Jordan Oak, Stanislaus National Forest: A Quick Trip for Tree Huggers

There are many different types of oak tree: Valley Oak, Poison Oak, and the Canyon Live Oak are all pretty common in the Groveland area. The Jordan Oak tree is one of the biggest Live Oak trees you have probably seen.

I don’t claim to be very knowledgeable in trees/forests/silviculture/botany/soils. I mean, I try to remember how to identify some important ones – but I’m happy to learn (or relearn) something new practically every time I go hiking. That being said, from what I understand live oaks normally are small-ish trees because they:

1.  Cannot compete with bigger trees in “good” soil/sunlight conditions. Meaning they stay small and in the understory in productive forests. And,
2. Where they do thrive – on slopes and with less desirably soil – they cannot grow that big because of those “poor” conditions.

The Jordan Oak has apparently found a way around these conditions. It is located at the edge of a small meadow area – the wet area keeping the number of competing plants down – and beneath a slope with less than desirable growing soil. It is the goldilocks of trees and Jordan Flat it “Just right.”

Jordan Oak, Stanislaus National Forest

Trailhead: From highway 120 Turn right onto Smith Station Road and continue down the road towards Greeley Hill. Approximately 2 miles down the road turn left onto a dirt road. In a little over a quarter mile park at a turnout. The Trail starts between two rocks on the East side of the road. Map
Distance: Although you cannot see the tree from the road it is only a quick walk down to the tree. Beware of the poison oak through here though.

This is probably the quickest “trail” I have mentioned in my blog so far. If you love big beautiful trees and have free time while in Groveland or when heading up to Yosemite it is really worth a short stop. Also there is a nice little geocache nearby if you are into that sort of thing.

More photos in the gallery below.