Grove of Titans, Ancient redwood grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California, US

Grove of Titans is a coast redwood grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte County, California, reached via Howland Hill Road south of Highway 199. Its named trees include Del Norte Titan, Lost Monarch, El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans, Eärendil and Elwing, Beregond, Aragorn, Sacajawea, Aldebaran and Stalagmight. A 1,300-foot elevated walkway, opened in 2021, crosses the grove above California sword fern and redwood sorrel.

This grove was formally documented in 1998 when botanist Stephen Sillett and naturalist Michael Taylor recognized the collection of extraordinary redwoods. Their discovery revealed some of the largest trees on Earth to the scientific community.

The grove's name is unofficial, and its largest redwoods carry names given by those who recorded them, among them Lost Monarch, El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans, Eärendil and Elwing, Aragorn, Sacajawea, Aldebaran, Stalagmight and Del Norte Titan. The understory is dominated by California sword fern (Polystichum munitum) and redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). Walkers on the Mill Creek Trail pass through the grove, and the elevated walkway opened in 2021 now channels the foot traffic that once trampled these plants.

You reach this grove by taking the Mill Creek Trail from Howland Hill Road, and parking can be tight during warmer months. Watch for wet and slippery conditions on the elevated walkway, especially after rainfall.

The Del Norte Titan is among the largest trees by volume on Earth, showcasing the growth potential of coast redwoods. Its exact location is kept private to protect this giant from excessive foot traffic and damage.