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 197 mi (317 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). Turn left under the bridge onto Bull Creek/Mattole Road.

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

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

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: If Bull Creek is low enough and you feel comfortable crossing the creek atop a fallen log, take this shortcut to Harper Flat which reduces hiking time by 20 minutes each way. Park at a pullout on Mattole Road, across from the Look Prairie Road sign, just before the Harper Creek sign. From the pullout, hike west on Big Tree 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. If Bull Creek is impassable or you are unable to walk across the fallen log, take the longer route via the Big Trees Area described above.

Creek Warning: Apex is not accessible from the Big Trees Area parking lot 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 Bull Creek Flats Trail South.

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