Nevada’s Big Tree Program

WANTED — The Biggest Trees in Nevada

 The Nevada Division of Forestry’s State Big Tree Program is looking for the largest tree of every native and introduced species found growing in Nevada. Nevada’s Big Tree program is patterned after the American Forestry Association’s National Champion Trees program which recognizes the biggest tree of every species growing in the United States and encourages their preservation. Nevada’s program, started in 1992, is a chance to show that not only does Nevada have trees, but has large trees of many different species.

Nominations are accepted year-around and an updated Nevada Big Tree List is published every two to three years. There are many champion trees in Nevada still waiting to be discovered.

They may be found in city parks, front and back yards, and on ranches around the state. Others are hidden in the mountains, or in the forests. Some of these could even be a National Champion. 

  • A Turbinella Oak in Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, and
  • A Curl Leaf mountain mahogany in the Great Basin National Park.  

How to Measure 

Big Tree measurements are made by adding three measurements: the circumference in inches, height in feet, and one-fourth the average crown width in feet. The tree with the highest point total is recognized as the Nevada Champion for that species.

Big Tree Nomination Form

Big Tree Register Second Edition — Below is the latest edition. There are stories and pictures about many of the champion trees in Nevada, as well as stories about some of our champion big tree hunters.

Big Tree Register 2003 version2

If you need help determining if your tree is the biggest ‘a-round’ Nevada, or would like the most recent Big Tree List revision, contact the Nevada Division of Forestry Urban Forestry Program for assistance.

Big Tree List 2003 — Call for the Big Tree Register - Second Edition. Some trees nominated since the 2000 edition are a fruitless mulberry in Logandale, an Austrian pine in Reno’s Barbara Bennett Park, a black locust in Genoa, a Scouler willow near Spooner Lake, a shiny xylosma in Las Vegas, a Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine in Nye County, a black willow in Ely, a red-osier dogwood in Elko County, and a carob tree in Searchlight.

Big Tree List 2003 (Print Version)

Nevada is currently home to two National Champion Trees

    Contact:
    Susan Stead
    Urban Forestry Program Coordinator
    2478 Fairview Drive
    Carson City, Nevada 89701
    775-684-2506
    Fax: 775-684-2571