Big Trees? We have them . . . .
I often get asked here at the Elk Meadow Cabins-Where are the big trees? Well, there are big trees in forests everywhere in the world. We just happen to have the tallest. Where are they? There are several ‘go to’ references I use for our Redwood Adventures tours in Redwood National Park and Redwood State Parks. The best web site for the true ‘Redwood Fanatics’ is Landmark Trees. This is the best, created by Michael Taylor, one of the people on the cutting edge of Redwood science.
The thing I tell people on our tours of the redwoods is, the tallest individual is nothing with out the other trees and plants around it. “It takes a village’ to raise the tallest tree in the world. So for most people, ‘one of the tallest trees in the world’ is amazing enough, but if you would like to know more about the tallest trees and their ’score’ check out Landmark Trees.
Here is a quick list from Zach’s Adventure Blog:
“BONUS BIG TREES: TOP 10 MOST IMPRESSIVE TREES IN THE UNITED STATES
National champion trees are measured by three different metrics in American Forests’ 2012 National Register of Big Trees — height, circumference and average crown spread — which combined give a tree its total score. Listed below are top 10 trees based on total score, most of which are located in the Redwood National and State Park system, just south of Southern Oregon. Another interesting tidbit, as you’ll see below, is that nine of 10 trees listed below are located on the West Coast. Not really a shock, but worth considering.
TOP 10 BIGGEST1. Giant sequoia — 1321 total points, California (Sequoia NP)
2. Coast redwood — 1290 total points, California (Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP)
3. Coast redwood — 1223 total points, California (Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP)
4. Coast redwood — 1216 total points, California (Redwood National Park)
5. Coast redwood — 1191 total points, California (Prairie Creek Redwoods SP)
6. Western red cedar — 931 total points, Washington (Olympic NP)
7. Sitka spruce — 883 total points, Washington (Olympic NP)
8. Coast douglas-fir — 804 total points, Washington (Olympic NF)
9. Port-orford-cedar — 773 total points, Oregon (Coos County)
10. Common bald cypress — 762 total points, Louisiana (Cat Island)