Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Calaveras Big Trees is the only CA State Park with giant sequoias, the biggest individual tree. Social Media Guidelines: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31305

Social Media Guidelines - https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31305

We've TWO astronomy programs next week! ✨Coming up on the 11th, the next Optical Astronomy! Gaze at the stars through te...
06/04/2026

We've TWO astronomy programs next week! ✨

Coming up on the 11th, the next Optical Astronomy! Gaze at the stars through telescopes starting at 8:30pm. (DS means Dark Sky, M means Moon night- this one will be dark sky.)

Next is Night Skies with Doc Nancy at 9pm on the 13th! This program is more about stories and science.

Both programs are at the Scenic Overlook. Parking is limited so please carpool and arrive early.

This is free with park entrance of $10/vehicle. We also take free California State Park passes like the 4th grade Adventure Pass and library pass, so look into those before you come! https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049

Also, while the park usually closes at sunset, it is open extra late on these nights for you astronomy nerds 🌙

Can't make it or want more astronomy? We have dates throughout the whole spring-summer! Check it out here: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25994 and on our attached flyers.

Happy World Bicycle Day! 🚲❤️Bikes can help you connect with nature. While you might not be able to ride on the trails i...
06/03/2026

Happy World Bicycle Day! 🚲❤️

Bikes can help you connect with nature.

While you might not be able to ride on the trails in the park, many bicyclists enjoy the fire roads where bikes are welcome. Fire roads are marked with red dashes on the park brochure. To find the brochure, visit www. parks.ca.gov/bigtrees.

Now Hiring! Park Maintenance Worker I ($3,984.00 - $5,195.00 per month)Join the California State Parks team and work at ...
06/02/2026

Now Hiring!

Park Maintenance Worker I ($3,984.00 - $5,195.00 per month)

Join the California State Parks team and work at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

➡Repair of park systems and facilities including buildings, campsites, picnic facilities, roads, parking areas, trails, fixtures, water and sewer systems, irrigation systems.
➡Work in a variety of environmental conditions.
➡Apply knowledge of carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and masonry

For more information and to apply visit - https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=519661

Or email [email protected]

06/02/2026

🌲🌲🌲

These giant sequoias stand along the North Grove Trail at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

The North Grove Trail is a gentle, 1.7-mile loop that is accessible to wheelchairs when weather allows. Don’t forget to pick up a self-guided hike in one of the brown boxes at the beginning of the trail. As you walk along, look for numbered markers and read about the ecology and history of this grove of giant sequoias.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park can be very busy in the summer with July being the busiest month of the year. The iconic North Grove Trail is the busiest trail, so if you would like to avoid crowds try visiting during the week or before or after July. The park gets much quieter after August 15 when students head back to the classroom.

Video shows various photos of giant sequoia trees, including a young seedling and a large stump. The audio is birds calls and forest sounds in the North Grove.

June is here, which means State Parks Week is just around the corner! 🐻Here at Calaveras Big Trees, we have four special...
06/01/2026

June is here, which means State Parks Week is just around the corner! 🐻

Here at Calaveras Big Trees, we have four special programs for you to choose from:

Walk through the Lens of History
June 10th 1:00-3:00
Meet at the entrance of the North Grove trail by the Visitor Center for a North Grove walk through a different perspective! Learn about the history of the area while observing the magnificent trees on this 1.7-mile level loop.

Explore Nature Journaling
June 11th 11:00-12:00
Meet us from 11:00-12:00 at the picnic tables behind the Ranger and Natural Resources Office for an introduction to nature journaling. Participants will go home with their own nature journal!

Fire and the Forest Community Throughout Time
June 12th 11:30-1:30
Meet at the North Grove trailhead by the Visitor Center for a look at what the park has done to protect the giant sequoias – spoilers, it’s recent prescribed burns! Learn about these, the successful germination we’ve seen from them, and the complexity of fire in a giant sequoia mixed conifer forest on this hour and a half walk on the 1.7-mile flat North Grove trail.

Kid's Career Fair
June 13th, 11:30am -1:30pm.
Learn about the different careers within state parks and with our park partners with fun activities! There's a prize if you visit every station! Find us on the paved pathway between the Visitor Center parking lot and Jack Knight Hall.

Check out other events across the state here: https://castateparksweek.org/

Note- you can register but all of our events are open to everyone!

05/29/2026

Stop and enjoy 13 seconds of squirrel time.⏰

Douglas squirrels are hoarders. They collect seeds and cones and bury them in huge quantities for later access. This Douglas squirrel at Calaveras Big Trees State Park is adding to its food cache. Douglas squirrels are omnivorous and also eat bird eggs, berries, leaf buds, fungi, and more. Sometimes Douglas squirrels are mistaken for baby squirrels because they only weigh about 200-250 grams (.44 - .55 pounds) as an adult. Also, Douglas squirrels sometimes get mistaken for birds. They are very vocal and make a wide range of calls.

Video: Douglas squirrel coming down to the ground and burying a seed. Bird calls and songs can be heard in the background of the video.

05/28/2026

Let’s enjoy the surprising, but peaceful fog ☁️

While Memorial Day was sunshine and a perfect 70 degrees, the past couple days has been in the 40s and raining, hailing, or foggy. While it is a delightful, mystical atmosphere, we’ve seen a lot of you come up in shorts and freeze!

Always, always check the forecast- it’ll be in the 80s in a few days ☀️

Come for the sequoias, stay for the flowers! 🌺If you drive down the Parkway Road, you’ll be greeted with blooms of all k...
05/27/2026

Come for the sequoias, stay for the flowers! 🌺

If you drive down the Parkway Road, you’ll be greeted with blooms of all kinds. All of these blooms are found within a short walking distance of a parking lot or pullout. Stay safe when you park and enjoy the colors!

In order of pictures, with locations:

Seen by the Scenic Overlook-
Mountain Blue Penstemon
Harlequin Lupine
Deervetch

Seen at the Lava Bluffs parking lot
Lupine, various kinds and shades of purple and white (2 pictures)

Seen all over
Hartwigs Iris (2 pictures)

Seen by Beaver Creek
Star-flowered Lily-of-the-Valley
Solomon’s Plume
Woodland star
Western Azalea
Western Wallflower
Chickweed
Pacific Bleeding Heart

Welcome, spring blooms 🌸Here are some of the flowers you may see in the North Grove area! Tomorrow we’ll share what you ...
05/26/2026

Welcome, spring blooms 🌸

Here are some of the flowers you may see in the North Grove area! Tomorrow we’ll share what you may see along the Parkway Road and Beaver Creek. Keep in mind, the meadow isn’t in full bloom yet, so there’s more to come!

Seen here, we have:
Western buttercup
Woodland strawberry
California buckeye
Baneberry
Western starflower
Wood’s rose
Solomon’s Plume

Address

1170 East Highway 4
Arnold, CA
95223

Telephone

+12097952334

Website

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