Sierra National Forest

Notes: Sierra National Forest is located on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. Sierra National Forest encompasses over 2,031 mi2 (5,261 km2) of terrain, including the Ansel Adams, Dinkey Lakes, John Muir, Kaiser, and Monarch Wildernesses, and contains over 1,000 mi (1,609 km) of hiking trails.

Sierra National Forest includes 1 of the 30 largest giant redwoods (Nelder). The forest contains 5 trees larger than 25,000 ft3 (708 m3) and 1 tree larger than 30,000 ft3 (850 m3).

Nelder is the largest tree in Sierra National Forest.

Sierra National Forest includes 2 giant redwood groves:

  • McKinley Grove

Sierra National Forest includes the following giant redwoods:

  • 10K Log
  • Below Chute
  • Ben
  • Best
  • Big Ed
  • Broken Top
  • Brooke
  • Bull Buck
  • California
  • Chimney
  • Clothespin
  • Double Burl
  • Double Undercut
  • Fallen
  • Fallen Monarch
  • Forest King
  • Arthur H. Fleming
  • Grandad
  • Grandkids
  • Grandma
  • George Ellery Hale
  • Half
  • Hawksworth
  • Hugger
  • Keeper
  • Kiowa
  • Leaner
  • Lower of Trio
  • Memorial
  • Middle of Trio
  • Robert A. Millikan
  • Mirror
  • Nelder
  • Arthur Amos Noyes
  • Old Forester
  • Outcast
  • Scaffold
  • Section Corner
  • Shadow
  • Sierra Beauty
  • Smokestack
  • Springboard
  • Survivor
  • Teacup
  • Tunnel
  • Twin
  • Amos G. Throop
  • Umbrella Top
  • Undercut
  • Upper of Trio
  • Upside-Down
  • Washout

Visit fs.usda.gov/sierra for seasonal hours and more information.

Drive: The Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest is located at 57003 Road 225 in North Fork, California 165 mi (266 km) southeast of San Francisco near the community of Oakhurst.

Northbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 North, transfer to California State Highway 41 North toward Kettleman City. Drive north 83 mi (134 km) on California State Highway 41 North, past Fresno, and turn right onto County Road 200 (North Fork Road).

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 Madera, transfer to California State Highway 145 East. Drive east 16 mi (26 km) on California State Highway 145 East and turn left onto California State Highway 41 North. Drive north 9 mi (14 km) on California State Highway 41 North and turn right onto County Road 200 (North Fork Road).

Drive north 17 mi (27 km) on County Road 200 (North Fork Road) and veer right onto County Road 225 (Minarets Road). Drive east 65 ft (20 m) on County Road 225 (Minarets Road) and turn left onto Grizzly Road. Drive north 0.3 mi (0.5 km) on Grizzly Road and turn left into the Bass Lake Ranger District parking lot.

Photos: Pictures of Sierra National Forest

Sierra National Forest - Nelder Grove Interpretive Center and Biledo Meadow Cabins Sierra National Forest - The Leaner Tree Sierra National Forest - Nelder Tree Sierra National Forest - Bull Buck Tree Sierra National Forest - Bull Buck Sign