2 min
Overview
The Methuselah Walk is a 4 mile loop trail in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest section of the White Mountains, where hikers can escape the heat of the Owens Valley floor to walk through the oldest known living forest — and the world’s oldest living trees. Even if the prospect of hiking near trees that are over 5,000 years old doesn’t get you excited (and come on, why wouldn’t it?), the hike itself is an exceptional taste of the scenery of the high altitude bristlecone pine forest in the White Mountains. You’ll pass a community of plants that has carved out a sliver of existence and stood the test of time in some incredibly harsh weather and extremely difficult growing conditions. Begin at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest visitor center, which offers lots of information on the region and the plants and animals you might encounter on your hike. Once you’re all stocked up on information, head out to the circular parking area and look for the signed Methuselah Walk trailhead. One thing to note about this trail: although it’s not terribly difficult or technically challenging, you will be hiking around and above 10,000 feet of elevation, so expect this hike to potentially be a bit slower than you’d expect at sea level. You should also be prepared for large temperature swings and definitely slather on the sunscreen. For extra interpretation, leave a dollar and pick up one of the printed brochure / maps for this route. It will point out some interesting features along the way, as well as provide a greater understanding of the bristlecone pine forest as a whole. You’ll start off with a slight drop in elevation as you dip into the upper drainage of the South Fork of Birch Creek. At about 0.2 mile, keep to the right with the closure of the loop to walk the hike in a counterclockwise direction. Here, you’ll notice the forest on this north-facing slope is a bit more dense than it is on the south-facing slope of the hill to the north of Birch Creek. Although these trees receive less sunlight, the snow lasts much longer
Trail Stats
6.6 km
190 m
3106 m
2914 m
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