Gary-Summer: October 11, 2026

Sunday, October 11, 2026

October 11, 2026 - Nelder Grove

Title: October 11, 2026 - Nelder Grove

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Nelder Grove Interpretive Center

Trail: Chimney Tree Trail and the Bull Buck Trail

Destination: Loop

Distance: 2.38 miles

Start Time: 1:34

End Time: 3:26

Travel Time: 1:51 (1.28 mph)

Moving Time: 1:28 (1.61 mph)

Elevation Rise: 512' ¹

Descent: 513‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,559'

Minimum Elevation: 5,250'

GPS Tracks

¹The elevation data from the GPS seems a bit off. I am using Google Earth’s information for the elevation. The GPS was:

Elevation Rise: 389'
Descent: 462‘
Maximum Elevation: 5,715'
Minimum Elevation: 5,327'

Would you use this outhouse?

Description:

Today is Sherri’s birthday and she would like to hike the Lewis Creek trail. But first, we need to go to church and hear Jon talk about Revelation 20. We get back home about 10:45 and get ready to go up towards Oakhurst. Leaving Fresno at 11:30.

I drive, after all it is Sherrri’s birthday. When we get to the trailhead off of highway 41 for Lewis Creek, we find that the parking lot has a lot of cars, which is not surprising. Still it is not what we want when we hike to be in crowds. I had thought of going up to Goat Meadow and going into Mariposa Grove. Steven had suggested that we could do Nelder Grove. We have not been to Nelder Grove in awhile, 2020 to be exact, so we decided to go there.

California Tree

The question now is which one of the trails do we want to go on? I suggested the Shadow of the Giants, which is a ways down road 6S90, which is a dirt road. We met a couple of ladies walking along the road and offered a ride, which they refused. We continued on. We came to a place which I suspect we could have made it across where water drains migrates to the downside of the road. There were some boards to take us out of the mud, but there was also a pretty good dip and I was concerned we would hit bottom. So we go back to the main road. Looking at the Forest Service site, the trail was closed anyway.

We drive back to the main part of Nelder-where the Interpretive Center is. It is about 1:25 when we park. We get ready to walk the Chimney Tree Trail and probably the Bull Buck Tree. These two will make a loop. There is an outhouse right across the road from us. Its unusual feature is that a branch or something fell on it. While the outhouse could definitely use some servicing, there is no smell as its condition made for a rather airy room.

Gary and the Chimney Tree

By 1:35 we are off walking up the Chimney Tree Trail. After walking about 15 minutes, we came across a log to sit on, which was conducive for having lunch. Lunch is the usual-peanut butter and Nuitella. We sat around for about 15 minutes before taking off.

We travel a short way up the trail and come to a stately tree called the California Tree. While it is an impressive tree, it is not the most notable in the forest. It is a good start. Just ten minutes up the trail, we come to its name sake, the Chimney Tree. Why is it the Chimney Tree? Most of the lower part of the tree is burnt out, with much of the interior of the tree being hollowed out because of being burnt. Even though in the last week, I have talked about how resilient Sequoias are with its thick fibrous bark, I am always amazed when I see trees like this one. They just need a little bit of their bark and underlayer intact to survive.

Old Forester Tree

About 15 minutes later, we came to a sign which said Old Forester Tree. But the trees which are closest to us do not seem very remarkable. Why would any of them have a name? (Of course that thought raises the question, why do I have a name?) By moving a little bit, I see a tree in the background which would fit the bill as being notable. Not sure that the Sequoia is that old, but it is a tree to take note of. Wikipedia notes that this tree is The tallest tree in the Nelder Grove campground area, named after Walter Puhn, a National Forest Supervisor in the 1960s.

Bull Buck Tree

A few steps later, we come to a trail junction where we can go back to the road or loop past the Bull Buck Tree. We feel like we can continue on. Another ten minutes puts us in front of this tree. It truly is the king of this forest. As we looked up at the upper branches, we noticed clouds just drifting by. Sort of mesmerizing. We stop to have an energy bar before going on.

There are slash piles, ready for burning, all across the hillside where we are walking. The trail drops us down into the walk in the campground. We followed a road for about a quarter mile back to our car. It is only 3:20 when we get back there and another ten minutes to get ready to leave.

Do we eat in Oakhurst since it's just mid-afternoon. We would like to go for Reimer’s, but Sherri’s rule is that we need to eat something real first. So El Cid fits that. We have some burritos there. Then go over to Reimers for ice cream before heading home. We get home about 6:00pm, in time to go on Zoom with the family.