Notes: Before it perished in the 2021 Windy Fire, Candelabra, also known as Turnip, was the 2nd largest tree in Packsaddle Grove. Naturalists Wendell D. Flint and Michael Law named the tree Turnip when they discovered it in 1971 because the trunk reminded them of a huge turnip. Naturalist William Croft renamed the tree Candelabra in 1978 because he felt it more resembled a candelabra.

Drive: Candelabra is 247 mi (398 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 Ducor, turn right/east onto County Road J22 (Avenue 56).

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. Drive east 17 mi (27 km) on California State Route 190 and turn right onto California State Route 65. Drive south 11.1 mi (17.9 km) on California State Route 65 toward Ducor and turn left/east onto County Road J22 (Avenue 56).

From Ducor, drive east 7.6 mi (12.2 km) on County Road J22 (Avenue 56) to the intersection with Old Stage Road. Continue east across Old Stage Road onto County Road M56 (Hot Springs Road). Drive east 20 mi (32 km) on County Road M56 (Hot Springs Road) toward Pine Flat and turn left/north onto County Road M50 (Parker Pass Drive). Drive north 15 mi (24 km) on County Road M50 (Parker Pass Drive) toward Johnsondale, past the intersection with County Road M107 (Great Western Divide Highway), and turn right/south onto Forest Service Road 23S16 (Sugarloaf Road) toward Packsaddle Meadow. Drive south 1.0 mi (1.6 km) on Forest Service Road 23S16 (Sugarloaf Road) and continue straight onto Forest Service Road 23S64 (Starvation Creek Road). Drive south 4 mi (6 km) on Forest Service Road 23S64 (Starvation Creek Road) and turn left/east onto Forest Service Road 23S28. Drive east 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on Forest Service Road 23S38 and park near the locked gate.

Road Warning: Forest Service Roads 23S16 (Sugarloaf Road) and 23S64 (Starvation Creek Road) are closed (with a locked gate) during winter. Depending on weather conditions, Forest Service Roads 23S16 (Sugarloaf Road) and 23S64 (Starvation Creek Road) are usually open from May through November. These roads are unpaved, rough, narrow, and winding. Low-clearance/oversized vehicles and trailers are not recommended.

Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. From the parking spot, walk east 0.3 mi (0.5 km) on Forest Service Road 23S28, past the locked gate, to to the trail exit point near 35.92252 -118.59434. Leave the road here and hike northeast 0.25 mi (0.40 km) off-trail, past Ghost and Packsaddle Giant, to Candelabra. After visiting Candelabra, hike southwest/uphill 200 ft (61 m) off-trail to Packsaddle Giant then hike southwest/uphill another 300 ft (91 m) off-trail to Ghost.

View Candelabra Tree location in Google Maps

Panoramas: Click panoramas to take a virtual tour of Candelabra Tree

Photos: Pictures of Candelabra Tree taken from different sides