Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", also known as the "Big Stump", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. 

Over the years, other parcels of mixed conifer forests have been added to the park.  This amazing park has a huge varitey of habitats and recreational opportunites to explore.