National Parks in the United States are known for their stunning vistas, incredible geological formations, and fascinating history. But did you know that many of these parks are also home to some pretty incredible trees?
From trees that are some of the largest living things on earth to others that have stood for thousands of years, these trees tell stories of strength, perseverance, and history.
Take a tour with us through 10 national parks with some unbelievable trees.
Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park is perhaps the most well-known tree-named park for the towering giants that call this part of the country home. The coastal redwoods that call this park home are the tallest trees in the world, topping out at over 380 feet!
Walk through this incredible park and look at the canopies above, which are so massive that they support their own ecosystem.
Sequoia National Park
While coastal redwoods may take the cake with their height, sequoia trees at Sequoia National Park win the crown with their volume. These inland relatives of the redwood are shorter than their coastal cousins but far stockier, with some sporting trunks that are nearly 30 feet wide!
Check out the General Sherman tree, the largest living tree in the world!
Joshua Tree National Park
The inclusion of Joshua Tree National Park is debatable, as the joshua tree, despite its name, is not actually a tree but a member of the agave family! Technicalities aside, this park is still a must-visit to take a look at these Dr. Suess-like trees or plants or whatever you want to call them.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park encompasses high glaciated peaks, rugged coastlines, and, best of all, mossy forests filled with massive conifers. The aptly named Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rainforest on the park’s west side is like stepping into another world with massive, old-growth Sitka spruce, red cedar, and Douglas firs towering overhead. On top of these massive trees are thick layers of moss that turn this area into an otherworldly destination.
Great Basin National Park
Located in a remote section of eastern Nevada Great Basin National Park doesn’t see many visitors despite being home to a 13,000+ foot tall mountain and some of the world’s oldest living trees! The park was home to the infamous Prometheus bristle cone pine tree, which, upon being cut down in 1964, was found to be 4,900 years old. That was the oldest tree ever recorded in the world at the time!
Yosemite National Park
Did you know that Yosemite National Park is home to groves of sequoia trees that rival those found in their namesake park to the south? Here, you can walk through the groves of these massive trees and take in the beauty, all while enjoying all the other natural wonders Yosemite has to offer.
Mariposa Grove is located on the south side of the park and is one of the best spots to spot giant sequoias.
Fort Monroe National Monument
Fort Monroe National Monument is home to the Algenourne Oak, a southern live oak tree that is estimated to be over 500 years old and has stood watch over some of the most consequential moments in this country’s rich history. Through all those years and battles fought, the tree continues to stand witness to who we are and strive to become.
Petrified Forest National Park
If living trees aren’t quite your thing then you’re in luck with the Petrified Forest National Park. This high desert park is home to countless specimens of petrified logs from over 200 million years ago. These ancient trees were buried in volcanic ash, and their organic matter was slowly replaced by quartz. The resulting fossils resemble the shape and look of tree trunks from the outside, but the inside is a colorful array of crystals.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the Bristlecone Pine Loop, an easy one-mile loop that takes you past bristlecone pine trees up to 1800 years old! These ancient twisted trees have a unique survival feature: Each part of the tree is served by only the roots directly under it, so if one set of roots dies, the remainder of the tree continues to live. Some of these ancient trees may only have a thin section of the tree still living, with the rest long since passed.
Conagree National Park
Conagree National Park, located in central South Carolina, is home to the largest intact bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. Like the Great Basin National Park earlier, this park is one of the least visited in the country despite it being home to some of the tallest trees in the eastern United States. The bald cypress trees that call this park home can have circumferences in excess of 27 feet!
