Calaveras Big Trees State Park: A Guide to Visiting the Giant Sequoia Preserve in Sierra Nevada

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Fishing

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Photo by totalescape.com from Flickr

You can enjoy fishing at both the South and North Groves of Calaveras Big Trees State Park. In the South Grove, come early and drop to the Stanislaus River at the bottom of the canyon to try your luck there. 

From the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek—another fishing spot— is an additional four or five miles on the same road. To reach the creek, start from the Beaver Creek Picnic Area parking lot and hike down the well-marked trail to the creek. Beaver Creek is loaded with small natives and some planted rainbow trout. When fishing the earliest hours of the day or the dark hours near sunset, try a small worm to catch an easy five-fish limit in a short amount of time.

You can also target rainbow trout in the incredibly scenic reservoir of White Pines Lake, located 1 mile from Arnold. Situated at the edge of White Pines across from the Moose Lodge, White Pines is the most diverse fishery in the Arnold region. The small, tule-lined reservoir offers a surprising assortment of rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and even a few brown trout.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Visitor Center

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Photo by birdgal5 from Flickr

Stop by at the Calaveras Big Trees Visitor Center and get information about the park as well as the place to purchase unique items related to Calaveras Big Trees.  The knowledgeable staff of park personnel and volunteers are ready to answer your questions about the park, including camping, hiking, biking, fishing, weather conditions, road conditions, programs, and special events.

Inside the visitor center, there’s a bookstore offering a large selection of books, t-shirts, puzzles, and more. The visitor center also has a wonderful museum for your enjoyment. The museum has large and small mammals on display as well as hands on items for your viewing and educational experience.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Camping

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Photo by dcnelson1898 from Flickr

Camp at one Calaveras Big Trees State Park campground of the four campgrounds at the park: North Grove, Oak Hollow, Environmental Sites, or Group Camp. The North Grove Campground is near the park entrance and within walking distance of the North Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Visitor Center, and Campfire Center. Sites 1–74 encircle the North Grove meadow, along with restrooms, coin showers, and running water.

The Oak Hollow Campground is located 4 miles from the park entrance off of the main park road. Sites 75–129 are set in a pine and oak forest, with running water, restrooms, and coin showers.

Environmental Campsites are walk–in sites away from the main campgrounds. Three sites are located about 1.5 miles from the park entrance, and the other two are 9 miles from the park entrance, near Beaver Creek. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, portable toilet, and a food storage locker. There is no running water at these sites.

Two Group Campgrounds located across Highway 4 from the main part of the park can sleep large groups of 40 and 60 people. There are restrooms, coin showers, and running water at both sites.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Lodging

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Photo by Lisa from Flickr

There are four Calaveras Big Trees State Park cabins available for rent. They are rustic semi-furnished two-bedroom mountain homes, one-bathroom in a park setting with running water, electricity, and wood floors.

The Sugar Pine cabin sleeps 8, it features 2 bedrooms plus one, living room, kitchen, the mudroom has extra living room seating and dishes, a dining nook, and a detached guest room with a full-size pillow-top futon. The kitchen counter is 38” H. Window blinds.

The Ponderosa cabin sleeps 6, it features 2 bedrooms plus one, living room, kitchen, mudroom and has ADA access, a side-by-side refrigerator, inside picnic table, wildlife photos, a stone hearth, and full sun.

The Black Oak cabin sleeps 6, it features 2 bedrooms plus one, living room, kitchen, mudroom and has a dining nook, has Autumn décor, art photos, room-darkening shades, and a peaceful setting.

The Incense Cedar cabin sleeps 6, it features 2 bedrooms plus one, living room, kitchen, mudroom and horse-shoes pit, and a North end location.