The Sequoia National Forest has given official notification that it plans to rebuild the Trail of 100 Giants as well as the Needles Fire Lookout Tower.

A decision likely will be made over the winter months on how to proceed with these two projects, the agency said in a news release. Both could begin as soon as next summer.

On the Trail of 100 Giants, located along the Great Western Divide Highway outside Camp Nelson, officials plan to build an elevated boardwalk over the two giant sequoias that fell Sept. 30. These trees, which are joined together at the base, are about 280 feet tall and 17 feet in diameter.

The elevated boardwalk will connect the trail from the remaining northernmost bridge on the south side of the fallen sequoias to the existing trail on the east side. It would be built to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"A boardwalk will allow all visitors, including those with disabilities, to safely see and touch the fallen sequoias and the hole left by the root system," district ranger Priscilla Summers said.

The agency also plans to rebuild the Needles Fire Lookout Tower, which was destroyed in a July 28 fire. The new structure will have the same "look and feel" as the old one, which overlooked the Kern River Drainage, Mt. Whitney, Olancha Peak, Farewell Gap and Dome Rock.

Public comments on both projects are due Jan. 9. For more information on either project, contact Anne Thomas at mariannethomas@fs.fed.us or (559) 539-2607, ext. 270.