Belknap Complex
complex of three giant sequoia groves located in Giant Sequoia National Monument
The Belknap Complex, sometimes referred to as Belknap Grove, is a complex of three giant sequoia groves located in the Tule River watershed of Giant Sequoia National Monument, just south of Camp Nelson, California. It is formed from the larger McIntyre Grove and Wheel Meadow Grove, and the smaller Carr Wilson Grove. The grove is home to a rich collection of old-growth giant sequoias spread out over 4,666 acres (18.88 km2). The grove is fairly easy to reach by car given its close proximity to Highway 190. Forest Trail 31E30 meanders through the heart of the complex.
During the Castle Fire of 2020, approximately 59% of the Belknap Complex was subject to high-intensity fire, which is estimated to kill between 75 and 100% of the giant sequoia in its path.
Noteworthy trees
Some trees of special note found within the complex included:
The Patriarch Tree was the largest tree in the grove with a volume of 30,020 cubic feet (850 m3). The tree was unusually short for a giant sequoia but had a trunk with a diameter of 72.6 feet (22.1 m). The Patriarch Tree was destroyed in the Castle Fire.
Near Gutless Tree: Second largest tree in grove with a volume of 26,737 cubic feet (757.1 m3).
The public source identifies “Belknap Complex” as complex of three giant sequoia groves located in Giant Sequoia National Monument. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Belknap, Complex and complex.
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Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 23, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q6801651. Authority coordinates are 36.135, -118.585. 2 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 2020.
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This entry incorporates text from “Belknap Complex” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.