Bull Buck Loop

The Bull Buck Loop is a short, easy walk through Nelder Grove, a lesser-known stand of giant sequoias in Sierra National Forest just south of Yosemite's boundary near Fish Camp. The loop covers well under a mile with minimal elevation gain, leading to the Bull Buck Tree — one of the largest sequoias left in the forest.

The Bull Buck Tree

Standing about 246 feet tall and estimated at roughly 2,700 years old, the Bull Buck Tree was named for the felling foreman at the 19th-century logging camp once based in the grove — the "boss of the woods." It was once believed to be the second-largest tree on Earth; more precise modern measurements have since ranked it well down the list of giant sequoias, but it remains one of the largest trees in Sierra National Forest. Nelder Grove itself lost roughly 70% of its original sequoias to that same logging era, and the 2017 Railroad Fire took several more — around 60 mature giant sequoias remain today.

Getting There

• Access: Reached via unpaved Forest Service roads off Sky Ranch Road. Sections can be rutted or muddy, so a higher-clearance vehicle helps, and the road can close in winter or after storms.
• Difficulty: Flat and short enough for nearly any hiker; hiking is the only designated use on this trail.
• Why go: Nelder Grove sees a fraction of the crowds at Yosemite's Mariposa Grove — a quiet way to stand next to trees this size.