Along the Methuselah Loop Trail are the oldest trees (NOT the oldest beings) in the world. Some of these Bristlecone pine trees can be about 5,000 years old. The trail contours around the north side of the slope, with views into the high valley. Here the trees are a bit protected from sun and wind, though there's also less precipitation.
While the Great Basin Bristlecone pines might be the longest-living non-clonal organism on the planet, clonal organisms (a group of genetically identical plants, fungi, or bacteria that clone non-sexually) such as the Quaking aspen or the Mojave Desert creosote are considered to be much older. A Quaking aspen grove in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah is estimated to be 80,000 years old (although probably much younger). Both the Aspen and Mojave creosote achieve their age by "cloning" new trees or bushes from their root systems— some might consider this cheating. The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, however, exists on its own, rooted in stone, twisting its way through thousands of years, thriving in the impossible.
At an undisclosed location near this point are the remains of the famous Prometheus tree, a Great Basin Bristlecone pine once recorded as the oldest tree in the world, estimated between 4700-5000 years-old.

Vincent Reboul

June 19, 2022

Are you ready to meet the oldest beings in the world? Some of them are about 5,000 years old. The Bristlecone pines of the Great Basin, although not very imposing, are not only the oldest things in California or even North America, they are the oldest non-clonal living organisms on our planet!

This park and this hike is dedicated to them.

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 2,960 m

Weather

Wednesday 22 October

6°C

1°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Inyo County, California, United States

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Scenic overlook to the Sierra Nevada

Schulman Grove Visitor Center, Ancient Bristlecone Forest

Silver Peak

White Mountain road trail

The 'Patriarch' Tree

Schulman Grove Vistor Center

Narrow Canyon

Methuselah Tree

Sierra Vista overlook

Sierra Nevada Overlook

The Elephant

Silver Canyon/Peak & Wyman Creek Rd Junction at White Mtn Rd

Ancient Bristlecone forest overlook

1. Methuselah Walk Loop — Inyo National Forest

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️