The tallest tree in the Muir Woods reaches a height of almost 250 feet. For many years now, experts believed that this tree (Tree 76) was roughly 1,500 years old. Unfortunately, for the experts and any literature that reported this age, the tree is roughly half that age. According to a report by ABCnews.com, a study by Humboldt State University discovered that Tree 76 is actually only 777 years old.
The study looks at the tree rings to determine the age and compares them to other massively aged Redwoods within the state. There are other trees within California that are 3 to 4 times older than Tree 76, making it an infant in comparison.
Don’t let this news upset you diehard Muir Woods supporters. Tree 76 is still a beautiful specimen and worth the visit.
Save the Redwoods League is going throughout California documenting the age via tree rings, size, growth, and changes of all the Redwoods. It’s a large-scale project that will help scientists better understand these trees, monitor them, and preserve them.
