See the Tree in Utah That Was Around When the Pyramids Were Being Built

A tree sitting high up in the Southern Utah Mountains has been around since the pharaohs ruled Egypt. They were clinging to the rock when humans were just beginning to write things down. 

Ancient Tree That Grows in Utah 

The bristlecone pine grows in Utah, Nevada, and California in small stands. The oldest of these trees live so long because of the harshness of the environment. This is usually at the edge of the tree line in rocky shallow soil. 

They can survive through long droughts and because they grow so slowly, some years they will not even produce a ring. This makes the wood dense, which in turn keeps bugs from burrowing inside as well as prevents damage from rot. 

These trees are protected, and you can visit some of the oldest stands here in Southern Utah and in Great Basin National Park near the border in Nevada.  

Oldest Bristlecone Pine’s Location is a Secret 

The oldest tree is named Methuselah and lives somewhere in California. Its location is not given to the general public to secure its safety. Researchers have determined the tree to be 4,800 years old.  

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How does a tree like this live so long? It stakes its claim and thrives in a place few other living things can inhabit. Even forest fires find the area inhospitable. Living in Utah, you should make friends with the bristlecone pine. They are survivors.