The Nation’s Christmas Tree Is a 268-Foot Sequoia in California. Here’s How to See It in Winter

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The Nation’s Christmas Tree is not cut, decorated, or hauled into a city square. It is a living giant sequoia called the General Grant Tree, standing about 268 feet tall in Kings Canyon National Park in California’s southern Sierra Nevada. President Calvin Coolidge designated it the Nation’s Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926, and every December since, people have gathered at its base for a holiday ceremony.

Here is how to see it in winter. Drive Highway 180 east from Fresno, about an hour and a half, to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park, then continue a few miles to Grant Grove. Carry tire chains, since chains are often required on park roads in winter, and check road conditions before you leave. Park at the General Grant Tree lot and walk the short paved loop, about a third of a mile, to the tree. In snow, the path may be plowed or packed down, and the giant sequoias look even bigger against a white forest floor. If you want the full tradition, join the Trek to the Tree, held on the second Sunday of December, which falls on December 13 in 2026.

The tree’s base is about 40 feet across, making it one of the widest trees on Earth. It is the largest sequoia in Kings Canyon and among the largest trees in the world by volume. Seeing it in snow is one of the most memorable winter experiences in California.

Here’s How to See It in Winter

Grant Grove sits at about 6,500 feet elevation, high enough that snow is common from late fall through early spring. The General Grant Tree is open year-round, but winter visits require planning.

• Road: Highway 180 from Fresno is the main winter route to Grant Grove. It is generally kept open, though storms can close it temporarily.
• Chains: carry tire chains or have a vehicle with four-wheel drive and snow tires. Chain controls are common on park roads during and after storms. Rental car agreements often restrict chain use, so check before you go.
• Parking: the General Grant Tree parking lot is a short drive from Grant Grove Village. It may be partially plowed after storms.
• Trail: the General Grant Tree Trail is a paved loop of about a third of a mile. In winter, it may be snow-covered or icy. Traction devices for your boots help.
• Facilities: Grant Grove Village, nearby, has the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, a market, and a restaurant, with winter hours.

The Generals Highway, which connects Kings Canyon to Sequoia National Park and the General Sherman Tree, may close or require chains in winter. Highway 180 beyond Grant Grove, toward Hume Lake and Cedar Grove, closes to vehicles for winter, typically from mid-November to spring.

How the General Grant Tree Became the Nation’s Christmas Tree

The idea came from Sanger, a small town in the San Joaquin Valley near the park. In 1924, Charles E. Lee, a Sanger resident, visited the tree and heard a young girl say what a lovely Christmas tree it would make. Lee began promoting the idea through the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, and the community organized a Christmas program at the tree.

In 1926, President Coolidge declared the General Grant Tree the Nation’s Christmas Tree. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated it a National Shrine, a memorial to Americans who died in war. It is the only living object to be declared a national shrine.

Sanger embraced the role and calls itself the Nation’s Christmas Tree City, a title it has used since 1949.

The Trek to the Tree

Every year on the second Sunday of December, the Sanger District Chamber of Commerce leads the Trek to the Tree, a ceremony at the base of the General Grant Tree. The event includes songs, readings, and the placement of a large wreath at the tree by park rangers. The 2026 trek is scheduled for December 13.

Visitors gather in the morning in the snow, sometimes hundreds of them, for a short, moving ceremony. Some arrive in buses organized from Sanger, while others drive up on their own. Dress for cold, bring chains, and arrive early, since parking fills quickly. Check the Sanger chamber’s website for current details and any bus options.

The Grant Grove in Winter

The General Grant Tree is the star, but the grove around it is worth a slow walk. Along the loop trail, you will see:

• The Fallen Monarch, a huge hollow sequoia log that people have walked through. It once served as a shelter, a saloon, and even a stable for cavalry horses.
• Gamlin Cabin, a log cabin built in the 1870s by settlers and later used by park rangers.
• Other giant sequoias, including trees named for states and historical figures.
• Fire scars on the trunks, a reminder of how sequoias survive and depend on wildfire.

In snow, the red bark of the sequoias stands out dramatically. The grove is quiet, and footsteps crunch on packed snow.

What Makes Giant Sequoias So Big

Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth by volume. They grow naturally only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, in about 70 groves. Some live for more than 3,000 years. Their thick, spongy bark, up to two feet thick, helps protect them from fire.

The General Grant Tree stands about 268 feet tall, with a base diameter of about 40 feet. By volume, it is generally ranked among the top few largest trees in the world. Its neighbor in Sequoia National Park, the General Sherman Tree, is the largest.

Other Winter Activities in Grant Grove

• Snowshoeing: rangers sometimes lead snowshoe walks on weekends and holidays, depending on conditions.
• Cross-country skiing: marked trails in the Grant Grove area offer routes through the forest.
• Snow play: designated snow play areas near Grant Grove allow sledding. Do not sled near roads or parking lots.
• Big Stump Trail: an easy loop near the park entrance through a grove that was logged in the 1880s, with giant stumps.

Check the park website for winter programs and conditions.

Where to Stay

Grant Grove Village has lodging, including the John Muir Lodge, which is open year-round, and rustic cabins with seasonal availability. Staying overnight lets you see the grove at sunrise and sunset, when the light on the sequoias is beautiful.

Other options include lodging in Fresno, Sanger, Squaw Valley, and Dunlap, a drive of 30 minutes to an hour and a half from the park.

Getting There

From Fresno, take Highway 180 east about 55 miles to the Big Stump entrance. The drive takes about an hour and a half in good conditions. From Los Angeles, plan on about four and a half hours via Highway 99 to Fresno, then Highway 180.

Kings Canyon National Park charges an entrance fee per vehicle, valid for seven days and also covering Sequoia National Park. The America the Beautiful pass covers entry. Check the National Park Service website for current fees and conditions.

Safety Tips for Winter Visits

• Check road and weather conditions before you go.
• Carry chains and know how to install them.
• Fill your gas tank before entering the park; there is no gas in Grant Grove in some seasons.
• Bring warm clothes, water, snacks, and blankets.
• Watch for ice on trails and parking lots.
• Stay on trails and do not climb on sequoias or their roots.

Photographing the Tree in Snow

The General Grant Tree is hard to photograph because it is so big. Step back along the loop trail and use a wide-angle lens or your phone’s ultra-wide mode to fit the whole trunk in the frame. Including a person near the base gives a sense of scale. On overcast days, the soft light brings out the cinnamon color of the bark against white snow. On sunny days, shoot in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is lower and shadows are softer. Keep spare batteries warm in an inside pocket.

Mistakes Winter Visitors Make

• Driving up without chains and getting turned around at a chain control checkpoint.
• Planning to drive to Cedar Grove or Hume Lake, which are closed by winter road closures.
• Expecting the General Sherman Tree to be a quick drive away when the Generals Highway is under chain controls or closed.
• Wearing sneakers on an icy trail.
• Arriving late in the day, when darkness comes early and roads can refreeze.

Pairing It With Sequoia National Park

If roads are open, the Generals Highway connects Grant Grove to Sequoia National Park, where the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume, stands in the Giant Forest. In winter, this road may require chains or close during storms. Lodgepole and the Giant Forest Museum are also worth visiting.

The Bottom Line

The Nation’s Christmas Tree is a 268-foot giant sequoia that has stood for centuries in the Sierra Nevada. Visit in winter for snow, quiet, and a holiday tradition dating back nearly a century. Bring chains, check conditions, walk the short loop, and if you can, join the Trek to the Tree on December 13.