Located in Kings Canyon National Park
the General Grant Tree is the largest sequoia in the General Grant Grove.
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The nearest park entrance is the Big Stump Entrance off of Highway 180 coming from Fresno.
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The General Grant Tree is the second largest tree on earth by trunk volume.
However if branch volume were taken into account, it'd be the third largest tree in the world.
with the President tree being the world's second largest tree.
Park in a General Grant Tree parking lot
one mile from the King's Canyon Visitor Center.
There are information boards giving details about the trail.
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We hiked this trail twice in 2018.
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Starting from the trailhead entrance we walked his trail in a counterclockwise direction.
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The trail is heavily trafficked and is a three quarter of a mile loop
with 50 feet of elevation gain.
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Not too far into the trail is the Fallen Monarch
which is a large hollow sequoia.
It is possible to walk through the trunk of this tree which is pretty cool.
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A short distance further is the General Grant Tree.
The tree was named in 1867 in honor of Ulysses S Grant.
It towers at 268 feet and is 40 feet in diameter making it the world's widest known sequoia.
It is estimated to be around 1700 years old.
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There are information signs that give fun facts about the General Grant Tree
such as it is so wide that it would take about 20 people holding hands to make a
complete circle around its base.
President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the General Grant Tree to be the Nation's Christmas Tree in 1926.
And in 1956 Dwight D Eisenhower designated it as National Shrine,
a living memorial to those who fought and died in war.
Be sure to take the small trail loop around a General Grant Tree.
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The scars from past fires can be seen on its trunk.
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A short walk after the General Grant Tree is Gamblin Cabin.
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The cabin has served many purposes and it was used as a storehouse by the US Calvary
and even became a place where the first park ranger lived while stationed there.
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From Gamblin Cabin, the trail loops back around and meanders through the Grant Grove back to the parking lot.
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Thanks for watching and be sure to hit
that like and subscribe button and we'll see you out on the trail.
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