A Brief History of Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", also known as the "Big Stump", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California.
Over the years, other parcels of mixed conifer forests have been added to the park.  This amazing park has a huge varitey of habitats and recreational opportunites to explore.

Facilities - Activities

In addition to the popular North Grove, the Park features the South Grove, a five mile hiking trip through a spectacular grove of giant sequoias in their natural setting.

Other attractions in the Park include the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, the Lava Bluff Trail and Bradley Trail.

The Park also houses two main campgrounds with a total of 129 campsites, six picnic areas and several miles of established trails.

During the Summer enjoy evening ranger talks, numerous interpretive programs, environmental educational programs, junior ranger programs, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and activities for school children.

Dogs: Dogs are welcome in the park on leash in developed areas like picnic sites, campgrounds, paved roads and fire roads (dirt). Dogs are not allowed on the designated trails, nor in the woods in general.  We have several miles of fire roads for you and your dog to enjoy; however, you will not be able to see any of the giant sequoias from these roads.

Service dogs are permitted everywhere throughout the park.  Comfort dogs do not qualify as service dogs and are therefore restricted to the campground, paved roads and the fire roads.

Educational Programs

We are proud to offer both guided and self-guided tours of the North Grove of Calaveras Big Trees State Park during the spring and fall seasons. The guided tours last approximately two hours and are led by either a park staff member or park volunteer.

We now have an online registration system for both the K-12 guided tours and the self-guided K-12 tours.

K-12 Educational Tours

During the months of April, May, and June, we now offer a K-12 guided school tour at 9:30 or 11:00 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for up to 60 students at a time. Each time slot costs $60 and can be reserved using the link below. Thirty (30) day advanced reservations are required.

SELF-GUIDED TOUR-Grades K-12

FREE with 30 day-advanced reservations. Groups arriving without reservations will pay full bus or car fare.  Register for Self-Guided tours to receive free bus parking and up to five free chaperone vehicles. Other vehicles must pay.

• Self-Guided tours are only offered on Monday and Tuesday at 9:30 am and 11:00 am.

  Please click HERE to book guided and self-guided tours now!  

If you would like to request special accommodation based on group size, bus scheduling, etc. please contact park staff and we will work with you to the best of our ability. If your students need to arrive at the same time due to transportation, we can arrange for self-guided activities until your tour begins.  We may be able to shorten your tours or change the tour times to accommodate your group based on guide availability.

Send email communications to ­CBTSPtours@parks.ca.gov or call 209-795-7980.

Please click the links below for more information about our specific tours:

Adult and College Age Tour Information -- Group Tours Information 

Guided -- School Tour Information (Grades K-12)

                Teacher Information and Grade Level NGSS Support

               Giant Sequoia Book (1st Grade)

Self Guided Tour Information (Grades K-12)--

            Teacher Self-Guided Tour

Virtual Field Trips

Educators, take your students on a virtual journey through the ancient grove of Giant Sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park! Free virtual field trips are offered for K-12 students and registration is a click away!

Visit https://education.microsoft.com/sequoias or

http://www.ports.parks.ca.gov/

As one of the oldest and biggest trees on earth, there is no doubt their fascinating story of survival will delight and inspire students of all ages. Ranger Jenny will be your guide as your class learns about the history of these magnificent trees through the lens of conservation, as well as their relationship to the mixed conifer forest they live in, ultimately discovering what makes these incredible trees such a BIG deal!

Come Enjoy Our Cabins

Location/Directions

The park is northeast of Stockton, four miles northeast of Arnold on Highway 4.
Latitude/Longitude: 38.2719 / -120.2867.  Please note that many car navigation systems and handheld Global Positioning Devices (GPS) are unable to locate the park.

From SF Bay Area
Take I-580 eastbound over Altamont Pass to I-205 toward Manteca, to US 99 North. Take the exit for State Hwy 4 Eastbound (Angel's Camp) to the Park Entrance. Calaveras Big Trees is about 35 minutes driving from Angel's Camp.

From Southern California
Take either I-5 or US 99 North. From I-5 you can cross to the other side of Stockton on State Hwy 4 to 99/4 South a few miles, then follow Hwy 4 towards and beyond Farmington to the Park. Calaveras Big Trees is about 35 minutes driving time from Angel's Camp.

From Sacramento
Take U.S. 99 South to Stockton.  Turn East on State Hwy 4.  Driving time to the park from here is approx 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Pass through Farmington and Copperopolis to the Park.  An alternate route from Sacramento is to take State Hwy 16 to State Hwy 49 South through Jackson, San Andreas, and Angels Camp. 

From Nevada
Take US 395 to State Hwy 89 West to the terminus of State Hwy 4, up over Ebbett's Pass to the Park. The road is closed in Winter. It's very scenic, but so steep and tortuous that trailers and large motorhomes are ill-advised to use it.