The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest is home to the oldest trees on the planet. The oldest tree thought to grow here, Methuselah, has been determined through core samples to be over 4,789 years old. Bristlecone Pine trees have the ability to survive very harsh environments, high winds twisting them into their unique shapes like bonsai masters. The visitor center at Schulman Grove is only open during summer, and is almost an hour drive east from the 395. From the visitor center there are a few hikes, we did a portion of the loop that takes you by Patriarch Grove, where the largest bristlecone pines are located. Like Joshua Trees, each Bristlecone Pine has so much character, making for a slow hike as you give each one the attention that it deserves.
Absolutely fascinating! I did not know about these special trees before!!
They are very special, only growing in a few small regions. I have been meaning to get out here for a while but they don’t plow the roads so the timing is always tricky. It is a summer destination. I would go back in a second.
Crazy looking trees they must be tough to survive.
You can tell! When life is tough you get tougher.
What a great post about an amazing place. Steve and I camped here once. It is truly magical. Thanks for the memory evoker.