Every nature lover understands the inner joy associated with hugging a tree; there’s no better place for tree-hugging than Sequoia National Park in Visalia, CA. The park is located in the southern Sierra Nevada and covers 404 thousand acres of land.
With thousands of species of plants and trees, Sequoia National Park is home to hundreds of massive sequoia trees towering nearly 13 thousand feet in the air. This brings us back to the tree-hugging! So if you want to be surrounded by nature this summer and walk among the giant trees, Sequoia National Park is the place to be. Before you head out, check out this list of sequoia trees you’ll see as you explore the park.
1. White Fir
Oftentimes uses in American homes as ornamental Christmas trees during the holiday season, the white fir sequoia trees can be found throughout the park. They are native to the western North American mountain ranges and can grow to be up to 197 feet tall. This large coniferous evergreen tree can be found along the west coast of the United States through California and Oregon. Despite being plentiful throughout Sequoia National Park, the white fir is still outnumbered by other pines and trees across the terrain.
2. Sugar Pine
Described as the largest and most beautiful of the trees in the Sierra Forest, the sugar pine has been proclaimed the king of all pine trees. Sugar Pines come in a variety of sizes and heights, usually ranging from 4 to 8 feet in diameter. They can grow up to 10 feet tall however, it’s not unusual to see some as short as six feet. Some say the sugar pine grows more beautiful as it ages; maintaining a smooth, grayish silver color during its youth that grows a rich maroon as it matures. Unlike the white fir, the sugar pine is pretty isolated to the state of California with a few being distributed in southern Oregon.
3. Incense Cedar
Like the sugar pine, the incense cedar tree is mostly confined to the state of California. However, being that it is not actually a cedar tree at all, its name is a bit of a ruse. Incense cedars can live hundreds of years and grow over 140 feet tall. They are massive trees with deep red trunks and scale-like leaves. Many incense cedars are cut down and used to make fences and rails. However, the ones in Sequoia National Park thrive near streams, flats, and moist water lands.
4. Red Fir
Named for the changing red hue of their bark as the tree grows old, red firs also thrive almost the many tree species in Sequoia National Park. These are high elevation trees and can grow up to 8,900 feet. Giants within the forest, red firs can be found in California and southwest Oregon and three different varieties of the tree can be found along the west coast.
5. Ponderosa Pine
The official state tree of Montana, the ponderosa pine is a tree of many, many names. Also known as the western yellow pine, bull pine, or blackjack pine, this tree is a very large species native to North America but has spread all over the world. These trees can grow up to 130 feet and can be found in 16 western US states. It was named for its heavy wood and over time, its bark turns a dark cinnamon color. Ponderosa pines are also vital for the natural ecosystem and their seeds provide nourishment for wildlife including wild turkeys, chipmunks, mice, and squirrels.