Chimney Trail Loop

The Chimney Trail Loop runs about 1.4 miles with roughly 200 feet of climbing through Nelder Grove, a stand of giant sequoias in Sierra National Forest a short drive south of Fish Camp. AllTrails rates it moderate, but most hikers are done in 30 to 60 minutes — a solid pick when you want big trees without a big time commitment. The trail is named for the Chimney Tree, a sequoia hollowed out by an old fire; stand at its base and look straight up through the trunk to open sky.

What you'll see

Past the Chimney Tree, the loop winds through mixed conifer forest studded with old-growth sequoias on a dirt path with some uneven, rooty footing — wear real hiking shoes. Hikers wanting more distance can link onto the adjacent Bull Buck Tree Trail; combined, the two form a roughly 1.7-mile loop (about 230 feet of gain) that also reaches the Bull Buck Tree, an estimated 2,700-year-old sequoia and the lone survivor of a row of three trees, standing 246 feet tall with a base about 99 feet around.

Access and timing

The Nelder Grove Historic Area was closed through the end of 2025 for post-fire hazard mitigation and reopened to the public on January 1, 2026. Forest orders here can change, so check current Sierra National Forest alerts before you drive out. The grove sees a fraction of Mariposa Grove's crowds, and camping is allowed along the route.