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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Incredible secret of gnarled 'Methuselah Tree' that sits deep in California desert
The 'Methuselah Tree' is discretely nestled in an eastern California mountain range, blending in among the other plants as the national forest's best kept secret. The Inyo National Forest - a stunning mix of landscapes spanning nearly 2 million acres between Los Angeles and Reno, Nevada - is home to one of the oldest trees in the world. A Great Basin Bristlecone Pine dubbed the Methuselah Tree has been around since centuries before the Pyramids of Giza were built. The twisted-trunked and weathered tree sprouted circa 2830 BCE and has since become a nearly 5,000-year-old symbol of the planet's history. But among the forest's other Great Basin Bristlecone Pines, visitors are unable to tell which is the famed Methuselah Tree. This is an intentional move by the US Forest Service to protect the tree from being vandalized or harmed, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Tourists can trek through the White Mountains, located in the Great Basin Desert, and explore the trails of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to witness the dense-wooded trees that are thousands of years old. While Forest Service officials have confirmed the Methuselah Tree is visible along the 4.5-mile loop, there is no sign or indicator marking its presence. The hike has been ranked moderate by the hiking app AllTrails, but is recommended visitors come prepared with water and sunblock. This trail also sits 9,000 feet above sea level, so those brave enough to take on the trail should consider the effects of the altitude, WHNT reported. The Methuselah Trail, like the others at the national forest, is open seasonally. Depending on weather conditions, this season typically runs from late spring through the fall. Great Basin Bristlecone Pines are considered the oldest non-clonal organisms in the world. The term non-clonal means the pines grew from a single seed and 'do not reproduce through cloning,' according to the National Forest Foundation. 'Bristlecone pines are a small group of trees that reach an age believed by many scientists to be far greater than that of any other living organism known to man,' USDA wrote. Scientists determine their ages by taking a sliver from their trunks to see how many rings there are. Trees' ages are determined by this number of rings, as each year they grow, another is added. The Methuselah Tree was once believed to be the longest-living tree in the world, but experts have since traced back some other Bristlecone Pines and determined them to be slightly older. Regardless, the Methuselah Tree remains the most notable natural treasure of them all among researchers and outdoors lovers. This species of trees is has been able to withstand thousands of years due to their adoptability and ability to live under circumstances other plants simply cannot survive in. Great Basin Bristlecone Pines flourish in isolated groves and 'thrive on adversity, living in harsh conditions and high elevation,' according to the USDA.
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Travel + Leisure
11-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This 2-hour U.S. Trail Was Named One of the Best Hikes in the World—and It Has Mountain Views and the Oldest Tree on the Planet
High in California's White Mountains, more than 10,000 feet above sea level, the Methuselah Trail winds a quiet loop through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a place where gnarled, wind-twisted trees have stood for thousands of years—some dating back nearly five millennia. The four-mile trail passes through groves of Great Basin bristlecone pines, with trunks weathered by centuries of snow and sun. The mother of them all, Methuselah, the once-confirmed oldest living tree on Earth, can be seen from the trail, but, in order to protect it from vandalism, there is no sign marking it. Methuselah is over 4,800 years old, meaning it was already alive by the time ancient Egyptians built the pyramids in Giza. To put it in perspective, Methuselah is well over 1,000 years older than the oldest known giant sequoia tree, which is over 3,200 years old. Methuselah aside, the trail has sweeping views of Owens Valley and the distant Sierra Nevada. The hike is so spectacular that it was named one of AllTrails' '25 Trails to Explore in 2025.' "25 Trails to Explore in 2025 is the first list of its kind from the team here at AllTrails,' Ron Schneidermann, CEO of AllTrails, said in a Jan. 2025 press release. 'We looked beyond popularity to share places and occasions that are truly special this year. The magic of discovery is what fuels my love of the outdoors, and I hope this list inspires people to find their own sense of wonder on the trail." Methuselah Trail is located in California's Inyo National Forest near Big Pine, California. It takes around 45 minutes from Big Pine to reach the trailhead and the hike takes most people around two hours to complete. It is rated as 'moderate' in difficulty by the AllTrails team. The route was selected by AllTrails from more than 450,000 trails around the globe, including hikes in Italy, Alaska, and Japan. The top five this year include the Peace Trail, Segment 28 in Trento, Italy; Cerro Pelón in Michoacán, Mexico; Boston's Freedom Trail in Boston; Idaho's Alice-Toxaway and Edith Lake Loop; and Hump Ridge Track (Southland, New Zealand. To see the full list, visit All Trails' website.
