Notes: Before the 2021 Windy Fire, Ghost, also known as General Robert E. Lee, was the 3rd largest tree in Packsaddle Grove. The trunk lost significant height and volume after it burned, and, pending updated volume estimates, Ghost likely no longer ranks among the largest trees in Packsaddle Grove.

Ghost appears in Joe Mear's article entitled Big Trees and Big Fish published in the December 1935 issue of Field and Stream Magazine.

Ghost should not be confused with other Robert E. Lee trees: one which grows in General Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park and another which grows in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park or with General Lee which grows in Giant Gorest in Sequoia National Park.

Drive: Ghost 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, using a GPS device, hike northeast/downhill 0.15 mi (0.24 km) off-trail to Ghost. After visiting Ghost, hike northeast/downhill 300 ft (91 m) off-trail to Packsaddle Giant then hike northeast/downhill another 200 ft (61 m) off-trail to Candelabra.

View Ghost Tree location in Google Maps

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

Photos: Pictures of Ghost Tree taken from different sides