WINTER MAGIC]
For those who desire to make the day trip only, the National Park Service maintains public camps or picnic grounds at Beetle Rock. A ranger is on duty at all times and is anxious to show the park and make the stay of visitors as enjoyable and profitable as possible.
The operating company issues a leaflet advising people of accommodations, prices, etc. This can be obtained on application to the superintendent.
It is always advisable when driving in the mountains during the winter to carry tire chains, although even in midwinter it is often possible to drive to the Big Trees without them.
Every effort is made by park authorities to keep the Big Trees accessible during the winter months. Sequoia Park is now well known as one of the few places in California where winter vacationists from other sections of the country may be sure of seeing the giant Sequoias.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
"Bear Hill" is the name given to the spot near the incinerator, where many bears gather to feed daily. The best time to see them is from noon to 7 p. m., when an attendant is on hand, but they are frequently there throughout the day. A ranger naturalist gives a 10-minute talk daily on the habits and characteristics of the bears. The road to Bear Hill branches from the Moro Road near the new village site.
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Padilla Studios photo._
SKIING PARTY LEAVING CAMP KAWEAH]
Tharp Cabin, in Log Meadow, one-half mile from end of auto road at Crescent Meadow, may also be reached by Circle and Congress Trails from Alta Trail. This hollow Sequoia log was occupied by Hale Tharp, Three Rivers pioneer and discoverer of Giant Forest in 1858. John Muir stayed several days in this unique "house in a log" in 1875 and has immortalized the "n.o.ble den", as he called it, and the surrounding Sequoias and meadows in his book, _Our National Parks_. The cabin is maintained in its original condition and const.i.tutes an interesting museum.
MUSEUM, LECTURE, AND TRAIL GUIDE SERVICE
The National Park Service encourages all forms of outdoor activities, but special attention is paid to fostering a knowledge of the wildlife and natural beauty which the parks were created to preserve. At Giant Forest a small collection of specimens is on display at the naturalist"s office during the summer season for the enjoyment of visitors. Lectures given daily by ranger naturalists at Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, and elsewhere present facts of interest at these stations.
The park naturalist is in charge of the guide service. During the summer months camp-fire lectures are given and trail hikes and automobile caravans are conducted. Both half-day and all-day trips are taken, with variety enough to cover all types of interest. Giant Forest Administration Building is the headquarters of this increasingly popular service.
The Giant Forest Lodge campfire is held every night at the lodge under the Sequoias, where community singing, nature and historical talks, music, and general entertainment are provided. This is free to the public, and all visitors are invited to partic.i.p.ate.
The Park Service conducts similar programs at Sunset and Lodgepole Camps every evening. Park visitors are cordially invited to a.s.sist in making these programs a success by contribution of their talents.
Following the campfires, the dance hall is open every evening, except Sunday, from about the middle of June until September 1.
The social life at Giant Forest is one of the great attractions and holds many people beyond the time allotted for the visit. The average population is about 3,000 people.
THE TRAILS
One of the most pleasing features of Giant Forest is the number of forest trails leading from it that afford interesting half-day or all-day excursions. Perhaps nowhere else is it possible to hike so easily for hours through such forests of sequoia, pine, and fir. Many of the trails are oiled to eliminate dust. The trail system is well signed, and the map in this pamphlet is used by many as a guide. It would be impossible to enumerate all the points of attraction or combination trips which can be made. New ones are opened every year. The following are the princ.i.p.al trails and attractions:
=_Alta Trail._=--Nine miles from Giant Forest to Alta Peak (11,211 feet); pa.s.ses through the Plateau of the Giant Trees and Panther, Mehrten, and Alta Meadows. The view from Alta Peak has been p.r.o.nounced by members of the Sierra Club as fine as any in the California mountains. It is the nearest point to Giant Forest from which Mount Whitney may be seen. Horses may be ridden to the summit. Alta Meadows is a delightful place to camp. A full day should be allowed for this trip.
=_Trail of the Sequoias._=--Connects the High Sierra Trail from the saddle near Crescent Meadow, 3.7 miles to the Alta Trail, and pa.s.ses through Big Tree groves rarely seen by the public before the opening of this trail.
=_Circle, Crescent, and Congress Trails._=--All lead from the Alta Trail through the thickest Sequoia forests to meadows and mammoth trees within 2 miles of Giant Forest. From 2 hours to 2 days could be spent covering this area.
[Ill.u.s.tration: YOUNG VISITORS EXAMINING THE ANNULAR RINGS OF A BIG TREE]
=_Soldier and Bear Hill Trails._=--Lead from Giant Forest, 2 miles to Moro Rock, pa.s.sing near the Parker Group and past the Roosevelt Tree, Hanging Rock, and other points. A half-day stroll.
=_Sugar Pine Trail._=--From Moro Rock, 1 1/2 miles along the plateau edge to Crescent Meadow and Kaweah Vista, with side trip to Bobcat Point.
