Notes: Apex, also known as Harper Tower, is the world's 12th tallest tree, the 6th tallest tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park , and the tallest tree on Harper Flat.

Drive: Apex is 196 mi (315 km) north of San Francisco near the community of Weott.

Northbound: From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Weott, take exit 663 South Fork Honeydew and turn left onto California State Route 254 (Avenue of the Giants). Drive north 0.2 mi (0.3 km) on California State Route 254 (Avenue of the Giants) and turn left, under the bridge, onto Mattole Road.

Southbound: From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Weott, take exit 663 South Fork Honeydew and turn right onto Mattole Road.

Drive west 4.4 mi (7.1 km) on Mattole Road to the entrance for the Big Trees Day Use Area. Turn left here and continue to the Big Trees Day Use Area parking lot.

Shortcut: Take this shortcut, which reduces hiking time by 20 minutes each way, to visit Apex if Bull Creek is low enough and you feel comfortable crossing the creek atop a fallen log. Park at a pullout on Mattole Road, across from the Look Prairie Road sign, just before the Harper Creek sign.

Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. Hike from the parking lot toward Bull Creek and cross the seasonal footbridge, if available. The trail veers left/east just after you cross the footbridge. In 400 ft (122 m), turn right/south toward Giant Tree. Pass to the right of Giant Tree and, when you reach the first Bull Creek Flats trail marker, turn left. When you reach the Johnson Camp Trail sign, turn left again toward the Bull Creek Trail sign. Turn left just past a large snag on your left near 40.34961 -123.98339. Exit the trail here and, using a GPS device, hike west 190 ft (58 m) off-trail, around a fallen log, to Apex. After visting Apex, hike west 68 ft (21 m) off-trail to Mother and Daughter, hike west 230 ft (70 m) off-trail to Pyramid Giant, hike west 403 ft (123 m) off-trail to Brutus, hike west 524 ft (160 m) off-trail to Randy Stoltmann, hike northwest 132 ft (40 m) off-trail to Valentine, or hike north 418 ft (127 m) off-trail to Alice Rhodes.

Shortcut: From the pullout on Mattole Road, hike west on Big Trees Trail and turn left/south just before the bridge over Harper Creek. Hike south toward Bull Creek, turn right/west, and follow the path to a large fallen log which spans Bull Creek. Hike southeast across the fallen log to Harper Flat then, using a GPS device, hike southeast another 0.13 mi (0.21 km) off-trail, past Mother and Daughter and Valentine, to Apex.

Creek Warning: Apex is not accessible from the Big Trees Day Use Area parking lot or Mattole Road when Bull Creek has high water levels and the seasonal footbridge is not installed. It is best to visit Apex from July through October when Bull Creek is low enough to wade across. To visit Apex whenever Bull Creek is impassable, use the 1.0 mi (1.6 km) longer alternate route via Grasshopper Road instead.

View Apex Tree location in Google Maps

Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of Apex Tree

Photos: Pictures of Apex Tree taken from different sides