Land donation improves access to giant sequoia grove near Visalia

San Francisco-based Save the Redwoods League and Sequoia Riverlands Trust in Visalia announced the donation of the 66-acre Craig Ranch to the Bureau of Land Management for conservation and recreational use.

The Craig Ranch land will improve visitor access to the Case Mountain giant sequoia grove about 7. 5 miles southeast of Three Rivers.

The donated lands are adjacent to the 18,530-acre Kaweah Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and the Bureau of Land Management will add them to the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area, which will get better parking and trailhead access.

The League and Sequoia Riverlands Trust donated Craig Ranch after purchasing it from the Ollie Craig Trust for an undisclosed amount of money.

In 1993, Ollie Craig sold 1,000 acres to the BLM. The additional 66 acres honors her desire to conserve public lands.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Land donation improves access to giant sequoia grove near Visalia."