Planted in 1948, it’s the largest giant sequoia tree east of the Rocky Mountains at 116 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter.
Lake Bluff Farms also features an arboretum, birding, hiking trails, Lake Michigan access and a vacation rental. It’s open daily from dawn until dusk. Admission is free; donations are encouraged.
Getting there
Lake Bluff Farms is at 2890 Lakeshore Road in Manistee Township, just north of Orchard Beach State Park.
There’s a small parking lot at the northwest corner of the property, and overflow parking on other side of Lakeshore Road (follow the signs).
Once parked, follow the signs pointing the way to the Michigan Champion giant sequoia. It’s at the northeast corner of a field that, at its other end, also has a spectacular Lake Michigan overlook.
There are two other giant sequoia trees nearby.
Michigan Champion giant sequoia
For those of us who have never seen a giant sequoia or redwood in person, walking up this huge tree is a bit of a shock.
Five feet in diameter is a fraction of the size of the giant sequoias out west, but still much larger than almost any other tree one might come across in Michigan.
The tree is marked with a sign and protected by a low chain, discouraging visitors from touching the trunk.
The Michigan Champion giant sequoia is an anomaly that baffles scientists. How or why this tree has flourished so far from its home range is unknown.
The natural range is the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, an area that is much warmer and dryer than Northern Michigan.
Even more surprising, it’s not the only one. There are two other giant sequoias – each approaching 100 feet tall – on the property. These three trees were among six giant sequoias planted on the property in 1948.
Lake Bluff is also home to a 30-foot-tall “baby sequoia” and a dawn redwood.
Over the past few years, the nonprofit has planted 15 giant sequoia clones donated by Archangel Ancient Tree Archive in Copemish.
One is a clone of the Michigan Champion. Another is a clone of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Tree, located in the Alder Creek Grove at Giant Sequoia National Monument in California; it is the fifth largest tree in the world. There are also several clones of the Waterfall tree, which had the biggest trunk of any sequoia; it was lost in a wildfire.
While Manistee’s giant sequoia is the largest one east of the Rocky Mountains, it’s much smaller than its Californian counterparts, which stand an average 250 to 275 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet in diameter. They reach 100 to 150 feet tall by the time they’re 50 years old.
Clones of the Michigan Champion giant sequoia could allow these trees to be planted around the world, said Jim Cowan, president of the nonprofit. That would be important since the trees remove up to 10 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere compared to other trees.
Lake Bluff Farms
Lake Bluff Farms is owned and managed by a nonprofit. The property is open to the public. It includes two trails, an arboretum with about 80 tree species, and a 1936 farmhouse available for short-term rental. It’s also considered a top 10 birding destination in the state. A popular spot at the property is the Lake Michigan overlook.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Cookie Settings
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2024).
© 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here.
