Ancient Bristlecone Pine Groves at Elevation of 11,000'+

[Bo Zarts]

Inyo National Forest - California
©2025 Bo Zarts Studio

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Were you escorted to this site ? My understanding is that most bristlecones are off limits.

Just curious -- not accusing you of anything.

[Bo Zarts]

2. When I was last there in May 2013, the bristlecone groves were open to the public.

However, subsequent to that visit there were some well publicized acts of vandalism at elevations above the ranger station. There was also a suspicious fire. So I hope that you are correct, and that there is some control of who can access the groves. But, like most National Forests, there are multiple entry points and few resources to enforce rules and regulations.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. You seem to be referring to the acts I had read about, when I heard that access had been largely cut off.

A shame that some people make such things necessary.

I guess you know what happened to Joshua Tree National Monument during a previous gov't shutdown (Trmp's first). There are warnings that some protected species might not survive Trmp's cuts to EPA and NPS.

[popsdenver]

8. Including

70 million of us Dems...........

[cally]

10. I went last summer

They won’t tell you which tree is the oldest, but you see many very old trees—4,000 to 5,000 years old. Very high elevation and in a secluded area. So glad that I got to see them

[eppur_se_muova]

12. IIRC there is more than one 'grove' -- and they only open one or two to the public.

Truly, they cannot be too careful.

[Bayard]

3. Wow....

"The oldest confirmed living, non-clonal tree is Methuselah, a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in California's White Mountains, over 4,850 years old, though its exact location is secret to protect it."

[popsdenver]

9. I was thinking

we had some here in Colorado on the top of Mount Blue Sky, (formerly Evans) and on top of Pikes Peak??????

[Bristlecone]

5. Love these!

Mt favorite tree.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. very nice . thank you.:)

[2naSalit]

7. Beautiful and...

Amazingly haunting.

I've driven past there many times but never had time to stop and visit them.

[calimary]

11. Simply AMAZING!!!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

13. Great shots!

I've been up there for a day trip, but haven't been able to do any astrophotography yet.