The following is a list of Giant Sequoia groves. All groves are located in moist, unglaciated ridges and valleys of the west slope of the Sierra Nevada range in California, USA. They occur between 1370-2000 m (4500-6500 ft) altitude in the northern half of the range, and 1700-2250 m (5500-7500 ft) in the south. Groves in the northern half of the range (north of the Kings River) are widely scattered and mostly small, while those south of the Kings River are more numerous. The total area of all the groves combined is approximately 14,416 ha (35,607 acres). The groves are listed from north to south in the list below.
This list is based on four different sources, with slightly varying views on what constitutes a discrete grove; the differing interpretations are noted in italics. The lists of groves were compiled by Rundel (1972; recognizing 75 groves), Flint (1987; recognizing 65 groves), Willard (1994; recognizing 65 groves), and the Giant Sequoia National Monument Visitor's Guide (2003). Currently, the U.S.National Park Service cites Rundel's total of 75 groves in its visitor publications. The updated lists from Willard and Flint are now known to be more accurate, therefore some of Rundel's 75 grove's have been removed from this list. Below compiles a list of 68 sequoia groves.1
Converse Basin Grove (GSNM). Once the second-largest grove, but much logged around 1890-1900; good regrowth of young trees. Home of the 'Boole' tree, the sixth largest tree by volume. Also home of the 'Chicago Stump', left over from a tree cut for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. 36°48′N118°58′W / 36.8, -118.967 1800-2000 m.
Abbott Creek Grove (GSNM). 36°46′N118°58′W / 36.767, -118.967 1900 m. Listed by Rundel and Flint; very small (largely logged); too few trees to qualify as a grove according to Willard.
Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. Includes half of the ten largest trees by volume, including the largest, 'General Sherman', and 8,400 others 30 cm (one foot) or more diameter at their base.
Redwood Meadow Grove.
Castle Creek Grove.
Atwell Mill Grove. The highest elevation Giant Sequoias are in this grove, this grove contains three trees that are among the thirty largest giant sequoias in the world.
Oriole Grove.
New Oriole Grove.
Eden Creek Grove.
Horse Creek Grove.
Cahoon Creek Grove.
Case Mountain Grove. Mostly in private ownership.
Coffeepot Canyon Grove.
Surprise Grove.
Homers Nose Grove.
Board Camp Grove.
South Fork Grove.
Garfield Grove. Home of 'King Arthur', ninth largest by volume. Now includes Dillonwood Grove.
Upper Tule Grove (GSNM). Included on Forest Service GSNM map.
Maggie Mountain Grove (GSNM).
Silver Creek Grove (GSNM).
Mountain Home Grove (CSF / GSNM). Home of the 'Genesis' tree, seventh largest by volume, this grove also contains the smaller Middle Tule Grove
Burro Creek Grove (GSNM).
Wishon Grove (GSNM). South of Silver Creek Grove. Included on Forest Service GSNM map.
Alder Creek Grove (GSNM / private); also known as Hossack, Pixley, or Ross Creek Grove. Home of 'Alonzo Stagg', the fifth largest tree by volume. Also home to the Waterfall tree, which has the largest circumference and diameter at ground level of any sequoia.
Rundel, P. W. (1972). An annotated checklist of the groves of Sequoiadendron giganteum in the Sierra Nevada, California. Madroño 21: 319-328.
Willard, D. (1994). The natural Giant Sequoia groves of the Sierra Nevada, California - an updated annotated list. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-151: 159-164.
Giant Sequoia National Monument Visitor's Guide. (2003).