About Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett is a climate change reporter based in Lake Placid, NY. Originally from North Texas, Chloe has always been drawn to the natural world. In 2022, she graduated from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY where she focused on environmental reporting and audio production. She grew a deep appreciation for the Adirondack Park while interning for the Explorer in the summer of 2022.

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Comments

    • Erik Danielson says

      Hi Upstater,

      The diameter is just 31.3 inches. Not a “large” tree in the broader sense- just very tall.

    • Erik Danielson says

      The DBH of the widest currently known single-stem white pine in NY is 5.12 feet, in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness. That tree is a bit shorter at 141 feet tall.

  1. E.N. Woodcock says

    I remember reading about white pines in the Conewango Valley region of N.Y. Reaching heights of over 200’ in the early days. Wonder what the tallest ever recorded is?

    • Erik Danielson says

      Heights of up to 240′ have been claimed but weren’t substantiated. The tallest reliably measured in the modern era was 207 feet in the Smokies, before its top broke. I live in the Conewango Valley region and have read some log and stumpage reports from the 19th century that support claims of trees 180-200 feet tall being logged out of the valley. The combined geology, hydrology and topography of that area realistically may have grown some of the tallest white pines that ever grew. Not too far away is Cook Forest, where the tallest white pine in the northeast once stood 184 feet tall, and before they were logged and farmed those valley bottoms would have been even more favorable for tall trees than the habitat found at Cook Forest.

  2. Matt Finley says

    Hello. My property in Bolton has many very tall pines, although some have been logged. I would like to know where you found this largest tree, especially if it was on my property 3 miles south of Bolton Landing. Thank you.

    • Erik Danielson says

      Hi Matt,

      This tree is on public land within the Lake George Wild Forest north of Bolton Landing.

    • Erik Danielson says

      It’s not a very wide tree- the record it sets is for height only. The word “largest” can be confusing in this context.

  3. Daniel Holtje says

    The tallest and largest DBH White Pine’s in the Adirondacks can be found in what is known as the “Kings Forest” near Paul Smith’s College. The grove of trees were set aside back in the late 1700’s by the King of England for mast’s of ships. There were about 50+/- of these tress back when I attended PSC in the late 1980’s. It took four of us to, with outstretched arms, to get around the base of the tree. The DBH was about 6′. About ten years ago I took a hike back into the section of woods where I was still able to locate a few of those massive trees. I believe you have to cross private property to get there now, so ask permission before trekking through the woods.

    • Erik Danielson says

      Hi Daniel,

      The grove at Paul Smith’s is well known, and is one of the most impressive collections of large pines all in one place to be found in the Adirondacks. However, individual trees of greater height (such as this one) as well as of greater DBH are now known from other groves in the park.

  4. Matt Novak says

    I know of some much larger pines on state land in Essex County, certainly much larger girth anyway. Three grown men can put their arms around this tree and not touch hands.

    • Erik Danielson says

      Are you DEC forester Matt Novak? There definitely are many pines of larger girth- this tallest tree is only 31″ DBH. The two largest-girth white pines I know of in the Adirondacks are a tree 61.2″ DBH (136.8′ tall) in the High Peaks Wilderness north of Mt. Ampersand and a tree 61.5′ DBH (141′ tall) in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness. I’d be happy to get in touch if you know of others that may be even larger.

  5. Ben says

    John and Daniel- the Native Tree Society measures trees all over the state. I’m sure they would know if the well known tall trees in Paul Smiths are taller. Interesting to read your comments though. Cheers..

  6. Whacker says

    Sorry to say, but the tallest White Pine in New York is located in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness in Schroon just past Cobble Hill on the way to the southern approach to Bailey Pond. Not hard to find if you get back in there. Best public approach would be to go to Bailey Pond and then go to the southern end of the pond facing Hayes Mountain, and follow the southern drainage out of the pond while staying on the eastern side. It’s before you get to the marsh directly in front of the cliffs to Hayes Mountain.

    • Erik Danielson says

      Whacker, that looks like a great area. That said, the tallest trees in the location you described are not much over 130 feet tall. Perhaps you’re describing a tree that has a very large trunk that really stood out to you for that reason? Trees with big trunks are not always very tall. Accurately determining height requires specialized equipment or making a climb.

      • Whacker says

        Thanks for your reply Erik, but why let facts get in the way of a good story! It’s my local favorite anyway and always a good day in the woods to come across it. Keep up the good work.

  7. James North, MD says

    Can someone tell me where the official circumference height is measured to determine a trees girth? I have a White Pine on my property in Saratoga County that is 14 feet in circumference at chest height, but the tree widens out dramatically from there to the ground, where it is more like 18 feet in circumference.

  8. Jon Naple says

    Zoar Valley…..

    Nr Tree species Height Location Measurement Year
    1 Liriodendron tulipifera (American Tulip Tree) 49.38 m South Branch Spire, Zoar Valley, Gowanda, Cattaraugus County ErikDanielsen 2018

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