Washington Tree Trail

Washington Tree Trail is a 1.04-mile point-to-point walk, one way, through Giant Forest from its Alta Trail junction to the Giant Forest Loop and Huckleberry junction. It passes the Booker T. Washington Tree, rises gently beneath the sequoias, then descends toward the southern junction. Allow about 45 minutes for this segment. Walking back the same way makes it about 2.08 miles round trip; you can also continue on connecting trails for a longer outing.

The tread is dirt singletrack. It climbs gently at first, levels after roughly a third of a mile, and stays shaded under the grove. Branches lead left toward Bears Bathtub around the 0.4-mile point and Circle Meadow Loop around 0.7 mile. Stay on the main path if you want the full Washington Tree connector; after Circle Meadow, it descends to the Giant Forest Loop and Huckleberry trails.

The Booker T. Washington Tree was named for the educator at the recommendation of Captain Charles Young, who served as Sequoia's superintendent in 1903. It was once the forest's second-largest sequoia. A lightning-caused fire damaged its crown in 2003, and a winter storm in 2005 broke away much more of it. Look up from near the base to take in the trunk and remaining crown; a little distance gives the tree more scale.

This is a trail-network connector, not a loop. No dedicated parking is documented at its Alta Trail start, so plan a return on the same path or connect to another Giant Forest route. For the tree alone, use the separate Moro Rock Trail approach from Crescent Meadow/Moro Rock Road. The nearest documented restrooms are at Giant Forest Museum, off-route. Pets are not allowed on park trails.