Boole Tree Trail

Boole Tree Trail is a moderate 2.25-mile loop in Converse Basin, within Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, outside Kings Canyon National Park. It begins with a steady climb through mixed pine forest, reaches a T-junction, then descends to the Boole Tree before returning by the other leg. Plan about two hours. Published loop figures range from 2.25 to 2.5 miles, so allow a little extra room. The tree and views toward the Kings River gorge and high Sierra are the payoff for a sustained uphill start.

The trail starts at the end of Forest Route 13S55, also called Boole Tree Road. From Highway 180, follow the forest road to the trailhead parking area. The unpaved access road is rough; the Forest Service recommends high clearance and four-wheel drive and does not recommend low-clearance vehicles. Check road conditions before setting out. Parking and a vault toilet are at the trailhead, but there is no potable water. Dogs are allowed on leashes up to six feet.

The route climbs through lodgepole, western white, Jeffrey and sugar pines before the loop's final descent toward the tree. The forest opens to views of the Kings River gorge and high Sierra Nevada. Hikers describe some narrow single-track with uneven footing and brush, so plan for a real trail underfoot. The Forest Service rates the hike moderate; the climb is concentrated early, with the return leg mostly downhill.

Converse Basin was heavily logged from 1892 to 1918. The grove's remaining large sequoias are a small fraction of what once stood here, and the Boole Tree is thought to have been spared because of its size. Around 1895, it was named for Franklin A. Boole, a supervisor in the logging operation. The Forest Service's descriptions differ on its exact rank among the world's largest sequoias, so the useful fact is its scale: this is one of the great survivors of the grove. For a photo, keep some of the surrounding forest beside the trunk to show its size.

Stump Meadow is a separate roadside stop along the approach, not part of the walking loop. Its old logging stumps sit among younger sequoias, and the tree rings have helped researchers study past weather, fires and droughts.