Gus the Huge Larch Tree is the largest Western Larch tree in the world as recorded in the National Register of Historic Trees.
At 153 feet tall, he is currently two feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Interestingly enough, the trees are deciduous conifers, although being conifers they lose their needles in the winter. I had no idea that this was a thing before now.
Gus is a short walk from our campsite in the River Point Campground on Seeley Lake Montana, even if we did have to climb a chainlink fence since the Boy Scout Bridge across the Clearwater River is currently closed to vehicle traffic. That closure means that if you’re coming by vehicle you’ll need to come in from the north side on Boy Scout road well north of Seeley Lake.
There are some very nice walking/hiking trails here in the James Girard Memorial Tamarack Grove, with great footing and tall trees everywhere. If you stop to visit, it’s definitely worth your while to spend an hour or so on the trails just soaking up the nature.
Not as impressive as the Sequoias, but it’s always cool to see massive trees up close!
CBS News Sunday Morning contacted us to obtain permission to use two of our Gus photos on a Nature segment they aired on Sunday October 20, 2024.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/fall-foliage-season-time-for-larch-madness/
If you look from 2:15-2:20, you’ll recognize two of the photos below! The entire episode is pretty cool to watch, and we recommend spending time doing so.
Gus The Larch Tree
Colette is dwarfed by the world’s largest Western Larch Tree at 153 feet tall
So. Big.
Tree huggers everywhere!
Tips For Living
An educational sign about Gus the Larch Tree from the Forest Service
Whorls
This bark tells a lot of stories
Larch Madness Featured On CBS News
