Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest. The Giant Sequoia National Monument is located in the national forest. Other notable features include glacier-carved landscapes and impressive granite monoliths. The Needles are a series of granite spires atop a narrow ridge above the Kern River. Forest headquarters are located in Porterville, California. There are local ranger district offices in Dunlap, Kernville, Lake Isabella, and Springville. Geography The Sequoia National Forest covers , and ranges in elevation from in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to over . Its giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) groves are part of its of old growth forests. Other tree species include: Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) Red fir (Abies magnifica) Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) White fir (Abies concolor) Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) The National Forest contains over of road and of trails, and hosts a number of camping and recreational facilities. The forest is adjacent to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Wilderness areas There are six wilderness areas within Sequoia NF that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Some of these extend into neighboring National Forests, as indicated. Two of them also extend into land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Domeland Wilderness (partly BLM) Golden Trout Wilderness (mostly in Inyo NF) Jennie Lakes Wilderness Kiavah Wilderness (mostly BLM) Monarch Wilderness (partly in Sierra NF) South Sierra Wilderness (mostly in Inyo NF) Giant Sequoia National Monument On April 15, 2000, President Bill Clinton proclaimed of the Sequoia National Forest as the Giant Sequoia National Monument by Presidential Proclamation 7295, published in the Federal Register, Tuesday, April 25, 2000, Vol. 65, No. 80. The monument is in two sections. The northern section surrounds General Grant Grove and other parts of Kings Canyon National Park and is administered by the Hume Lake Ranger District. The southern section is directly south of Sequoia National Park and is administered by the Western Divide Ranger District, surrounding the eastern half of the Tule River Indian Reservation. The Needles The Needles are a series of granite spires atop a narrow ridge above the Kern River.() History Sequoia National Forest was established on July 1, 1908, from a portion of Sierra Forest Reserve. On March 2, 1909, Theodore Roosevelt added land by Presidential Proclamation. On July 1, 1910 was removed from the forest to create the Kern National Forest. This land was returned to Sequoia National Forest on July 1, 1915. Fire impact The Castle Fire in 2020 burned in the forest, with of giant sequoia groves burned The fire swept through portions of the Dillonwood, Mountain Home, Alder Creek, Freeman Creek, McIntyre, and Wheel Meadow, Belknap, Burro Creek, Silver Creek, Middle Tule, Upper Tule, and Wishon Groves. The fire burned at high intensity in of sequoia groves: high-intensity fire kills more