GENERAL GRANT (incorporated within KINGS CANYON) Circular of General Information 1936

GENERAL GRANT
National Park

THE GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL PARK lies on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada at a vertical distance above sea level of about one and a quarter miles. It contains two magnificent groves of Big Trees, including the famous General Grant Tree, dedicated several years ago as the Nation's Christmas Tree. There are fine automobile camp grounds in a forest of sugar pine, ponderosa pine, cedar, and fir, with many miles of trails to scenic points within and near the park. Geographically, the park is due east of Fresno, Calif., a distance of 64 miles by motor road. From Visalia on the southwest, it is 53 miles to the park. Approach from these and other valley towns is over standard paved highways and oiled roads with easy grades after entering the hills.

From various points on Grant Park Ridge, at the eastern boundary of the park, including Panoramic Point, Rocking and Balcony Rocks, the Point of View and Lookout Point, there are sweeping views of the High Sierra to the east and the great San Joaquin Valley and the Coast Range to the west. The panorama from Point of View, the highest point in the park, includes the main crest of the Sierra, and the San Joaquin Valley from Bakersfield to Merced.

The General Grant Tree in the Grant Grove of Big Trees is so huge its size is difficult to visualize. Its greatest horizontal diameter is 40.3 feet at the base, and at 200 feet above the ground its diameter is about 12 feet. This tree is 267 feet high, and is one of the most celebrated trees in the United States. Huge specimens of sugar and ponderosa pine, fir, and cedar are found in this grove, arousing an interest second only to that of the Big Trees themselves. Sugar pines have been found with a base diameter of 11 feet, and there are ponderosa pines, silver firs, and cedars almost as large. A short distance beyond the Grant Grove is the North Grove of Big Trees, where some of the most beautiful sequoias of the park are growing.

The western slopes of the Pacific mountain ranges, enriched with soil accumulated over thousands of years, watered by the deep snows that cloak the peaks in winter, and warmed by mild ocean winds heated as they pass over the lowlands, nourish the most luxuriant forests in the United States. General Grant Park and its big neighbor, Sequoia, are in the heart of an area of remarkable fertility. Not only are there millions of giant trees, but the shrubs and wildflowers attain maximum development.

Kings River Canyon from Grand Park Ridge. High Sierra in distance. Grant Park Studio.

HOW THE SEQUOIAS GOT THEIR NAME

The Big Trees of California were named in tribute to a Cherokee Indian, who spelled his name Se-quo-yah. An uneducated, non-English-speaking Indian, he perfected a phonetic alphabet of 86 symbols with a character representing every sound in the tongue of his tribe. It was said that with this alphabet, sometimes characterized as one of the greatest ever invented, a Cherokee child might learn to read and write his native language in a day, and that within a remarkably short time after the official acceptance of the alphabet by the tribe every one of its members was able to read and write. The change brought about in the Cherokee Tribe by the introduction of this means of expressing thought on paper was remarkable. A printing press was established, type made of the various symbols, and the news of the day printed in two newspapers. Their laws were printed in Sequoyah's alphabet, and also the Gospels and many other books both useful and interesting to the Cherokee people, who thus made rapid advance in general knowledge and in civilization. During his spare time, a park ranger carved a symbolical representation of the "Spirit of Sequoyah" from a slab of sequoia wood. This carving is now on display at the park administration building.

The Big Trees are the supreme attraction of General Grant Park, although the mountain scenery and the fishing are added allurements. The Big Tree, Sequoia gigantea, is sometimes confused with the redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, the smaller species of sequoia found only in the Coast Range of California. While the gigantea approaches 40 feet in base diameter, the sempervirens rarely exceeds 20 feet. The wood is similar in color and texture, but the foliage is distinct, and the bark of the Big Tree is much thicker and of a rich red color instead of a dull brown. The most distinctive characteristic is that the Big Tree is reproduced only from the seed, while the redwood when cut down sprouts from the stump.

TRAILS

The trail system offers the hiker or horseback rider miles of well-graded pathways to many lovely sections of the park. The Sequoia Lake Trail is especially recommended as a half-day hike. The grades are easy and the trail winds through a portion of the park only recently opened up. Points of especial interest are the Sequoia Creek group of Big Trees, and Ella Falls, a water spectacle of great beauty during the spring and early summer when the mountain snows are melting.

At Sequoia Lake the Young Men's Christian Association maintains camps, and fishing, boating, and bathing are permitted under regulations promulgated by the groups owning the area.

Mule deer are seen everywhere in the park.