=_Twin Lakes Trail._=--From Lodgepole Camp, 5 miles to Clover Creek, and 2 miles farther to Twin Lakes, famous for unsurpa.s.sed scenic setting at 9,750 feet, and for good trout fishing. Several hundred feet above Twin Lakes on Silliman Shoulder is one of the finest panoramas of mountain scenery in the world. A day is well spent on this trail.
=_The Watchtower and Heather Lake Trails._=--These two trails lead to major scenic spots. From the Watchtower there is a 2,000-foot drop to Tokopah Valley; and Heather, Emerald, and Aster Lakes are mountain jewels on the west slopes of Alta Peak. All of these trips may be made from Giant Forest in half a day, although it is preferable to allow a full day for them. Ranger naturalists conduct nature hikes to these points during the summer.
=_The High Sierra Trail._=--This trail, one of the finest mountain routes in America, extends from the Big Trees of the Giant Forest to the summit of Mount Whitney (14,494.7 feet), the highest mountain in continental United States. In Sequoia National Park the largest trees in the world are now linked by a splendid trail to the highest mountain peak in the country.
The main features along the High Sierra Trail, with distances shown from Giant Forest, are: Bearpaw Meadow, 12 miles, with view of waterfalls, great cliffs, and River Valley; Hamilton Lake, 16 miles, conceded by those who know the Sierra Nevada to be the "cream of Sierran scenery"; Hamilton Gorge suspension bridge, 18 miles; Kaweah Gap, 20 miles, with expansive views of Kaweah peaks and main crest of the Sierra Nevada, as well as the Big Arroyo immediately below; Moraine Lake, 30 miles; Kern Canyon at Funston Meadows, 34 1/2 miles; Kern Hot Springs, 37 miles; Junction Meadow, 44 miles; Crabtree Meadow, 54 1/2 miles; Mount Whitney summit, 62 miles. From the summit of Mount Whitney there are 13 miles of trail down the east side to end of automobile road, at Whitney Portal, 16 miles from the town of Lone Pine.
Meals and comfortable beds may be obtained at reasonable rates at the outpost station located at Ibex Meadow, making a trip possible to the summit of Mount Whitney and return from the east side without the necessity of packing heavy supplies and equipment.
FAUNA AND FLORA
=_California mule deer._=--So-called because of their large ears. They are abundant everywhere and often tame near campgrounds.
=_American black bear._=--Found throughout the park and are very plentiful at Giant Forest during the spring and early summer months, where several at one time may be seen at the Bear Hill. These bears are not ferocious, and under all ordinary circ.u.mstances will run from man.
Young of the same litter often vary in color from cinnamon to brown or black. Visitors must not feed the bears. They are fed daily from camp garbage.
[Ill.u.s.tration: HAMILTON LAKE WITH PRECIPITOUS PEAKS IN BACKGROUND
_Padilla Studios photo._]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration: MOTHER BEAR WITH HER TWO CUBS]
=_Columbia gray squirrel._=--A delight to the eye as it dashes across a road or trail, a blue-gray furry vision that at times appears to be all tail--the largest squirrel.
=_Douglas squirrel or Sierra chickaree._=--Very abundant and thrusts itself upon the public by its quarrelsome and scolding disposition.
About two-thirds the size of the gray squirrel, and gray-brown in color.
=_Chipmunks of several species._=--The Alpine, Sierra Nevada, and Sequoia are abundant everywhere in the pine and Sequoia. They become very tame and steal from campers" tables or food supplies.
=_Sierra golden-mantled ground squirrel._=--Often mistakenly called a chipmunk and having much the same habits. At Giant Forest it is as abundant as the chipmunk and may be distinguished by its golden color and larger size.
=_California Valley ground squirrel._=--Has recently arrived at Giant Forest, but it is not plentiful enough to do damage.
In addition to the above, marmots, mountain lions, wildcats, mountain beaver, coyotes, foxes, trade rats, and other animals are found in the park. Information about them may be had at ranger stations, the museum, or the superintendent"s office.
The birds commonly noticed by visitors near Giant Forest are the blue fronted or stellar jay, western tanager, western robin, chickadee, junco, red-shafted flicker, white-headed woodp.e.c.k.e.r, several warblers, sparrows, and finches. The golden eagle and the red-tailed hawk are sometimes seen from Moro Rock. A list of all the birds may be obtained at the Giant Forest Administration Building.
Even a slight acquaintance with the park flora will vastly increase the pleasure of your visit, and park rangers will gladly answer inquiries.
The trees most noticed near Giant Forest are the Big Trees, sugar pine, yellow pine, white and red fir; the western white pine and the lodgepole pine are found higher up; the incense cedar is abundant; lower down are many varieties of oak, maple, and other hardwoods.
Among shrubs and bushes, the many kinds of sweet-scented ceanothus or deer brush, manzanita, chokecherry, chinquapin, and dogwood are most noticed.