California’s giant redwood trees are some of the tallest and most impressive trees on the planet. Standing beneath them can feel like looking up at massive wooden skyscrapers. Even more incredible, in a few special places, you can actually drive your car right through the trunk of a living tree.
How can a tree possibly grow so wide and remain healthy after having a tunnel carved through it? Let’s explore why these trees are so huge, where they grow, and how they became famous for their drive-through openings.
The Giants of California
Redwoods in California are known to reach staggering heights—some tower over 300 feet, rising taller than a 30-story building. In fact, the tallest known living tree on Earth is a coast redwood named Hyperion, which measures about 379 feet in height. Imagine standing at the base of a tree nearly the length of a football field, craning your neck to see the top!
There are two main types of “redwoods” in California:
- Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) found along the Pacific coastline.
- Giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) found in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Though they share the name “redwood,” these two species grow in different environments. Coast redwoods thrive in moist, foggy areas near the ocean, while giant sequoias prefer higher elevations, usually between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, where they receive plenty of winter snow.
Where They Grow
Coast redwoods often live in protected areas such as Redwood National and State Parks, which was established in 1968. These regions are prized for their constant dampness due to the Pacific Ocean’s fog, which helps keep the forests moist. Meanwhile, giant sequoias reside on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, relying on snowmelt and cooler temperatures.
Walking through a redwood forest feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Sunlight filters softly through towering trunks, and the forest floor is often covered in ferns and moss, creating a lush green world. It’s no surprise that people travel from all over the globe to visit these magnificent giants.
Why Are They So Big?
Redwoods owe their colossal size to several factors. One key reason is the climate. Coast redwoods benefit from near-constant moisture in the air, while giant sequoias rely on snow and moderate temperatures at higher elevations. Another reason is their incredibly thick bark, which can be up to 12 inches thick in giant sequoias. This thick bark provides excellent protection from fires, pests, and diseases.
Interestingly, wildfires are actually beneficial to redwoods because fire clears out smaller plants that compete for space and nutrients. In fact, the heat from fires helps some sequoia cones open, releasing seeds onto the nutrient-rich ash bed below.
Redwoods also live for a very long time. Giant sequoias have been known to survive for over 3,000 years, while some coast redwoods can live beyond 2,000 years. This gives them ample time to grow larger and stronger. Each passing century allows them to add more rings to their trunk and stretch higher toward the sky.
The Famous Drive-Through Trees
A few redwoods are so enormous that people have carved tunnels through their bases to create a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction. The most famous of these is the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, California. Believed to be about 315 feet tall, it earned its name because its unique branch structure resembles a chandelier when viewed from a distance. The tunnel inside the Chandelier Tree was carved in the 1930s, and visitors can still drive their cars right through it today. Despite the large opening, the tree remains alive because enough of its living tissue continues to transport water and nutrients.
Other popular drive-through trees include the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Myers Flat and the Klamath Tour Thru Tree near Redwood National and State Parks. Carving these passages did spark controversy in the past, but they have since become a quirky part of the region’s history and a testament to the size and resilience of these trees.
A Lasting Legacy
Redwoods have fascinated people for hundreds of years. European explorers mentioned them as early as the 16th century, and by the 1800s, they became highly valued for their wood. Redwood lumber is prized for its strength and natural resistance to rot and insects, which led to widespread logging. This heavy demand had a devastating impact—today, only about 5% of the original old-growth coast redwood forests remain.
Thankfully, conservation efforts began in earnest when the Save the Redwoods League formed in 1918. This group purchased large tracts of redwood forests to protect them from logging. Over time, more parks and reserves were established, ensuring that these ancient giants still stand for future generations to appreciate.
Drive-through trees represent a mix of human curiosity and our changing attitude toward nature. At one point, we carved into these trees for novelty and tourism, but over time, many recognized the need to protect these precious forests. Now, researchers and park rangers work hard to study redwoods, preserve old-growth groves, and ensure that these trees continue to flourish.
