California’s Natural Wonders: Exploring Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Arnold with Kids
The town of Sintra is located just thirty minutes from Lisbon, but feels like you’re transported to a time of castles, kings, ornate stone buildings, and exquisite gardens. Due to its proximity to Lisbon, most travelers take a day trip to Sintra by train and try to see as many castles as possible.
Since we planned to visit Sintra with two kids under five years of age on our two-week trip to Portugal, I knew my kids would not be able to see multiple castles, walk for multiple hours, and then quietly take a train ride back to Lisbon. Nope.
Instead, we decided to spend two nights and two days in the historic district. Here were our favorite kid-friendly things to do in the area:
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Jump To...
- See the Discovery Tree
- Check out the Visitor’s Center
- Join a Junior Ranger Program
- Go for a hike
- Bring a picnic
Quick Tips
Before You go
- From the East Bay Area, drive Highway 4 east towards the mountains. Route takes about three hours depending on traffic.
- Check the schedule for ranger talks, puppet shows, activity stations, and junior ranger activities. Plan your visit around arriving in time to participate.
- Parking costs $10 per car to enter the state park. The parking lot is small and fills up fast. Plan to arrive early.
What To Pack
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Hiking shoes, clothes, sunscreen, and hats
- Baby carrier
- Cooler with snacks and water
- Pack layers—depending on the time of year, Arnold can be warm during the day but cooler in the mornings and evenings
Getting There
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Top 5 Things to do
Climb the Discovery Tree
Although the Miwok had been in this area since time immemorial, a man named Dowd “discovered” a giant tree in 1852 that became the first sequoia to be cut for logging in this area.
The tree was so big that it took five men 22 days to cut it down.
Take the staircase to the top of the Discovery Tree’s stump and show your kiddos the tree rings. Tell the tree’s history, give it thanks and a pat, then take some fun pictures.
Check out the Visitor’s Center & Museum
Located right next to the parking lot, the visitor’s center is a great place to ask a ranger for park information or grab a map or a sticker at the souvenir shop.
Keep your kids outside if you’re not prepared for them to walk straight across the visitor center to the wall of stuffies and kid’s books.
If you have time, wander through the small museum to learn more about the animals, trees, and history of the park.
Join a Junior Ranger Program
In the summer, the Junior Ranger (kids ages 7-12) and Junior Cub (kids ages 3-6) programs offer fun and educational activities for kids at different times during the week.
We were lucky to arrive just in time to join a Junior Cubs activity. The park ranger led the cubs in songs, on a short hike with educational stops, and in a book reading.
They ended with a coloring activity and the kids even got a button badge stating their participation in the Calaveras Big Trees Junior Ranger Program.
Go for a Hike
Great for moving those little feet
Take the relatively flat 1.5-mile North Grove Loop trail to see the sequoias up close, including the Discovery Tree.
Make sure you grab a copy of the park map with information about the self-guided stops along the trail. The guide provides history and story behind the trees with numbered signs and adds context to the trip.
Allow yourself an hour to do the loop and let your kids climb tree stumps and take their time to explore.
Bring a Picnic
There are designated picnic areas along the North Grove Loop trail (see above).
Enjoy eating on a park bench with your family or snacking under the canopy of the redwoods.
Our kids appreciated a snack break mid-hike to refuel, and my toddler enjoyed a nursing break in the middle of the sequoia grove.
There is something amazing about being in a grove of old trees; I feel like I’m walking through history.
I enjoy talking with my children about the land our Indigenous family is from in Oregon, about how different it is from places we’ve traveled to, and how special.
I saw many other families of color on the trails and in the Junior Cubs program as well, and hope they were also able to talk to their kids about the history of this area, the trees, and the people.
Final Thoughts
There are designated picnic areas along the North Grove Loop trail (see above).
Enjoy eating on a park bench with your family or snacking under the canopy of the redwoods.
Our kids appreciated a snack break mid-hike to refuel, and my toddler enjoyed a nursing break in the middle of the sequoia grove.
There is something amazing about being in a grove of old trees; I feel like I’m walking through history.
I enjoy talking with my children about the land our Indigenous family is from in Oregon, about how different it is from places we’ve traveled to, and how special.
I saw many other families of color on the trails and in the Junior Cubs program as well, and hope they were also able to talk to their kids about the history of this area, the trees, and the people. How do you talk to your kids about this history of our state parks? Share in the comments below.
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