Located 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Arnold, California in the middle elevations of the Sierra Nevada, it has been a major tourist attraction since 1852, when the existence of the trees was first widely reported.

Native American names for the species include Wawona, toos-pung-ish and hea-mi-within, the latter two in the language of the Tule River Tribe.

[8] In early 1880s,[9][10] a tunnel was cut through the compartments by a private land owner at the request of James Sperry, founder of the Murphys Hotel, so that tourists could pass through it.

[21] This again caused a chorus of public outcry by locals and conservationists, and the area continued to be treated as a tourist attraction.

A protracted battle to preserve the trees was launched by Laura Lyon White and the California Club.

Legislation in 1900 and 1909 authorized the federal government to purchase the property, but Whiteside refused to sell the land at the offered price, preferring its higher valuation as parkland.

[22] The Yosemite protection was gradually extended to most sequoias,[23] and Calaveras Grove was joined to California State Parks in 1931.

[24][25] According to John Muir the forest protected by the park is: "A flowering glade in the very heart of the woods, forming a fine center for the student, and a delicious resting place for the weary.

Other than the change of seasons, fire is the most recurrent and critical process in determining the life history of this species.

[1] A prescribed burn was conducted by park crews on about 180 acres (73 ha) of the North Grove in late October through early November.

[3] The park houses two main campgrounds with a total of 129 campsites, six picnic areas and hundreds of miles of established trails.