WILDLIFE

The California mule deer, so-called because of its large ears, black bear, and several species of squirrel are the best-known animals of the park. Deer are everywhere and so tame that many camps have especial pets for which "salt licks" are provided. Bears are found throughout the park, but not in large numbers. Feeding of these animals by visitors is strictly prohibited, and they cause very little trouble to campers. The Columbia gray squirrel is a common sight as it dashes across roads and trails, a blue-gray vision that at times appears to be all tail. The Douglas squirrel, or Sierra chickaree, gray-brown in color, is well known for its scolding habits. Large numbers inhabit the park. The Sierra golden-mantled ground squirrel is often taken for a chipmunk, but it may be distinguished by its golden color and larger size. A few ground squirrels have recently invaded the park. Alpine, Sierra Nevada, and San Bernardino chipmunks are everywhere in the sequoia and pine belt. They become very tame, and are a real menace to an unguarded camp table or other sources of food. Mountain lions, wildcats, mountain beaver, coyotes, foxes, and trade rats are also found.

Stalking game to see how many different animals may be noted is a popular pastime in all national parks.

The blue-fronted or steller jay, western robin, towhee, chickadee, red-shafted flicker, cabanis woodpecker, and several species of sparrows, warblers, and finches are the best-known birds of the park. The golden eagle may sometimes be seen from Park Ridge. The park museum is headquarters for information about the birds and animals.

A special dinner for a golden-mantled ground squirrel.

KINGS RIVER CANYON

At an elevation of 6,600 feet, General Grant Park and places nearby at Hume and Big Meadow are direct points of departure for the Kings River Canyon, Sugarloaf, and Roaring River areas. From the Kings River Canyon main trails lead out as follows: Up Copper Creek and by Granite Basin to Simpson Meadow and down the Middle Fork to Tehipite Valley and the Dome, north from Simpson Meadow to the John Muir Trail, and over Muir Pass via LeConte Canyon to Yosemite; up Paradise Valley to Woods Creek and John Muir Trail over Pinchot Pass to the upper basin of the South Fork of the Kings River; up Bubbs Creek to the intersection with the John Muir Trail, or over Kearsarge Pass to the Owens Valley, or by Center Basin, and Foresters Pass to the Kern Canyon. Kings River Canyon is noted for its wild beauty, and has long been recommended for national park status.

Entering gorge of lower Kings River Canyon. Grant Park photo.

NATURALIST SERVICE

All forms of outdoor activities are encouraged, but special attention is paid to fostering a knowledge of the wildlife and natural beauty which the park was created to preserve. At the Plaza a museum has been started and a ranger naturalist is in charge of the educational program, which includes guided field trips, automobile caravans, and camp-fire entertainments. There are talks on the Big Trees and other natural features, and music and stunts by rangers and visitors.

General Grant Park has a very fine amphitheater, with an artistic stage and a seating capacity of 1,200. Programs are given here two or three times a week. The Western Music Camp, with summer headquarters in the park, gives concerts of classical and modern music in the amphitheater three times weekly during the season.

Azalea blossoms. Grant Park Studio.

CHRISTMAS TREE CEREMONY

At high noon on Christmas Day each year, devotional and patriotic services are held beneath the General Grant Tree, designated several years ago as the Nation's Christmas Tree. These services have been broadcast over Nation-wide hook-ups, and Presidential messages have constituted a part of the program. When the weather is favorable, a large number of visitors attend this unique ceremony.

GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY
(click on image for a PDF version)

PUBLIC CAMP GROUNDS

The camp grounds are located among the pines, firs, and cedars of the plateau and ridges near headquarters. Comfort stations with hot and cold showers are conveniently located, spring water is piped through the camping areas, and an abundance of wood is piled nearby, requiring only a little splitting to be ready for use. Many of the camps are supplied with combination tables and cupboards. New camp grounds are being developed and additional facilities provided each year as funds become available.

The General Grant—the Nation's Christmas Tree. Grant Park Studio.

ADMINISTRATION

The General Grant National Park is administered by the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior. The representative of this bureau in direct charge of the park is Guy Hopping, acting superintendent. Administrative headquarters is at the Plaza, near the center of the park. All-year mail, telephone, and telegraph service is maintained. The post office is General Grant National Park, Calif.

The Fallen Michigan Tree.

PARK SEASON

General Grant Park is open all year, with Federal and State authorities cooperating to clear the roads in winter. It is seldom that travel is interrupted more than a day or two. Camp grounds, of course, are not open during the winter season, but informal accommodations are available. All forms of winter sports, except skating, are enjoyed, and snowshoes, skis, and toboggans may be rented at reasonable prices.

"Singing Waters" Sequoia Creek. Grant Park Studio.