Canada's largest tree, the Cheewhat Giant, grows protected in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on southern Vancouver Island in the territory of the Ditidaht First Nation. This massive western redcedar measures 182 feet (55 m) tall and 20 feet (6 m) wide. It’s also the largest known western redcedar tree in the world, a true wonder to behold.
The record-sized tree was first identified by Maywell Wickham in 1988, and nearly 40 years later, a larger one has yet to be found (despite the best efforts of big tree hunters like myself). Maywell wouldn’t have been the first person to see this tree, however. The Ditidaht people have lived amongst these lands for thousands of years, and evidence of their cultural use of the prized cedar trees found in this forest abound. When visiting this tree, take a moment to contemplate the immense scales of time in front of you, both in the form of ancient trees and rich cultural history.
If you’d like to bring the Cheewhat Giant into your home, I offer fine art prints below.
The trail leading to the Cheewhat passes by some other redcedar trees of epic proportions as well.
A massive fallen cedar tree dwarfs hikers as they enter the old-growth. Everything in this forest is super-sized!
The enormous, alien-like “Bulbous Cedar”. This tree appears about halfway along the trail to the Cheewhat Giant.
The surrounding old-growth forest is also among the richest and most vibrant I have ever visited. A must-see place for any big tree hunter.
