Return to Calaveras Big Trees State Park

The last time I went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, I kept thinking about how much I wanted to come back with my family. Well, we finally make it over the long Presidents Day weekend! Although it's about a two-hour drive for us from Livermore to Arnold (pretty long for a 2-year old to be in the car), it was well worth it. The photos from this blog post are all taken by my husband. Click "read more" to see more photos of the sequoias.

We did the same 1.7-mile loop through the North Grove that I did before because it's a really great loop to do with a young child. My daughter hiked a significant portion on her own and then I carried her the rest of the way in her carrier. As you can see, there was no snow on this trip--it made it a really different experience for me compared to my last trip!

They have a postcard program that I discovered when we went into the Visitors Center. If you buy a postcard and a stamp, you can self-address it and give it to them to hold. Apparently the dogwoods are spectacular in the spring (when they blossom) and in the fall (when they get their fall colors). The rangers and volunteers can tell when the buds are about to open or when the leaves are about to put on their fall colors, and they will mail you your card to alert you; this gives you about a three-week window to make it out to see this additional part of the park. Obviously I signed up immediately. 

When I go back to the park for the spring flowers, I want to hike the 5-mile loop through the South Grove. I've only ever been here in the winter, and that part of the park is closed then. I can't wait!