Notes:  Helios is the world's 2nd tallest tree, the 2nd tallest and 6th largest tree in Redwood National Park, and the tallest and largest tree in Helios Grove. Naturalists Chris K. Atkins and Michael W. Taylor named the tree after the Greek Titan Helios, god of the sun and son of Hyperion, because its treetop remained sunlit when first spotted near sunset on July 1, 2006. Helios held the title of world's tallest tree from July 1, 2006 until August 25, 2006 when Atkins and Taylor discovered Hyperion in Redwood National Park. Elam Creek is also known as Dry Heaves Creek.

Helios has the largest measured crown, 696,050 ft³ (19,710 m³), in Redwood National Park [3rd largest in Redwood National and State Parks behind Iluvatar, 915,500 ft³ (25,924 m³), and Atlas, 912,740 ft³ (25,846 m³)] and contains over 560 million leaves. The main trunk tapers sharply, just above a large burl, about 59 ft (18 m) above average ground level. The tallest leader is a reiterated trunk.

Author Richard M. Preston photographed Save the Redwoods League naturalists Ruskin K. Hartley and Kenya Lewis and biologists Marie E. Antoine and James C. Spickler approaching Helios before the September 17, 2006 first climb. The film In Search of the Tallest: A Redwoods Adventure includes a segment about Helios.

Contrary to what many researchers have claimed, the 1978 expansion of Redwood National Park did not save the world's tallest trees; Helios and Hyperion grow within the original 1968 park boundary.

Drive: Helios 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 southwest 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail, past Daedalus and Icarus, to Helios. After visiting Helios, hike northeast 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Daedalus and Icarus, hike west 0.2 mi (0.3 km) off-trail to Gulch Tower, or hike southwest 0.3 mi (0.5 km) off-trail to Orion.

Creek Warning: Helios 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 Orion from July through October when Redwood Creek is low enough to wade across. To visit Orion whenever Redwood Creek is impassable, use the 3.1 mi (5.0 km) longer alternate route via Orick Horse Trail.

View Helios Tree location in Google Maps

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

Photos: Pictures of Helios Tree taken from different sides