Notes:  Daedalus is the world's 30th tallest tree, the 9th tallest tree in Redwood National Park, and the 3rd tallest tree in Helios Grove. Naturalists Chris K. Atkins and Michael W. Taylor named the tree after Daedalus, father of Icarus and creator of The Labyrinth, from Greek mythology. Elam Creek is also known as Dry Heaves Creek.

The film In Search of the Tallest: A Redwoods Adventure includes a segment about Daedalus.

Daedalus and Icarus are just one tree apart.

Drive: Daedalus is 255 mi (410 km) north of San Francisco near the community of Orick.

From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Orick, turn onto Bald Hills Road and drive 0.3 mi (0.5 km) to the Redwood Creek Trail sign. Turn right at the sign and drive 0.5 mi (0.8 km) to the Redwood Creek trailhead parking lot.

Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. From the parking lot, cross the wooden bridge at the trailhead and hike south 2.7 mi (4.3 km) along Redwood Creek Trail toward Elam Creek. Just after the trail crosses Hayes Creek, less than 1.0 mi (1.6 km) from the trailhead, you will see Redwood Creek on your right. Continue south along the trail until you reach the seasonal footbridge which crosses Redwood Creek 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from the trailhead. Cross Redwood Creek, return to the trail, and continue hiking south another 1.0 mi (1.6 km), past McArthur Creek and under a fallen tree, to Elam Creek. Just before the lower Elam Creek bridge (turn around if you reach this bridge), turn right/west at the Redwood Creek Trail sign on your left and the Orick Horse Trail sign on your right and hike west 0.1 mi (0.2 km) along the short spur trail, past Elam Camp and stable, to the junction with Elam Creek Loop Trail (also known as Overnight Loop Trail). Continue straight past the trail junction and hike west 0.2 mi (0.3 km) along the Elam Creek Loop Trail to the upper Elam Creek bridge and your first view of Daedalus and Icarus. 140 ft (43 m) past the bridge, just before you reach a small gully, exit the trail to the right and follow an old logging road southwest/uphill 350 ft (106 m). Where the logging road veers left/south (away from Elam Creek), near 41.26114 -124.03161, exit the logging road to the right, using a GPS device, hike northwest 70 ft (21 m) off-trail to Daedalus. After visting Deadalus, hike southwest 25 ft (8 m) off-trail to Icarus or hike southwest 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Helios.

Creek Warning: Daedalus is not accessible via Redwood Creek Trail when Redwood Creek has high water levels and the seasonal footbridge is not installed. It is best to visit Daedalus from July through October when Redwood Creek is low enough to wade across. To visit Daedalus whenever Redwood Creek is impassable, use the 3.1 mi (5.0 km) longer alternate route via Orick Horse Trail.

View Daedalus Tree location in Google Maps

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

Photos: Pictures of Daedalus Tree taken from different sides