General Sherman- The largest tree

KarlH's picture

Location

California
United States
36° 34' 54.156" N, 118° 45' 5.22" W
US
General info: 

The General Sherman is the largest tree in the world. It is not the tallest, oldest or widest but it is the largest tree by volume. General Sherman is both tall and large in diameter and, in particular, holds a large diameter high up the trunk. This is what results in biggest wood volume in the world.

Despite not breaking the record in other features, it is still among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all trees on the planet. The tree is 2,300–2,700 years old with a height of 83.8 metres (275 ft), a diameter of 7.7 metres (25 ft) and an estimated bole volume of 1,487 cubic metres.

While the General Sherman is the largest currently living tree, it is not the largest tree known to humans. The Crannell Creek Giant, a coast redwood near Trinidad, California, is estimated to have been 15 to 25% larger than the General Sherman tree by volume. The tree was cut down in the mid-1940s.

Getting there: 

The General Sherman is located in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California. You can access the park from both sides of the mountains by car but to see the tree, you must choose the western side. Inside the park you can either use the freee shuttle bus to get to the tree or you can drive to the parking lot ½ mile from the tree. The trail from the parking lot to the tree goes downhill and has some stairs. Handicapped parking also available closer to the tree.

Costs: 

Entrance fees:
Vehicle Pass - valid 1 through 7 Day(s) - $20
Individual Entry Pass (by foot, bicycle, motorcycle) - valid 1 through 7 Day(s) - $10

You might be interested in

Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest national park in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia.

  • No more items

Interesting places nearby

Diamond Peak has a vertical drop of 1,840 feet with a high base and summit elevation that captures plenty of snow. It is located at Incline Village on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Donner Ski Ranch was first utilized for skiing in 1937 and is located high atop historic Donner Summit. The area's first rope tow was located at the base of the current lodge.

Born as Mount Holly in 1972 and run as Elk Meadows until 2002, Eagle Point Ski Resort, located in southern Utah, has resurrected itself as a leaner and meaner operation. Located 20 minutes from the town of Beaver (pop.

Located in the legendary ski town of Park City, The Canyons Resort is one of North America's largest single ski and snowboard resorts, with an endless number of options.

Brian Head Resort offers skiers more than 500 acres of uncrowded terrain and more than 400 inches of that famous Utah flake that seems to fall with such regularity every year.

Brighton Resort, located at the top of Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon, claims to be about these three things: snow, terrain and value.