Chicago Stump

General Noble tree, were reassembled at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Today, visitors can view the remaining 20-foot “Chicago Stump” in Converse Basin. It was cut down at considerable expense a hundred and thirty years ago and shipped off to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 to prove that such a large tree existed.

We are old backpackers, looking for some easy walks (old knees, too!) and think this really should be a must-see. If you can, walk in on the dirt road (it's under three miles to the trailhead, then the trail is only about 1/4 mile). You can drive in, narrow dirt road need high clearance vehicle in spots. This stump tells a tale everyone should know - of the "California Hoax" - it is really a marvelous stump, and the story of its many names (The Noble Tree, the California Hoax, the Chicago Stump - why Chicago?) is a comment on human nature that is not to be missed. There are TWO boards with pictures, one with more explanation, then past the tree and down the loop back, another board with b/w photos from the 1890s. Great hike for kids, too!

The ride to trailhead is through a wonderful mudtrack 4 mile round trip , inside the Kings Canyon National Park. You don't need a 4 wheel drive to get here in summers, however a high clearance vehicle would help. Exercise lot of caution if you attempt this in the rains, or snow. The walk from trail head is short but pleasant. A giant of a tree was cut and transported to Chicago for the world congress in 1893, only to prove that this tree was indeed magnificent and big! Unfortunately these wise souls didn't think of leaving it in place for the posterity to enjoy, which we continue to perpetuate till date. A good reminder of what not to do 😞 Allow an hour to visit and get back.

After a couple of miles down a dirt road you come to the trailhead. The road is in pretty good shape and while a truck or suv would be preferable I saw a Prius that didn't appear to have any problems negotiating the road. The hike itself is an easy mostly flat trail around a meadow. Seeing the stump brought tears to my eyes knowing that a 3,200 year old magnificent giant Sequoia was killed just to impress people at the 1893 Chicago Exposition. Look around the meadow and see all of the stumps - all that's left of what must have been an incredible grove of giants.

Not an easy place to get too The 20ft-high Chicago Stump is all that's left of the once-mighty, 3200-year-old General Noble tree. The 285ft giant was cut into sections and transported to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago to demonstrate the unbelievable scale of the newly discovered giant sequoias

A massive stump and an interesting lesson in both history and the hubris of man. Very interesting stop for us on our journey into the Kings Canyon and something that sparked interesting discussion in our car afterward

Cool to stroll and learn the history. Short hike. The drive to this is on unpaved dirt road, some bumps but doable in most regular cars.

Not worth driving the one way dirt road to see it.