| Height: | 323.82+ ft | (98.70+ m) | Elevation: | 155 ft (47 m) | GPS Latitude: | 41.77852 |
| Volume: | 30,784 ft3 | (872 m3) | Creek: | Mill Creek | GPS Longitude: | -124.10065 |
| Width: | 22.10 ft | (6.74 m) | Grove: | Grove of Titans | Discovery Date: | May 11, 1998 |
| Age: | 1,724 y | Park: | Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP | Discovered By: | Stephen C. Sillett | |
| Michael W. Taylor |
Notes: El Viejo del Norte, Spanish for old man of the north,
is the 11th largest coast redwood, the 6th largest tree in
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and the 3rd largest tree in the
Grove of Titans. Cal Poly Humboldt forestry professor Stephen C. Sillett and naturalist Michael W. Taylor
named the tree El Viejo del Norte given its gnarled appearance.
El Viejo del Norte has the widest branch (9.19 ft (2.80 m)) of any coast redwood and contains one of the largest arboreal fern mats 25 ft (8 m) long, 6 ft (2 m) wide, and 3 ft (1 m) thick nearly 260 ft (79 m) above ground.
Videographer Arnold D. Cooper published an aerial flyover of El Viejo del Norte. Cal Poly Humboldt forestry professor Stephen C. Sillett photographed the crown of Lost Monarch and the crown of Screaming Titans from El Viejo del Norte. El Viejo del Norte is featured in the BBC Radio 4 Nature program James and the Giant Redwoods.
Drive: El Viejo del Norte is 290 mi (467 km) north of San Francisco near Crescent City.
Northbound: From U.S. Highway 101, exit Humboldt Road just south of Crescent City. Turn right onto Humboldt Road and drive north 1.5 mi (2.4 km) to Howland Hill Road. Turn right onto Howland Hill Road and drive 3.8 mi (6.1 km), past Howland Hill Giant, to the parking area located at 41.77243 -124.09940.
Southbound: From U.S. Highway 101, exit Elk Valley Road just south of Crescent City. Turn left onto Elk Valley Road and drive east 1.1 mi (1.8 km) to Howland Hill Road. Turn right onto Howland Hill Road and drive 4.4 mi (7.1 km) to the parking area located at 41.77243 -124.09940.
There are two turnouts on the right/east side of the road. Park at the first turnout which is closest to the trailhead sign on the opposite side of the road.
Hike: From the trailhead sign, hike north 0.8 mi (1.3 km) on Mill Creek Trail to 41.77848 -124.10006. Turn left/west at a set of trees where you see El Viejo del Norte's unmistakable protrusion. Leave the trail here and hike west 150 ft (46 m) off-trail to El Viejo Del Norte.
| Rating: | Easy | One-Way Distance: | 0.8 mi | (1.3 km) | Ascent: | 181 ft | (55 m) |
| Time: | 40 min | Off-Trail: | 150 ft | (46 m) | Descent: | 204 ft | (62 m) |
View El Viejo del Norte Tree location in Google Maps
Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of El Viejo del Norte Tree
Photos: Pictures of El Viejo del Norte Tree taken from different sides
