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4.1
7 votes

Tall Trees Grove Trailhead

Tall Trees Access Rd, McKinleyville, California USA

  • Independent
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“Home to some of the tallest trees in the world!”

The popular Tall Trees Grove is best known as the location of the Libbey Tree, which at one time was the world's tallest known living thing. Although taller redwoods have since been found, the Libbey Tree is still interesting because it's the only one of the former Tallest Trees that you can actually see. The locations of all the other tallest trees have been kept secret. Like the other tallest trees, the Libbey Tree itself is completely unremarkable when seen from the ground, a double trunk so small that you probably won't believe you're looking at the right tree. Of all the major attractions in Redwood National and State Parks, the Tall Trees Grove is the most difficult to reach. To protect the grove, a limited number of cars per day are allowed access; permits must be obtained at Kuchel Visitor Center. Once you get your permit, it's a 45-minute drive to the trailhead, starting with a long climb up Bald Hills Road. You have to open a locked gate using a secret combination, then it's a 6-mile drive down a dusty (or muddy) gravel logging road. Finally, you have to walk 1.3 miles with a considerable elevation change to reach the grove.

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Reviewed by
Greek_nomad

  • Road Warrior
  • 401 Reviews
  • 296 Helpful
August 21, 2014
Rated 5.0

Are you the 'adventure' kind of person ? Do you have children who love to explore well kept secrets?

Then why not go for the 'tallest tree in the world hunting'? Believe me if its sounds fun, just imagine how fun it is to actually do it.

The Redwood National Park is the place where some of the tallest redwoods can be found. Specifically, a tree called 'Libbey' used to be the tallest tree in the world.

In order to get there, you must visit early in the morning the Kuchel Visitor Center in order to obtain a permit and a unique code to unlock the gates. The earlier the better, because they give away only 50 permits / day if i remember well. After opening the gate, you will have to combine driving with hiking and a lot of searching in order to find 'Libbey'. It is up to you to add up a feeling of mystery and 'treasure hunting' so as to stimulate even further the fun of your kids.

Overall the natural landscapes are just amazing, and when you eventually find 'Libbey' you will stand speechless at least for a couple of minutes just staring at it, feeling so small in the greatness of nature!!! A absolute must-see while in north California!!!!

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Tall Trees Grove Trailhead

Tall Trees Access Rd
McKinleyville, California
USA
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