. Super informative. Highly recommend this place.

Absolutely loved loved this national park just a short 3 hour drive from Reno. The drive alone is beyond beautiful and very breathtaking. The sequoia trees are massive as one can feel so insignificant beside them, our favorite trail we went on was called North Grove trail. Definitely worth the drive and visit, there are places to have a lovely picnic.

I've been keeping a birthday tradition of doing something outdoors-y (gotta burn a few Yelp calories somehow) and this year I decided to go here! Not too bad of a drive to reach the park entrance from the Sac metro area. I suppose the last 15 minutes of the drive has a little bit of road-winding-ness but nothing too terrifying (no sharp hairpin turns). Was planning to do both the North and South Grove Trails but only did the South one as the North one was closed due to forest maintenance. I'll go into depth about the South Grove Trail but before I do that I'll say that overall this park is a fantastic one to visit (makes a nice day trip from Sac). Strongly recommend arriving here at sunrise because the whole forest becomes flooded with sun rays filtering through the trees! Truly magical. Warning though: *zero* cellphone service throughout the whole park (but there are well-marked signs so it's hard to get lost)! $10 admission per vehicle. --------------- South Grove Trail: - Have to drive 8 miles further into the park from the park entrance. This particular drive is a bit sketchy as some areas has the road being *just* wide enough for two cars (one in each direction) and there's a bridge under construction in that there's only one thru lane available for both directions; at the time the traffic light here wasn't working and there was no way of knowing if there was an incoming car (hopefully it's fixed now!) - Trail is beginner-hiker friendly: gentle inclines/declines. Some huffing and puffing but didn't feel my calves being on fire (for reference, I don't hike really often and cardio is the bane of my existence lol) - Trail took me about a little over 2 hours to complete (from and to parking lot) - On the trail you'll eventually hit a trail loop (you'll know when you reach this via a sign); two different ways to reach the same end. Keep left if you want the easier path as the path on the right narrows a little and is more rolling-hill-y (still nothing really steep though). Wouldn't say that the right path is a dealbreaker for beginner hikers especially for those who want a tad bit of challenge. Personally I preferred the right path as it felt less monotonous haha. - The last third of the trail (out-and-back section that ends at the Agassiz Tree) is hands-down my favorite part of the whole hike; this is where you start seeing amazing colossal, skyscraper-esque sequoias!

We recommend Big Trees State Park. Beautiful place to enjoy all of the large sequoias. We camped two nights and saw lots of bats each night. Also had a fox pass through our campsite while we were enjoying the views of the Milky Way through the trees at our campsite. We also encountered a doe while hiking through the North Grove. Staff are friendly, and bathrooms are clean. The only con would be our campsite which was literally right next to Hwy 4. We didn't sleep very well due to the constant amount of cars & trucks going by. Would recommend camping on the farthest side of campground if you are tent camping. We would stay here again as a good base camp.

To Tree or Not to Tree Founded in 1938 as a state park, Calaveras Big Trees has been awing visitors with its two groves of massive Giant Sequoias as far back as 1852. The Good: *The Sequoias really are spectacular. Hell, even when they fall, they're just as spectacular looking at their amazing, gnarly root systems. *Because of the location of this park, it's not as popular as Yosemite or Big Basin can get. Even during a summer weekend we hardly saw anyone during our short stay. It averages a miniscule 200k visitors per year vs. Yosemite's +3 million. *Trails are all well-maintained and in decent shape. *Newish Visitor's Center (VC) is top-notch and one of the best we've encountered. *Decent cell phone signal around the VC, but once you get further away, you'll def lose it. *The drive-in is gorgeous and not too harrowing, as many state park roads can be. The Meh: *$10 to visit (free with state park pass), but def #worthit *Some of the trails were closed during our visit due to prescribed burns. *VC doesn't open until 10 a.m. *I really hate the name of this place; it's like it was named by a 5-year-old with a limited vocabulary. The Ugly: *Mosquitos!! Sooooo....mannnnyyyyy....fraggin' MOSQUITOES!!! I normally don't have issues--and Carissa had almost none--but this was like hiking in a tropical area. I can't help that I'm delicious. :'( TLDR: Fabulous low-key park to visit--but bring insect repellant!

