Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – the oldest trees in the world

The drive from Bishop to Las Vegas is the longest and most remote stretch of our trip, so I thoroughly check the car (especially the tires and air conditioning) one more time. We set out early and make a detour to the mystical Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest at an elevation of 3,068m. The adventurous road from Big Pine to the newly built Visitor Center is in good condition and offers a great view. One doesn't often have the chance to walk among the oldest living beings on Earth: here lie the oldest trees in the world, such as the Methuselah, a long-lived pine over 4,800 years old.

The ancient trees exhibit spectacular growth forms, and the forest is a unique place, still an absolute insider tip that is visited by very few international tourists even during peak season due to its remoteness and elevation.

After analyzing a sample from the 1950s, researchers dated an even older tree in this forest to over 5,000 years. Measured above ground, it is thus the oldest tree in the world. The Norway spruce Old Tjikko in Sweden is dated to 9,550 years, but only its root system, while the trunk is estimated to be only a few hundred years old.

The staff at the Visitor Center are exceedingly friendly and provide us with interesting insights. We hike the approximately 1-hour Discovery Trail and then set off into the wilderness further on the desolate State Route 168 towards Nevada.