The Grizzly Giant is a remarkable natural wonder in Yosemite National Park, known for its immense size and ancient age. It draws visitors worldwide, offering a humbling experience of nature’s grandeur.
Identifying the Grizzly Giant
The Grizzly Giant is a specific giant sequoia tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum) located within Yosemite National Park. It stands in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the park’s largest collection of mature giant sequoias, found in the southernmost part near the Wawona entrance. Its name, “Grizzly Giant,” reflects its imposing presence, evoking the image of a California grizzly bear. Publisher James M. Hutchings first suggested “Grizzled Giant” in 1859, based on naturalist Galen Clark’s advice, before it evolved into its current form.
Key Characteristics
The Grizzly Giant is an ancient specimen, estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, making it the oldest tree in the Mariposa Grove. Standing about 209 feet (63.7 meters) tall, it ranks among Yosemite’s largest trees. Its basal circumference measures approximately 96.5 feet (29.5 meters), with a base diameter of around 30 feet (9 meters). In 1990, its immense volume was measured at 34,005 cubic feet (962.9 cubic meters), making it the 26th-largest living giant sequoia by volume.
Even its largest branch, located about 95 feet overhead, is over 6 feet (2 meters) in diameter. The Grizzly Giant also features a distinct lean, tilting almost 5 degrees to the south and 1.5 degrees to the west, yet it has remained balanced for centuries without external support. Its thick, spongy bark, up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) thick, provides natural defense.
Historical Significance and Resilience
The Grizzly Giant has withstood countless natural challenges, including lightning strikes, droughts, and severe wind and snow storms. Its thick bark, rich in tannic acid, provides resistance against fungi, insects, and fire, allowing it to survive many wildfires. Charred hollows and fire scars at its base serve as visible reminders of these encounters. Giant sequoias are adapted to fire, which plays a role in their reproduction by clearing forest litter and preparing the soil for seeds.
The tree has been a prominent symbol of Yosemite National Park since tourism began. Nineteenth-century photographs and paintings of the Grizzly Giant helped convince a skeptical public of giant sequoias’ grandeur, fostering early conservation efforts that led to Mariposa Grove’s protection. Notable figures like President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir posed with the tree in 1903, cementing its iconic status. During the 2022 Washburn Fire, park authorities deployed sprinklers to protect the Grizzly Giant and other trees, showcasing ongoing preservation efforts.
Visiting the Grizzly Giant
The Grizzly Giant is a highlight for visitors to Yosemite National Park’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Access to the grove is typically via a shuttle service from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, near the park’s south entrance. This shuttle operates from spring through fall; the road closes to private vehicles in winter, though the grove remains accessible by foot, snowshoe, or cross-country ski. Those with disability placards are often permitted direct vehicle access to a closer parking area.
Within the grove, visitors can explore trails. The Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, a popular 2-mile moderate hike, leads directly to the tree and passes other notable sequoias like the Bachelor and Three Graces and the California Tunnel Tree. Restrooms are available at the Welcome Plaza and near the Grizzly Giant. The best times to visit are typically spring, when waterfalls are abundant, or fall, for milder weather and fewer crowds.