Diameter Of General Sherman Tree

Two couples stand near wooden fence and look at base of giant sequoia tree. — Full general Sherman Tree is at the north end of Behemothic Woods.
Alison Taggart-Barone

The Full general Sherman Tree is the world's largest tree, measured past book. Information technology stands 275 anxiety (83 m) alpine, and is over 36 feet (eleven thou) in diameter at the base. Sequoia trunks remain broad high up. Threescore feet to a higher place the base, the Sherman Tree is 17.5 anxiety (5.3 one thousand) in bore.

Visiting the General Sherman Tree

Two trails lead to the Sherman Tree. Parking for the Master Trail is off the Wolverton Road (between the Sherman Tree and Lodgepole); just follow signs. The trail runs one-half a mile (0.viii km) down to the tree. It has a few stairs and is paved. As you walk, you'll enter the Giant Wood sequoia grove. Exhibits along the trail explain the natural history of behemothic sequoias. The walk back is uphill.

Those with disability parking placards tin park in a small lot along the edge of the Generals Highway. From there, a wheelchair-accessible trail leads a short distance to the tree. If y'all don't have a placard but tin't manage the Main Trail, during shuttle season you tin ride park shuttles (all are wheelchair accessible, and some kneel) to the attainable trail. Another choice, if you tin do the initial downhill walk, is to park at the Chief Trail, walk downward to the Sherman Tree, then continue down to the shuttle end along the Generals Highway. A shuttle tin can render you to your parking expanse, eliminating the uphill walk.

A fence protects the shallow roots of the Sherman Tree. Please assist us protect the tree past staying on the paved trail.

Six firefighters work together to stretch protective foil around the lower 8 feet of giant sequoia tree. — Firefighters employ wooden supports to climb college around the base of operations of the General Sherman tree and wrap protective foil around the tree'due south lower ten-15 anxiety. This material, besides used to protect buildings, minimized the likelihood fire would ignite exposed areas, similar old fire scars.

Iconic Sequoia Copse Wrapped as Fire Approaches Giant Forest

The General Sherman Tree was ane of numerous giant sequoias wrapped in a protective aluminum material as the KNP Complex Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire, burned upslope toward Giant Woods in mid-September. While giant sequoias are fire-dependent and able to withstand the heat of moderate fires with their thick, insulating bark, more astringent fires have damaged or killed many large sequoias in the past six years. Thus, additional precautions were taken to prevent fire from burning into tree bases and igniting vulnerable fire scars – signs of the many previous fires these trees have survived.

As Giant Forest has had many prescribed burns in recent decades, firefighters observed that the wildfire behavior (flame length and rate of spread) was reduced every bit information technology hit previously burned areas. This moderate burn behavior allowed firefighters to work shut to the burn down, earthworks fireline to prevent the fire's spread farther into Giant Forest.

The Sherman Tree in Wintertime

Once much snow falls, the main parking area off the Wolverton Road closes and the accessible parking area on the Generals Highway becomes available for all. The trail from there to the Sherman Tree is not steep simply can be very snowy or icy. Please be careful, and if you choose to walk, avert stepping in ski tracks.

The timing of winter snow varies tremendously between seasons and is very difficult to predict. Snowfall can fall someday from October into June. Check current atmospheric condition for more than data.

On some winter holiday weekends, a wintertime shuttle may provide transportation from Lodgepole and Wuksachi to the Sherman Tree Trail.

Exploring Further

Hundreds of monarch sequoias grow in the Giant Forest sequoia grove. The Congress Trail, a paved two-mile loop that begins most the Sherman Tree, offers excellent opportunities to see notable trees. Large Trees Trail, a one-mile (i.6 km) loop around a lush meadow, has interpretive exhibits about the natural history of giant sequoias. For a longer walk, explore the many miles of trails in the area.

Beyond the Giant Forest, more sequoia groves await. Visit the world's 2nd-largest tree, the General Grant Tree in the Grant Grove expanse of Kings Canyon National Park. Other groves such every bit Redwood Canyon and Muir Grove are destinations for longer hikes.

Statistics nearly the General Sherman Tree

	Feet	Meters
Peak above Base	274.9	83.8
Circumference at Footing	102.6	31.ane
Maximum Diameter at Base	36.5	11.i
Diameter 60' (xviii.3 m) above base	17.5	v.3
Diameter 180' (54.9 m) above base	14.0	4.three
Diameter of Largest Branch	6.8	ii.one
Summit of First Large Branch above the Base	130.0	39.half dozen
Average Crown Spread	106.five	32.five