Hiking the Big Stump Loop in Kings Canyon National Park

Looking for more great day hikes in Kings Canyon National Park?
Visit my Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Hiking Guide for more incredible trails,
including the General Grant Grove, Buena Vista,and Panoramic Point.
For a great home base, camp nearby at Azalea Campground.

CURRENT INFO

For information about Kings Canyon National Park, visit the National Park Service website. Find reviews and maps on the AllTrails website. Good maps and trail info are also available in the book Hike the Parks: Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks by Scott Turner.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Since the Big Stump Loop is located within Kings Canyon National Park, you must present an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) or pay the $35 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) when you enter the park. You can also purchase an annual pass at the park entrance. Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free pass — fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
• There is a parking lot next to the trailhead, as well as an accessible restroom and picnic area.
• Pets are not allowed on the trails.
• Big Stump is a popular trail and can get crowded, although it doesn’t see as many visitors as the nearby General Grant Grove. Go early or later in the day, ideally on a weekday, to avoid crowds.
• A few miles away in Grant Grove Village is a visitor center with rangers available to answer questions, a gift shop, camp store, post office, restaurant, and more.
• Big Stump is also used as an official snowplay area in winter.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Big Stump Loop is known for (drumroll, please)… big stumps! Most notably, the remains of the Mark Twain Tree offer the chance to climb on top of one of these monstrous stumps, providing a wholly different way to appreciate the scale of these giant sequoias. Informational signs are posted along the trail. One tells the fascinating story of the Mark Twain Tree, which was felled, cut into sections, and then shipped to New York and London to show off the wonders of the West. Despite the evidence, many who saw the tree believed it was merely a hoax. These days, you can visit the sequoias in person and decide for yourself.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The Big Stump Loop is a short, kid-friendly hike. Now, my five-year-old was not into it at first (this was not how he planned to spend his day!), but once we discovered the big stumps… well, what kid could resist? Aside from the famed Mark Twain Tree, there are numerous other big stumps to climb and enjoy. Plus, it’s a short hike with a clean, modern restroom at the trailhead and a beautiful picnic area.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There is no shortage of things to see and do in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks! The Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon is an excellent home base, with large, beautiful campgrounds (we stayed at Azalea Campground), a lodge, and many other amenities, including a visitor center, camp store, and restaurant at Grant Grove Village. Looking for another short hike in the area? Check out the incredible General Grant Grove or head to Buena Vista for incredible views into the Sierras.

It was our first full day in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. After easing into it with a leisurely breakfast at Azalea Campground, we headed to the visitor center at Grant Grove Village. I had a few ideas for the day, but was eager to chat with the rangers to hear their suggestions. We got some tips, checked out the gift shop, and picked up Junior Ranger activity booklets for the kids, then drove a few miles down the road for our first mini-hike of the day: Big Stump.

The parking area at Big Stump was newly refinished, with a big, beautiful restroom and picnic tables to boot. Even if you don’t have time to hike, it’s a convenient stop for a snack break. We were saving our snacks for after the hike, so headed down the trail into the woods. At first I had to coax five-year-old T to follow along, but then…

This stump was amazing! I think T could have spent half a day here. But this was not the only big stump along the trail, no indeed! Soon, the trail split, creating a small loop around the appropriately named Big Stump Grove. We kept to the right because up ahead lay something special — the monumental remains of another felled sequoia. Known as the Shattered Tree, the trail took us across the length of this fallen giant.

J decided to take a trail break at this point to work on his Junior Ranger activity badge. A more recently fallen tree provided a convenient bench.

T, meanwhile, forged eagerly ahead. This trail was more interesting than he had anticipated! In early summer, lush green ferns lined the path as we made our way through the forest. Soon, we were sure to find it, the most famous of all the big stumps…

… the Mark Twain Tree! Many huge sequoias were named for famous figures of the day, and many are still standing. Sadly, Mark Twain’s tree did not escape the axe. In 1891, two lumbermen worked for 13 days to fell the giant, and sections were sent to New York and London for display. As I mentioned above, some city folk found it hard to believe their eyes, and thought the exhibit must be a practical joke. Others were encouraged to work to protect these incredible trees. Today, the Mark Twain Tree (now the Mark Twain Stump) offers an engaging way to experience the vast scale of a giant sequoia up close and personal.

Not far past the Mark Twain Tree, the trail crosses the road within sight of the park entrance. (By the way, does anyone else feel the urge to start saying, “Mawk Twain Twee”? Just me?) This second half of the loop is rougher than the first, so those looking for the easiest option may prefer to turn around after the Mark Twain Tree and return the way they came.

As for us, we continued on the loop. A short, but somewhat steep, side trail led to another interesting remnant of the past, and provided further insight into the difficulty loggers faced here in the 1800s. Remember how it took two men 13 days to fell the Mark Twain Twee? Whoops — I mean, “Tree”! In the case of this sequoia, known simply as the Sawed Tree, the loggers gave up long before reaching their goal.

In fact, sequoias were notoriously difficult trees to log. Not only that, but the wood shattered easily when felled (hence the “Shattered Tree” we crossed earlier), and didn’t provide quality lumber. As luck would have it, this is a big reason why so many sequoias were spared. It also likely contributed to Sequoia National Park’s establishment in 1890 , making it our country’s second national park. In contrast, Redwoods National Park was founded in 1968, and only after intense debate with local logging companies. Today, the biggest threat facing the giant sequoias is climate change, together with the increasingly intense forest fires it brings.

Back on the main trail, we followed the hilly path as it meandered back toward the parking lot. Rocks and roots are prevalent on this section of the trail, so watch your feet. Eventually, we came to the road again, where a tunnel created a safe underpass.

The parking lot lay just beyond the tunnel. The kids were eager to return to the campsite for lunch, but I convinced them to stop by the sparkling clean restroom first. On the way back to the campground, we marveled at the enormity of the trees we had seen. No doubt about it, our time in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks was off to an impressive start.