The State Parks With Trees Older Than The Country

The United States has an estimated 9,900 state parks. Only a few hold trees older than the country itself. On the California coast, redwoods were already ancient when the Declaration was signed. In the hills of Vermont, hemlocks took root generations before the Revolution. These five parks protect old-growth forests that predate empires, wars, and the founding of the country. They hold stands of redwood, sequoia, and hemlock that were here long before there was a nation to call them American.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Nestled on the border with Oregon and California is a coastal state park with some of the oldest redwoods in the country. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is home to 7% of the world's last remaining old-growth redwoods. The park is fun to explore with its 10,000 acres of primeval redwood groves and 20 miles (32 km) of trails winding through redwoods towering at 300 to 350 feet (90 to 106 m). The trees pre-date European settlement and the founding of the US and hopefully will stay that way the extensive preservation efforts from the state park officials. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and can even be camped in if you reserve ahead of time.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Just south of the San Francisco Bay lies another state park with some of the oldest old-growth redwoods in the country: Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Established in 1902, this is one of California's oldest state parks with over 18,000 acres (72 sq. km) of 1,800-year-old redwoods that creep into the Santa Cruz Mountains. In August 2020, lightning struck and sparked a cascade of flames that swept through the area, nearly wiping out these gentle giants. A month later, firefighters contained the fire, and surprisingly, some of the heartiest giants remained, though now with a few charcoal battle scars. You can visit Big Basin year-round, with peak season around late spring through early fall when the forest is the warmest and driest.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

In the heart of California, not far from Lake Tahoe, there's a different breed of ancient trees: sequoias. Established in 1931, Calaveras Big Trees State Park has over 6,000 acres (24 sq. km) full of sequoias whose lifespans reach up to 2,000 years. This state park is one of the most accessible ways to see these 300-foot (91 m) trees, with numerous trails like the 1.6-mile (2.5 km) North Grove Loop or the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) South Grove Loop, which both give you incredible views of the sequoias. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is open year-round with opportunities to camp under the trees at the North Grove Campground.

Gifford Woods State Park

The West Coast isn't the only place where you can find trees older than the nation. Vermont has one of the last remaining hardwood old-growth forests in the northeastern United States. Established in 1931, Gifford Woods State Park is easy to wander into from the Appalachian Trail. It has 300-400-year-old Eastern hemlocks and hardwoods that predate the American Revolution and are definitely worth a stroll through. The Old Growth Interpretive Trail is one of the best for getting your eyes on the hardwoods. Fortunately, the state park is open year-round and is most popular in mid-September to mid-October for its vibrant fall foliage.

Cook Forest State Park

In the northwest corner of Pennsylvania are 300-year-old trees that have stood the test of time. Established in 1928, Cook Forest State Park spans 8,500 acres (34 sq. km) and is filled with protected white pines and hemlocks in the Forest Cathedral. The nearly 150-foot (45 m) tall trees can be found lingering along the Longfellow Trail, where you can truly enjoy these towering old-growth trees. Peak season is in mid-April through mid-October when you can camp, hike, and tube along the 13-mile (20 km) tree-lined Clarion River. In the later months, the hemlocks turn golden yellow, making the fall a great time to spot these ancient trees.

Get Lost in The Old Growth

Not many things in the US are older than the country itself, but these trees are the perfect examples. The West Coast redwoods were growing before the Roman Empire existed and still tower over the forest floor like gentle giants. Wandering through Jedediah Smith or Big Basin Redwoods State Parks truly feels like a walk through time, with the smell, texture, and ambiance of the ancient redwoods all around. While on the East Coast, the much younger white pines and hemlocks in Cook Forest and Gifford Woods State Parks feel much more like an intentional act of preservation. These trees were at risk of deforestation in the early part of the 20th century, but they were preserved along the way for future generations to enjoy. All five forests are worth a visit to get lost in these ancient trees trapped in time.