Notes:  Pine Alpha is the first non-clonal tree confirmed older than 4,000 years. University of Arizona Associate Professor of Dendrochronology Edmund P. Schulman named the tree Pine Alpha after the first letter in the Greek alphabet. Other trees older than 4,000 years Schulman identified later include Pine Delta and Methuselah.

Pine Alpha appears in Schulman's article entitled Bristlecone Pine, Oldest Known Living Thing, published in the March 1958 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Pine Alpha is directly in the path of the May 3, 2106 total solar eclipse.

Drive: Pine Alpha is 234 mi (377 km) east of San Francisco near the community of Big Pine.

From U.S. Route 395 near Big Pine, transfer to California State Route 168 East. Drive east 13 mi (21 km) on California State Route 168 East and turn left onto White Mountain Road toward Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Drive north 10 mi (16 km) on White Mountain Road and turn right into the Schulman Grove Visitor Center parking lot.

Day-use fee required: Purchase a parking pass at the visitor center or enclose payment in a registration envelope provided and deposit into the collection box. Display the parking pass or registration envelope receipt in your windshield to avoid a fine.

Road Warning: White Mountain Road is unmaintained during winter. Depending on snow levels, White Mountain Road is usually open from May through October. During that time, Schulman Grove is day-use (open from 6 AM to 10 PM) only. Visit fs.usds.gov for more information.

Hike: From the trailhead at the northeastern end of the parking lot, hike north/uphill 0.4 mi (0.6 km) on Discovery Trail, past the fourth trail exhibit panel (Pathways of The Ancients), to the trail exit point near 37.38786 -118.17982. Leave the trail here and hike northeast/uphill 70 ft (21 m) off-trail to Pine Alpha. After visiting Pine Alpha, hike north 0.3 mi (0.5 km) on Discovery Trail to Dead Sentry.

View Pine Alpha Tree location in Google Maps

Photos: Pictures of Pine Alpha Tree taken from different sides