California isn’t just home to Hollywood stars, it’s got some famous trees too.
We’re talking about ancient giants that have stood for thousands of years, trees so big you can drive a car through them, and even one that’s been declared a national shrine.
Some cling to cliffs like they’re in an action movie, others are hidden deep in forests where only the most dedicated road-trippers will find them.
Ready to meet California’s most legendary trees?
Let’s hit the road!
1. The Chandelier Tree
The Chandelier Tree in Leggett, California, is a 276-foot-tall coast redwood with a giant hole carved right through its trunk—big enough for a car to drive through!
It’s located in Drive-Thru Tree Park, right off Highway 101, and has been wowing road-trippers since the 1930s with its perfectly car-sized tunnel.
For fifteen bucks, you can squeeze your vehicle through, snap the ultimate road trip photo, and stand next to a tree that’s been around for over 2,400 years—basically older than the Roman Empire!
2. Old Survivor
Old Survivor in Oakland isn’t just any redwood, it’s the last old-growth redwood standing in the entire East Bay, a true legend in tree form.
Perched in Leona Heights Park, this 250-foot-tall giant managed to dodge the logging boom of the 1800s due to its location on a steep, rocky slope.
In terms of age, it’s estimated to have been seeded around 1549-1554 making it almost 500 years old and definitely tougher than your average tree!
You can’t drive through it like the Chandelier Tree, but hiking up to see Old Survivor feels like meeting a wise elder who’s been silently watching over the Bay Area for centuries.
3. The Lone Cypress
The Lone Cypress on California’s 17-Mile Drive is an iconic tree that’s been clinging dramatically to a rocky cliff above the Pacific for over 250 years.
This Monterey cypress has survived wind, storms, and even a fire, standing proudly on its granite perch like it’s posing for a postcard (which, honestly, it basically is).
Unlike Old Survivor, which hides in the forest, the Lone Cypress is out in the open, drawing crowds who come out just to snap a photo of this ridiculously photogenic tree.
4. The Stagg Tree
The Stagg Tree might not be as famous as the Lone Cypress, but it’s an absolute giant—literally one of the largest trees on the planet.
Hidden deep in a private grove in the Sierra Nevada, this massive sequoia soars over 240 feet tall and has a mind-blowing 109-foot circumference, making it wider than a school bus is long.
You can actually walk right up to Stagg, touch its ancient bark, and feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret kingdom of giants.
5. General Sherman
If trees had a heavyweight championship, General Sherman would take the title—because this sequoia isn’t just big, it’s the biggest tree by volume on Earth.
Standing 275 feet tall with a trunk so thick (103 feet around!) that it could fit a small house inside, this ancient giant rules over Sequoia National Park like the ultimate forest king.
Luckily it has a paved trail leading right up to it so you can stand beneath its massive branches and feel absolutely tiny.
6. General Grant
General Grant isn’t just a massive tree—it’s a national icon, officially declared “America’s Christmas Tree” because of its towering, festive presence.
At 268 feet tall and about 34 feet wide, this sequoia in Kings Canyon National Park is so huge that a 15-foot-long fire scar isn’t enough to topple this tree.
While General Sherman holds the record for size, General Grant wins in the patriotism department.
It’s even been named a national shrine to honor fallen soldiers, making it the only living thing in the country to be designated as a national shrine.
7. The Grizzly Giant
The Grizzly Giant in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove looks exactly like it sounds – big, ancient, and a little battle-worn, like an old warrior that’s seen it all.
This 209-foot-tall sequoia has been standing strong for nearly 3,000 years, with branches so thick (one is more than 6 feet wide!) that they could be trees themselves!
It leans slightly, as if it’s carrying the weight of centuries on its back—but don’t worry, it’s still holding strong, just like it has for nearly 3,000 years.
8. Discovery Tree
The Discovery Tree in Calaveras Big Trees State Park isn’t standing tall anymore, but it did change the world’s understanding of giant sequoias.
Back in 1853, when loggers cut it down, they realized this tree had been towering over California for around 1,244 years—long before Europeans even set foot in America.
Today, you can still walk across its enormous stump (25 feet wide!) and see the very spot where people once held full-on dances back in the day.
9. The Methuselah Tree
If trees had a senior citizen, Methuselah would be that wise, ancient grandparent who’s seen everything—because at nearly 4,800 years old, it’s one of the oldest living trees on Earth.
This gnarled bristlecone pine hides deep in the White Mountains of California, twisting and weathered from centuries of brutal winds, yet still very much alive.
Unlike the Discovery Tree, which had its moment in the spotlight (and then got cut down), Methuselah’s exact location is a closely guarded secret.
This is done to protect it from harm, so if you hike through the grove, you might be standing next to it and never even know!
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