Beautiful spot very nice and quiet place loved it , went in April alittle cold some snow on the ground but absolutely beautiful

If you want to see Giant Sequoias you don't have to wait until you can find the time to drive all the way to Sequoia National Park. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is much closer and lets you wander among the Giants. On a Gold Country vacation in late March we were hoping to visit. But just our luck, in a drought year, a big storm had swept through a couple days earlier and left snow at some of the higher elevations (our sedan is not exactly a snow vehicle!). What was the snow situation at Calaveras? That morning I called the park, not knowing if anyone would even pick up, but a friendly ranger answered with what I wanted to hear: no snow! Thumbs up for Calaveras rangers! When we got there, we found out the South Grove was still seasonally inaccessible, but the scenic North Grove Trail was open. It's a beautiful 1.5 mile hike, a big loop, so no need to retrace your steps. The trail is quite accessible, although dirt it's flat with little elevation change - you can leave your Apple Watch Ultra at home! The giant sequoias along this North Grove Trail are breathtaking, we took our time and strained our necks trying to take it all in! Photos can be misleading, understating how immense these trees actually are. Although the trail was flat, it was fairly chili that day and I was glad to purchase a warm hat at the gift shop before hand. The gift shop is large and well stocked, well above average as State Park gift shops go. A nice museum is also here and worth a look. Giant Sequoias have to be seen to be believed - a visit is memorable!

We've been here a few times over the years and never disappointed. How can you not feel at peace and good with life when you're surrounded by majestic giant sequoias and clean, fresh air? I love decompressing here. The drive up here is nice, and the hike is easy. Highly recommend visiting this place and Arnold, a cute charming town.

My childhood best friend's Grandma (by all accounts I consider her my grandma as well) has been debating which of her timeshares to keep and which to get rid of, and in her decision-making has been inviting family to stay with her while she does the figuring. The bestie, her hubs, Grandma, me, and my love came through last month to stay nearby and visited the Big Trees while we were here. I'm so glad I finally got to see this place, and that it happened when the weather was nice (aka not a million degrees) so I could enjoy a nice easy two mile (we started it not where we were supposed to, by wandering into a campground, and that added some length on, but the trail we used is supposed to be 1.67 miles if done properly lol. It's been awhile since any of us frequented hiking trails sadly.) loop hike through the giant sequoias with my beloved found family. While on the trail my bestie told me many stories of coming here with her fam over the years, and it was really cool to listen to these stories then actually see the setting that appeared in them, and a setting I recognized from family photos in their home when we were kids. There are countless big trees to look at and in some cases climb into or on for photo ops. They are as big as advertised, so fear not. Anyone who is experienced in hiking will not need to worry but if you're not, looking at the map is helpful. I only say this because we did do a lot of absent-minded wandering. We were having fun and nobody cared, but I am at least attempting to be a helpful yelper. The visiting center is open and they do have staff on the trail in some places, which is cool if you want to learn things. Definitely bring water, layers, sunscreen, a hat, and a walking stick. If you are clumsy like me, watch for bits of wood and sticks about. It's a nicely maintained trail all the way through, but there are bits about. There are no medium, difficult, or long trails at this state park for the serious hikers, I'm told. There's also very limited cell service.

This is sooo belated because my visit to this state park was in August of 2020 (lol!!) But hey, they say that it's better you do it (even if it's belated) than never, right? So here is my super belated but 'meaningful' review of this not-so-much-talked-about state park. First of all, I cannot believe that this is only a state park. In other words, I cannot believe that this place is not a national park. Because it's unbelievably vast! For those of you who's been there I'm pretty sure you'd agree with me that Calaveras definitely has the so-called national park vibes. According to some website, this place has been a major tourist attraction since 1852, when the existence of the trees was first widely reported. And it goes on to explain that it's also considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. What? Really? As famous as it sounds in the webpage, I have to frankly admit that until my visit in August of 2020, I had never heard of this place. Well, it sure was a nice discovery and I had time to go check it out during my week long Lake Tahoe vacation. During my whole hike in the park, those tall trees gave me unexplainable calmness; it was almost like a little meditation retreat with some zen feeling. Wish I did yoga while I was there. I can also say that I felt like I was in the fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm pretty sure on a very sunny August day in Sierra Nevada, there were quite many visitors enjoying the magnificent sequoia trees but for some reason, the park wasn't that crowded at the time of visit. It could be that it was the first summer after COVID hit earlier in that year so many may have been refraining from going out in public. It's been almost two years since. But the memories I created when I was there are still fresh in my mind. I'm dreaming of my next visit in my home in Denver, CO.

