South Grove Trail Loop - Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Let’s take a hike among some giant sequoia in the South Grove. In the spring of 1852, Augustus T. Dowd was tracking a wounded grizzly bear through unfamiliar territory when he came upon a forest of enormous trees. The giant sequoia was described as a “tall tale” until he led a group of men to the grove. On April 16, 1954, the Calaveras South Grove officially became part of the Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The South Grove is home to about 1,000 mature Giant Sequoias, and the largest trees in the park.