Few people realize that the Nation’s Christmas Tree is not in Washington, DC, but in California’s Kings Canyon National Park. The General Grant Tree, a giant sequoia in Grant Grove, was officially designated as the Nation’s Christmas Tree in 1926 by President Calvin Coolidge. Towering 268 feet above the forest floor, it is one of the largest living trees on Earth and is estimated to be 1,600 to 2,000 years old.
This December marks a milestone. On December 14 at 2 p.m., the park will host the 100th Annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree, with the official ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. You can read the full National Park Service news release here. The event is free to attend, as December 14 is a fee‑free day at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
A Century of Tradition
The trek began nearly a century ago as a community celebration and has grown into a cherished tradition. In 1956, Congress declared the General Grant Tree a National Shrine, the only living shrine in the United States. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz dedicated it on Veterans Day that year, honoring the men and women of the armed forces who served and sacrificed for freedom.
Each December, visitors gather at the tree’s base to celebrate the holiday season and reflect on its symbolic role. The 100th trek underscores how nature and national memory intertwine, with a living tree serving as both a festive landmark and a solemn shrine.
Why Kings Canyon Deserves the Spotlight
Despite its significance, Kings Canyon National Park often gets overshadowed by its neighbors, Yosemite and Sequoia. That is unfortunate, because Kings Canyon offers a remarkable blend of both: granite cliffs that rival Yosemite’s and sequoia groves that echo Sequoia’s majesty.
Julie and I explored the park together, and we were struck by how thrilling the drive into the canyon can be. The road plunges past sheer granite walls into a valley carved by glaciers. Trails lead beneath towering sequoias and along rivers that sparkle in the sunlight. It is a place where you can brush against granite cliffs in the morning and walk under the cathedral‑like trees in the afternoon.
The relative quiet compared to Yosemite Valley makes Kings Canyon even more appealing. Visitors can experience grandeur without the crowds. For anyone curious about the park’s highlights, I’ve put together a guide to Kings Canyon here that dives deeper into trails, viewpoints, and seasonal tips.
Imagining Winter in a Sequoia Grove
Most travelers see Kings Canyon in summer, but I often imagine what it would be like to hike through a sequoia forest in winter. Julie and I have talked about how magical it would be to see snow dusting the massive branches and to walk among trees that have stood through countless winters. The silence of a snowy forest paired with the scale of the sequoias would create an unforgettable experience.
The December trek offers a glimpse of that possibility. While the ceremony itself is the centerpiece, the chance to explore Grant Grove in winter adds another layer of wonder.
An Invitation to Rediscover
Walking beneath towering sequoias that seem to touch the sky.
(Miles with McConkey)
The 100th Annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree is more than a celebration. It is an invitation to rediscover Kings Canyon National Park, to stand beneath one of the largest trees on Earth, and to reflect on a century of tradition.
For travelers seeking both grandeur and peace, Kings Canyon offers a rare combination. The General Grant Tree anchors that experience, reminding us that nature can be both a sanctuary and a shrine.