Great national park! I would definitely recommend coming here with kids. Mine were 2 and 5 years old. We also took a stroller. They have a great information center where you can get a map of the location for free. They have a great trail with a lot to see. It took us about 2 hours with the kids. Many big Sequoia trees to see. Overall a great place to bring your kids.

What a perfect way to see these magnificent trees up close. The trail is flat and easy to follow with tons of photo ops. Great for families! It was not over crowded - at times we were all alone. Truly took our breath away

It's 10 dollars for a day pass to park and explore and hike the park which is not bad. The trees are absolutely beautiful and worth hiking. I highly recommend visiting here while your in town because it was one of the top 10 best state parks I have been to. They even have a gift shop where you can get numerous souvenirs, t shirts, keychains, and stuffed animals.

Beautiful park with nice amenities. If you're looking for large redwood trees, this is a really good choice. Visited for a few hours and did one of the hikes (just under 2 miles) through a well kept path with many raised wooden walkways. We saw a few strollers on the route so more accessible than most forests for sure! Picnic tables and restrooms were in good condition and made a nice experience for our group. The welcome center and gift shop has some unique and charming things to discover.

Great place for a family nature outing. $10 for the day and plenty of parking. They have two trails-one is 1.7 miles which is mostly paved with a boardwalk, low impact, and suitable for all. The other is an 8 mile trek. You will be astounded by the sheer size of these massive trees. You'll notice the chickarees sprinting about as you make your way through the forest. If you're looking for a peaceful, family friendly event, this will suit your needs. TIP: Don't forget to bring your water bottle. The water that is sold in the gift shop is not bottled and tastes like it came out of a garden hose.

Really enjoyed walking through the Sequoia trees. Nice walking and exploring the big trees

First I need to say, as always at the state parks, 5 stars to the employees there who are always so pleasant, helpful and for providing this for us. Now about this park itself, it's an average forest of trees with a few sequoias in the mix. There's nothing special about this. I know this is a natural environment, but the trails could have been maintained a little better. There's half exposed rocks and other natural trip and fall hazards everywhere so you constantly have to be watching where you're stepping. So much so that you really can't take your eyes off the trail to even look around unless you come to a stop. And the amount of dust is bad but that's just what it is. I know there's nothing feasible that can be done about that. So in the future when I want to see big trees, I'm much happier at the redwood parks along the north coast.

Like the name suggests, get ready to see some big a$$ trees when you get here! This is one place I always take out of towners so they can see how magnificent these Giant Sequoias are. There are a variety of trails - one is more stroller and family-friendly than the others. This park became a state park back in 1931 and my favorite feature is the Big Stump. After tragically being cut down, the stump of this giant had been used as a bowling alley (!!!) at one point. At over 1,000 years old, it's a shame that it was cut down. I love coming here in the spring to see the dogwoods in bloom. You can get a visitors guide which has the trees numbered so you can read up on their history. An easy drive from Sacramento, I think it took about 1.5 hours or less? Make sure to check out Murphy's while you are in the area. Great food and shops!

What a fantastic park go go visit. The north trial Loop was a great, easy, flat hike and the trial guide was really nicely done explaining the stops along the way. The trip took us a few hours to get here, but we thought it was well worth it. The park isn't as large as sequoia national park, but the trees are just as incredible. The visit center is small but there is a nice giftshop. The parking lot was small and not busy when we came, but I'd imagine in the summer it gets to be pretty popular so you may want to go early. Overall we spent about 2.5 hours here. We paired it with a trip to a nearby cave and it made for a really fun day trip from Sacramento. I'd definitely recommend this state park to anyone who is looking for a daytrip or nice easy hike! Fyi- dogs aren't allowed on the trial!

