Biggest Trees

Vancouver Island is home to trees of magnificent proportions including Canada’s largest tree, the Cheewhat Giant. Some, such as the Red Creek Fir near Port Renfrew, are the largest of their species in the world! Growing as tall as skyscrapers and as wide as living rooms, these ancient trees can live for thousands of years and inspire wonder and awe in people around the globe. Please SPEAK UP to protect BC’s old-growth forests and forestry jobs at www.BCForestMovement.com Photos by TJ Watt.

Canada's largest tree (also the largest redcedar in the world), the Cheewhat Giant! Located in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Carmanah on Vancouver Island. Height: 182 ft (55.5 m) Diameter: 19 ft (5.7 m) Volume: 450 m3

The San Juan Spruce - previously Canada's largest spruce (until a piece of the top broke off). This beautiful tree grows near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. Height: 205 ft (62.5 m) Diameter: 12 ft (3.6 m) Volume: 333 m3

The Red Creek Fir is the world's largest Douglas-fir tree! It grows in the San Juan Valley near Port Renfrew. The towering tree is estimated to be over a thousand years old! Height: 242 ft (73.8 m) Diameter: 13'9 ft (4.2 m)

Along the path leading to the Red Creek Fir you will find this amazing group of ancient redcedars, aptly nicknamed " The 3 Guardians"

The Harris Creek Spruce, which grows alongside the road from Lake Cowichan to Port Renfrew. Easily accessible by a short path. Watch for small sign while driving the Circle Route.

The Yakoun Spruce on Haida Gwaii.

The 'Gnarly Tree' at Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew. This western redcedar has one of the strangest burls we've ever seen!

The incredibly burly cedar in the lower Avatar Grove. This has to be one of the coolest trees on Earth!

Big Lonely Doug, Canada's second largest Douglas-fir tree. Gordon River Valley, Port Renfrew, BC. Height: 216 ft (66 m) (broken top) Width: 12 ft (4 m)

This crazy looking redcedar with its spiky candelabra top grows in a remote location on Flores Island north of Tofino, BC.

One of the most phenomenal trees on this planet! This bulbous redcedar grows along the trail to the Cheewhat Giant (Canada's largest tree) in the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island.

TJ doing his best to hug the country's 4th largest redcedar, located just before the Cheewhat Giant (Canada's largest tree) in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Canada's 3rd largest western redcedar growing at the north end of Cheewhat Lake. Height: 123 ft (37.5 m) Diameter: 19.5 ft (5.9 m).

The Castle Giant is a monumental redcedar growing in the unprotected Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island. This redcedar measures over 16 ft wide at the base and was used by scientists for canopy research projects.

The 'Tolkien Giant' in the Walbran Valley comes in as the 9th widest western redcedar in BC. Height: 138 ft (42 m) Diameter: 15 ft (4.6 m) Circumference: 47 ft (14.4 m)

The Emerald Giant (or 'Mordor Tree') in the Walbran Valley. This tree shows a great example of the candelabra top that develops in these very old redcedars.

Maxine's Tree is located within the Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park and is the second largest Spruce tree in Canada! Height: 265 ft (80.77 m)Diameter: 13.2 ft (4 m) Volume: 266 m3

A huge western redcedar growing unprotected in the Nahmint Valley. Height: 126 ft ( 38.4 m) (broken top) Diameter: 14'7" ft (4.3 m)

The Alberni Giant, Canada's 5th widest known Douglas-fir tree. This tree grows in the Nahmint Valley near Port Alberni. Sadly, a recently clearcut came to within 10-20 m of the tree.

A huge large Douglas-fir tree growing in the Nahmint Valley. Height: 215 ft (66 m) Diameter: 8.4 ft (2.5 m)

The Big Tree Trail on Meares Island is a big tree lover's heaven! Be sure to make the short trip via water taxi next time you're visiting Tofino

A MASSIVE western redcedar growing on Meares Island in Clayoquot Sound.

The backside of a cedar known as the 'Poster Tree' along the Meares Island Big Tree Trail.

The Hanging Garden Tree. This ancient redcedar on Meares Island off the coast of Tofino, BC might appear at first glance to be dead but it is actually still living. Its age would be hard to guess but it could have easily celebrated its 1000th birthday in recent times. The tree lives up to its name with a whole host of plants and other trees growing from its trunk.

The unprotected 'Refugee Tree', the largest cedar in the Capital Regional District near Victoria, on Crown lands south of Sombrio Beach. Diameter: 13.7 ft (4m) - would be much greater if on level ground!

The 'Fortress Cedar' in the Jurassic Grove!

One of many massive cedars found growing in the Jurassic Grove near Port Renfrew

A super strange redcedar growing in Jurassic Grove that looks like a giant pumpkin!

Alverez Fir - Upper Walbran Valley, Vancouver Island, BC.

The Grandma Betty tree is gigantic Douglas-fir that was named after activist Betty Krawczyk who participated in some of the early blockades to try and protect the Upper Walbran Valley. Sadly, the old-growth directly adjacent to this tree was logged in recent years.

A sitka Spruce known as the Heaven Tree in Carmanah Valley Provincial Park.

The incredible Canoe Creek Cedar! This tree grows along the Kennedy River and is accessed by a short trail off the highway between Port Alberni and Tofino. Not sure anyone has actually measured it yet but it's huge!