Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada British Columbia North Saanich Canada's Knottiest Tree

Canada's Knottiest Tree

By public opinion, this is Canada's knottiest tree.

North Saanich, British Columbia

Added By
sharris
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Canada’s Knottiest Tree.   sharris / Atlas Obscura User
Canada’s Knottiest Tree.   sharris / Atlas Obscura User
Canada’s Knottiest Tree.   sharris / Atlas Obscura User
Canada’s Knottiest Tree.   sharris / Atlas Obscura User
Canada’s Knottiest Tree.   sharris / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This lush grove near Port Renfrew is filled with large western red cedars and Douglas firs. Many trees seem to be growing out of each other, with knots and burls as if there was a struggle to break free of their bark. 

The highlight of the grove is Canada's gnarliest tree, a massive cedar with a giant burl growing out of its lower trunk. This whimsical giant stands tall, overseeing the cathedral grove.  

The grove was discovered in 2009 and has been protected and closed to loggers since 2012. There are walking paths laid out along the way to the tree, through the upper and lower grove. 

Related Tags

Canada Trees Plants

Know Before You Go

From the logging road, follow the walking path to the upper section of the grove. Careful that the path can be slippery and uneven in sections.

Community Contributors

Added By

sharris

Edited By

simonele, TaiChiJohn, kenwichert, Amyvan...

  • simonele
  • TaiChiJohn
  • kenwichert
  • Amyvan
  • alojennifer

Published

December 25, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://happiestoutdoors.ca/avatar-grove-big-lonely-doug/
  • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/the-old-growth-trees-of-bcs-avatar-grove/article13214627/
  • https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/learn-more/directions-to-avatar-grove/
Canada's Knottiest Tree
Avatar Grove
North Saanich, British Columbia
Canada
48.617393, -124.436464
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Avatar Grove

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

miles away

Big Lonely Doug

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

miles away

Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of British Columbia

British Columbia

Canada

Places 135
Stories 22

Nearby Places

Avatar Grove

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

miles away

Big Lonely Doug

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

miles away

Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of British Columbia

British Columbia

Canada

Places 135
Stories 22

Related Places

  • The Comfort Maple with red autumn foliage.

    Pelham, Ontario

    Comfort Maple

    Canada's oldest sugar maple has been growing since around 1500.

  • The log provides the only stability and food for the little tree

    Port Renfrew, British Columbia

    Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree

    Defying all odds, this lonely little tree found a home on a log sticking out of a Canadian lake.

  • Visalia, California

    Sequoia Legacy Tree

    Far out of its comfort zone, this sequoia was planted as a symbol of the connection between Visalia and its neighboring national park.

  • Tulare County, California

    Mark Twain Stump

    The last remnant of a tree that helped prove to the world that sequoias are real—and they’re spectacular.

  • The Much Marcle Yew Tree

    Much Marcle, England

    Much Marcle Ancient Yew

    One of the oldest and most majestic living trees in Britain, thought to be over 1,500 years old.

  • Joan of Arc medallion

    Cedar Crest, New Mexico

    Sandia Medallion Trees

    Mysterious markers have been giving the public a lesson in dendrochronology for over a century.

  • The mulberry tree gushing water from its trunk.

    Dinoša, Montenegro

    Dinoša Mulberry Tree

    Water gushes from the trunk of this miraculous mulberry tree about once a year.

  • Calle Dr. Garcia Rogel street in Palmeral de Orihuela

    Orihuela, Spain

    Palmeral of Orihuela

    The second largest palm grove in Europe was planted during Moorish times and has been largely unchanged since then.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.