For my 700th review, I choose to dedicate it to Calaveras State Park. Also fitting that today's weather was in the low 70s, puts me in the right mood to walk down memory lane. This visit took place early August 2020. The journey here was smooth sailing, took about 2.5 hours from the bay with no twists and turns, mostly flat open roads. This is definitely a family-friendly place where you can actually bring a stroller on your hike! Some of the popular trails are indeed that wide. Most visitors were respectful of social distancing and wore masks, myself included. By early afternoon, the crowd thinned out, maybe nap time for the kiddos?! On one of the trails, couple visitors warned of a bear sighting. I think I got a glimpse of a bear shadow or a bear butt. Then I stood still for what seemed like 15-20 minutes looking for the bear, mission unaccomplished. In the mid-afternoon, stumbled upon a trail that was by the river, took a long break in the shade with my feet dipped in the refreshing cool water. Then it was time to look for another adventure, ended up walking in the middle of the paved road to get to the Lava Bluffs Trail, which had minimal shade. By late afternoon, early evening, there was no one around. This state park is quite big, didn't even get to the other side. In the span of about 9 hours, hiked 9 miles with breaks in between. Moral of the story is to bring LOTS of water, snacks, hat, sunscreen, and anything else. Porta-potties/restrooms are few and far between, hope you have a strong bladder! There's a designated camp area, reservations required. This was a memorable trip with great conversation and minimal contact with other visitors. Gorgeous sunset if you time it just right. #13/2021

Nothing more magical than being one with nature. It was a weekday and fairly quiet. We went mid Sept 2022 and the north trail was still having some work done, so only portions of the trail were available (1-6 and 15-24). We walked amongst the giant trees in awe and mostly in silence as there weren't that many people there. There were some families and a few school classes. Entrance fee was $10 per car. There was ample parking, but we did go midday on a weekday. It was worth the drive and we hope to be back sometime soon.

What a majestic place this is. Absolutely beautiful here. We made it a family day out and spent the day here. The kids enjoyed it as much as my husband and I did. The trees are magnificent and powerful looking. We felt like tiny ants compared to these monstrous trees. We walked through an easy trail for tourists. They have information about a few of the trees and the rangers were also very helpful. They are all about you enjoying the experience. It's a perfect place to bring your kids where they get to experience and learn about the redwoods. They will Absolutely enjoy it. Afterwards go by Red Apple which is down the road and enjoy some of their apple fritters and some of the best apple cider.

What I wrote in 2014, I can still write now. Calaveras Big Trees is awesome. For more, read the original review ;-) Now I'll add some more, as I stayed at the Big Trees all day yesterday and camped there last night. The North Grove campground is steps from the most popular part of the park. It's like Yosemite: 90% of the guests go to only 4% of the park. The other attractions can be reached with a little effort, but most people don't. The rest is untouched wilderness. Halfway between North and South Grove is the Oak Hollow campground. It's half the size of the North Grove campground, and is treated as an overflow. But it's not second-rate at all. It's a well-kept campground, with plenty of things for the kids to play on. I was in #84, and not only did a creek run through it, there were two very long logs forming what could be a bowling alley and another log to act as a backstop. Many other stumps that I could have had fun with when I was a kid, but this campground did not exist then. Lots of kids here, and they were having lots of fun. River Creek Trail. The State Park is quite strong in insisting that this is a TOUGH trail. All I did was one mile up to the scenic viewpoint and then back, and I agree. All the up-and-down from North Grove to the Stanislaus River in four miles can wear you out . . . and then you need to turn around and hike back. It's pretty, but hiker beware. South Grove. This is the big one away from the entrance. Driving the 9 miles here sometimes felt like the Oregon Cascades. It's a 1 mile hike to the grove, the trees are not named like many are in the North Grove, and the trail is not the carefully groomed one like up north. It's a more primitive experience. And awesome. The two exceptions to "no names", the Palace Hotel and Agassiz Tree at the end, are yuge. Or you can go only a quarter mile and get to Beaver Creek, and it's a happily accessible place for a picnic or playing in the water. If my daughter saw this at age 8, she'd want to just stay here. Well, I wouldn't blame her, it's a pretty sight, and there are enough rocks that the current won't sweep the kids away. Being in California and run by a bunch of liberals, the park insisted in 2020 that everyone is required to wear a mask everywhere, including outdoors. A few people did, thankfully most blew it off. On the North Grove Trail, I saw two rangers walking my way (on a one-way trail), and quickly pulling their masks up when they noticed me. Sigh. The bad incident was when I picked out my camp spot at the entry cabin. Fiona, the pink-haired ranger entering my name on Oak Hollow #84, was wearing her mask, and had to sneeze, thereby keeping the junk on her face. I felt sorry for her. Well, if the people lead, hopefully the leaders will follow, although I have no trust that the governor will do the right thing. Big news: Many Yelpers have written about a tree that you could drive through. On January 8, 2017, this tree fell with a big crash. Okay, I'll finally finish. California state parks are a pricey getaway. Calaveras Big Trees is one of a handful that's worth the price to camp here. You'll be kicking yourself for not coming here, and when you do come, you'll say "wow, I should have come sooner."

