Notes: Brutus, also known as Big Log, is the 28th tallest tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park and the 8th tallest tree on Harper Flat.

Drive: Brutus 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.

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. Hike east to the trail exit point located near 40.34834 -123.98511. Leave the trail here and, using a GPS device, hike northwest 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Brutus. After visiting Brutus, hike west 123 ft (37 m) off-trail to Randy Stoltmann, hike northeast 319 ft (97 m) off-trail to Valentine, hike northeast 537 ft (164 m) off-trail to Alice Rhodes, hike east 170 ft (52 m) off-trail to Pyramid Giant, hike east 341 ft (104 m) off-trail to Mother and Daughter, or hike east 403 ft (123 m) off-trail to Apex.

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 Day Use Area described above.

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

View Brutus Tree location in Google Maps

Photos: Pictures of Brutus Tree taken from different sides