While the coast redwood of Northern California and Oregon is the tallest living thing on earth, the record for the largest overall tree (in terms of volume) goes to the giant sequoia (scientifically known as the Sequoiadendron giganteum), found naturally in the Sierra Nevada in Tulare County.
Reaching up to 279 feet in height and measuring up to 26 feet in diameter, these trees are massive, and with a lifespan of up to 3,000 years, are also some of the most long-lived plants in nature.
If your California travels bring you to Los Angeles, San Diego or Palm Springs as opposed to points further north, you can get a look at sequoias in a natural environment at the Oak Glen Preserve near Yucaipa (about a half hour north of the I-10 between San Bernardino and Palm Springs).
Planted by Isaac Ford, an early farmer in this apple-growing community and one of the founders of the nearby city of Redlands, the trees aren’t nearly at their full height, but still make for a memorable moment in nature.
Only a few hundred yards from the trailhead near the Los Rios Rancho shops, the trail through the grove is well-maintained and accessible for even the elderly, small children or the handicapped.
Most frequently visited in fall, the preserve and surrounding community is a great destination year-round, from the occasional snowfalls of winter to the modest escape from lowland heat during the peak of summer.
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