Notes: Allen Russell, also known as Balch Park Tree and Giant of Balch Park, is the 11th largest tree in Giant Sequoia National Monument and the 6th largest tree in Mountain Home Grove. On June 16, 1990, Tulare County supervisors dedicated the tree to honor Balch Park ranger Allen I. Russell upon his retirement. On June 23, 1991, the Tulare County Historical Society installed a stone marker beside the tree.

Drive: Allen Russell is 233 mi (375 km) southeast of San Francisco near the city of Porterville.

Northbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 North, transfer to California State Route 99 North. From California State Route 99 North just north of Bakersfield, transfer to California State Route 65 North toward Porterville. Near Porterville, transfer to California State Route 190 East.

Southbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 South in Sacramento, transfer to U.S. Highway 50 East toward South Lake Tahoe. Drive east 1.7 mi (2.7 km) on U.S. Highway 50 and transfer to California State Highway 99 South. Near Tipton, transfer to California State Route 190 East toward Porterville.

From Porterville, drive east 17 mi (27 km) on California State Route 190 toward Springville. Just past Springfield, turn left onto Balch Park Road toward Scicon, Balch Park, and Mountain Home State Forest. Drive north 3.4 mi (5.5 km) on Balch Park Road and turn right onto Bear Creek Road toward Scicon, Balch Park, and Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Drive east 15 mi (24 km) on Bear Creek Road, past Methuselah Group Campground, and veer left at the next fork in the road onto Balch Park Road toward Balch Park. Drive north 0.3 mi (0.5 km) on Balch Park Road to the entrance of Balch Park Campground. Turn right at the campground entrance and drive east 0.3 mi (0.5 km) on the campground road, past Upper Pond, to the parking spot near campsite 44.

Navigation System Warning: Many computer, smartphone, and car navigation systems instruct you to turn left/north onto Rancheria Fire Road (a gated, narrow, and unpaved road) from Bear Creek Road to get to Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Ignore those instructions and continue driving on Bear Creek Road instead. Those same navigation systems may also instruct you to bypass Bear Creek Road altogether and to take Balch Park Road to the northern entrance of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Avoid that route from Springville because it adds more than 6 mi (10 km) and 30 min of driving one-way.

Hike: From the parking spot, hike west 100 ft (30 m) to Allen Russell.

View Allen Russell Tree location in Google Maps

Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of Allen Russell Tree

Photos: Pictures of Allen Russell Tree taken from different sides