Glad they allow dogs on some trails, but wish it wasn't where the trees are burnt. Plenty of helpful and friendly Rangers. I used a State Park Pass I checked out from my local library to enter for FREE!

My first visit to Calaveras Big Trees was fall 2020. Since then I went back twice more-spring 2021 and fall 2021. It's a long but worthwhile day trip from the East Bay. There's a day use fee but I used my CA State Parks Golden Poppy pass. On weekends, especially during nice weather, the park will be super crowded and when the lots get full, they will turn visitors away. Two of the times I went were on a weekday and it was much less crowded. In fact, when I came the last Friday in October, it was a cold rainy day and we were the only car parked at the South Grove trail, which is further in the park. There are two main trails. The South Grove is about a 5 mile loop but you do have to drive about 20 minutes from the visitor center. Meanwhile, closer to the visitor center there is the North Grove trail which is shorter, flat and a good intro to the park. I've done both in one day and each have their merits. Going in the fall you'll see spectacular foliage set against the giant sequoias, while a spring trip will give you the dogwoods in bloom. The North Grove has a higher concentration of sequoias in a small area whereas the South Grove is mixed forest with the sequoias spread out. The South Grove is a moderate hike and well signed. During the winter, the park closes the roadway to the South Grove and there's no access. They do keep the North Grove open and though I've never been in winter, I'm sure the big trees are lovely in the snow. The visitor center area has clean restrooms, a nice gift shop and small museum. It's open year round but do check their social media for park conditions, closures and updates-not only for snow, but also for controlled burns in the park which can close certain areas. For me, out of the three times I went, the rainy fall day was my favorite-misty trails set against fall colors and had the whole South Grove hike to ourselves. When you can drive through the park, don't miss a stop at the river overlook as well. Final tip-be bear aware. Black bears are in the park and near the trails. I haven't seen one but last spring, other hikers told me they encountered one. Truly a beautiful park and a way to see the giant sequoias without a longer drive down to the National park. Review #91 of 100 review goal in 2021

My family and I had a great time at Calaveras Big Tree State Park! We enjoyed the North Grove and the South Grove. The park's maps are very helpful and allow you and your family to decide what you would like to do for the day. The North Grove is definitely family friendly and allows for a 1.7 mile stroll through some beautiful big trees. There are also a few other trails that go off of this main loop. I would say this is definitely the "tourist type" of loop. The South Grove is more for hikers and for people who can walk for a longer amount of time. The South Grove is an 8 mile drive from the North Grove. When you get to the South Grove trail, it is about a 5.5 mile loop in which you can see The Palace Hotel Tree and the amazing Agassiz Tree. These were awesome trees to see! Overall, the park is amazing. We spoke to a very friendly park ranger named Mara. She gave us some fun facts about the park and wildlife who live there. Also, don't forget to check out the Visitor's Center. There are many cool things to look at and merchandise to remind you about your trip at Calaveras Big Tree State Park!