Tucked away in the redwood grove at Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, outside of Felton, CA in the Santa Cruz mountains, you could easily miss the Fremont Tree in the ancient forest. That’s because it’s located in a hidden bend off the main redwood grove loop trail and marked only by an unobtrusive sign. The Fremont Tree looks much like its neighboring redwoods, save for a small opening in its trunk and darkness beyond. Those brave enough to crawl through the hole will find themselves in the dark, quiet interior of the tree. Inside, it’s big enough to stand up and exploration with your phone flashlight will reveal a small nook carved into the interior. Point the light upward and it will be swallowed by the hollow tunnel that soars above you into the heart of the tree.  While the tale may be apocryphal, local legend says that the tree was used as a headquarters by General John C. Fremont when he explored the Santa Cruz mountains in 1848.…