Calaveras Big Trees State Park Travel Guide

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There was still a lot of snow lying on the ground and we were advised by some forestry workers we saw near the car park to stick to the North Grove Trail.
The Visitor Centre was closed (the website had led us to expect it to be open - we were visitited on a weekday in March). However at the start of the trail there is an honesty box attached to a supply of Guides to the North Grove Trail for which 50 cents is charged. It is an excellent little guide, full of facts and figures, simply presented together with line drawings and botanical information. Indispensable for a proper understanding and appreciation of these majestc, ancient trees. Do Take one with you.
The most important and historically noted trees are marked and numbered -1 -26 along the trail which is less than two miles long.
We stopped in awe and admiration at everyone of them and our walk, with a few pauses to rest from the hard-going, wet and slipperypaths took a good bit over 2 hours..
During that time we met no more than six other people in the forest. The silence was almost absolute - we noticed the absence of birdsong and wildlife - except for squirrels and some beautiful butterflies.