Notes: California is the last surviving giant redwood tunnel tree. In 1895, the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company hired W. H. Coop and John Cummings to carve a tunnel through the base of the tree to allow tourists passage through an alternate tunnel tree in the lower Mariposa Grove whenever snowpack blocked the route to Wawona Tunnel Tree in the upper grove. California remained a drive-through tree from 1895 until 1932 when the National Park Service rerouted Mariposa Grove Road away from the base of Grizzly Giant and converted to a footpath the segment of abandoned road which had passed through California Tree.

All other giant redwood tunnel trees are now dead. Dead Giant, located in Tuolomne Grove in Yosemite National Park, was tunneled in 1878 after it died, and Tunnel Log, located in Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, was tunneled after it fell on Decemmber 4, 1937. Meanwhile, Wawona Tunnel Tree, also located in Mariposa Grove, fell in February 1969, and Pioneer Cabin Tree, located in North Grove in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, fell on January 8, 2017.

Three living coast redwood tunnel trees remain: Chandelier, Shrine, and Tour Thru.

California should not be confused with other California trees, one which grows in General Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park and another which grows in Nelder Grove in Sierra National Forest, or with King Arthur (also known as California Tree) which grows in Garfield Grove in Sequoia National Park.

Drive: California is 155 mi (249 km) east of San Francisco near the city of Oakhurst.

Northbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 North, transfer to California State Highway 41 North toward Kettleman City. Drive north 110 mi (161 km) on California State Highway 41 to Oakhurst.

Southbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 South in Sacramento, transfer to U.S. Highway 50 East toward South Lake Tahoe. Drive east 1.7 mi (2.7 km) on U.S. Highway 50 and transfer to California State Highway 99 South. Near Merced, transfer to California State Highway 140 East. Drive east 36 mi (58 km) on California State Highway 140 to Mariposa and transfer to California State Highway 49 East. Drive east 26 mi (42 km) on California State Highway 49 to Oakhurst and transfer to California State Highway 41 North.

From Oakhurst, drive north 17 mi (27 km) on California State Highway 41 to the southern entrance station of Yosemite National Park (entrance fee and occasional peak-hours reservation required). Turn right onto Mariposa Grove Road, drive east 275 ft (84 m), and turn right into the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza parking lot.

Ride a free shuttle bus or hike east 2 mi (3 km) on Washburn Trail from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza to the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. Buses depart from the Welcome Plaza every 15 minutes from 8 AM to 7 PM April 15 (possibly later depending on road and weather conditions) through September 2, from 8 AM to 5:30 PM September 3 through November 2, and from 8 AM to 3:30 PM from November 3 through November 30. No shuttle service is available from December 1 through April 15 (possibly later depending on road and weather conditions).

Road Warning: Mariposa Grove Road is closed (with a locked gate) during winter. Depending on weather conditions, Mariposa Grove Road usually remains open from April through November. However, during that time, the road is open only to shuttle buses, vehicles with disability placards, bicycles, and pedestrians. Accessible parking is available at the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area and at the Grizzly Giant Accessible Parking Area.

Shortcut: Take this shortcut to visit California whenever Mariposa Grove Road is closed or to avoid park entrance and peak-hours reservation fees. From California State Highway 41 just north of Fish Camp, 0.1 mi (0.2 km) north of the Yosemite National Park sign and 0.6 mi (1.0 km) south of the Yosemite National Park entrance station, turn right onto Forest Service Road 5S06 (Mount Raymond Road). Drive east 2.7 mi (4.3 km) on Forest Service Road 5S06 (Mount Raymond Road), past the turnoff to Goat Meadow Trailhead and Snowplay Area and the intersections with Forest Service Road 5S43 (Star Lake Road) and Forest Service Road 5S37 (Rainer Creek Road), to the intersection with Mariposa Grove Access Road near 37.49399 -119.60026. Turn left here and park near the gate.

Road Warning: Forest Service Road 5S06 (Mount Raymond Road) is unpaved beyond the turnoff to Goat Meadow Trailhead and Snowplay Area and is narrow, rutted, and unsuitable for low-clearance/oversized vehicles beyond the intersection with Forest Service Road 5S37 (Rainer Creek Road). If driving a low-clearance vehicle, park at the stable near the intersection with Forest Service Road 5S43 (Star Lake Road) and walk along Forest Service Road 5S06 (Mount Raymond Road) to Mariposa Grove Access Road.

Visit nps.gov/yose for updates and more information.

Hike: From the trailhead, hike northeast/uphill 0.15 mi (0.24 km) on Big Trees Loop Trail, past Fallen Monarch, to the junction with Grizzly Giant Loop Trail. Turn right at the trail junction and hike northeast/uphill 0.5 mi (0.8 km) on Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, past Bachelor and Three Graces, to the junction with Grizzly Giant Accessible Trail.

Shortcut: From the parking spot, hike north 0.6 mi (1.0 km) on Mariposa Grove Access Road, across Big Trees Creek, to the junction with Perimeter Trail. Turn left at the trail junction and hike west 0.2 mi (0.3 km) on Perimeter Trail to the Grizzly Giant Accessible Parking Area. From the parking lot, hike northeast 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on Grizzly Giant Accessible Trail to the junction with Grizzly Giant Loop Trail.

Continue straight at the trail junction and hike northeast 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, past Grizzly Giant and the junction with Mariposa Grove Trail, to California.

View California Tree location in Google Maps

Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of California Tree

Photos: Pictures of California Tree taken from different sides