California’s Natural Wonders: Exploring Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Arnold with Kids

Two groves of massive sequoia trees—the largest trees by volume—in Calaveras Big Trees State Park are the closest groves of giant sequoia trees (sequoiadendron giganteum) to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Drive east about three hours to immerse yourself in endless redwood tree groves in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains, the only place where these gigantic trees grow. Established in 1931, this park has two sequoia groves and seven maintained hiking trails to traverse with your kids. This is one of my favorite California state parks because the trails are accessible and kid friendly, and the trees are gorgeous.

One summer when I was staying in Murphys with my family of four, we decided to take the short 20-minute drive up the mountains to Arnold to go hiking in the state park.

We loved our visit and highly recommend you bring your family to see these magnificent trees. Here are some tips to make the most of your trip:

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located on the stolen and occupied lands of the Central Sierra Miwok.

Before you go

From the East Bay Area, drive Highway 4 east towards the mountains. Route takes about three hours depending on traffic.
Parking costs $10 per car to enter the state park. The parking lot is small and fills up fast. Plan to arrive early.
Check the schedule for ranger talks, puppet shows, activity stations, and junior ranger activities. Plan your visit around arriving in time to participate.

What we packed

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

BASE COST

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Parking: $10/car

Add-Ons

Books or items from the gift store at the Visitor’s Center

Top 5 Things to do at Calaveras Big Trees State Park with your Kids

1. Climb the Discovery Tree

~15 minutes

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.

2. Check out the Visitor's Center & Museum

~30 minutes

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.

3. Join a Junior Ranger Program

~1 hour

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.

4. Go for a Hike

Great for moving those little feet
~1 hour

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.

5. 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.

How do you talk to your kids about this history of our state parks? Share in the comments below.

This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Calaveras County in California with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:

Take your family to Columbia State Historic Park in Columbia, California

How to Spend a Weekend in Murphys with your Kids

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Angel

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Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.