Big Stump
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The trailhead sits at roughly 6,500 feet. If you drove up from the Central Valley this morning, give yourself 10-15 minutes to acclimate before moving at pace, especially with young children or anyone with cardiovascular sensitivities.
Trail Details
- 1
Arrive before 9 a.m. on summer weekends — the picnic area parking lot fills surprisingly fast and the dappled morning light through the stumps is genuinely photogenic before midday glare flattens everything.
- 2
Step inside one of the hollow stumps along the approach before you reach the Mark Twain — calibrating your sense of scale there makes the final reveal land much harder.
- 3
In winter the picnic area converts to a snowplay and snowshoe zone and this trail becomes one of the most accessible winter walks in the park — bring your own snowshoes since rentals require a trip back down to Grant Grove Village.
Photos
NPS
