Height: | 359.19+ ft | (109.48+ m) | Elevation: | 239 ft (73 m) | GPS Latitude: | 40.35042 |
Volume: | Creek: | Bull Creek | GPS Longitude: | -123.97257 | ||
Width: | 11.71 ft | (3.57 m) | Grove: | Calf Creek Flat | Discovery Date: | |
Age: | Park: | Humboldt Redwoods SP | Discovered By: |
Notes: Idril, also known as Alluvium, is the 2nd tallest tree on Calf Creek Flat. Humboldt State University forestry professor Stephen C. Sillett named the tree after J. R. R. Tolkien's Idril Celebrindal, an elvish princess and mother of Eärendil the Mariner. Idril and Stratosphere Giant are just nine trees apart.
Drive: Idril is 233 mi (375 km) north of San Francisco near the community of Weott.
Northbound: From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Weott, take exit 663 South Fork Honeydew and turn left onto California State Route 254 (Avenue of the Giants). Turn left under the bridge onto Bull Creek/Mattole Road.
Southbound: From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Weott, take exit 663 South Fork Honeydew and turn right onto Bull Creek/Mattole Road.
Drive west 3.4 mi (5.5 km) on Bull Creek/Mattole Road to the Calf Creek parking area, on your right, near a small Calf Creek sign. Immediately across the street, to your left, is a Bull Creek State Wilderness sign.
Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. Though you may be tempted to walk straight to Idril from the parking area, the direct route to the tree is not ideal because many huge, fallen trees between the road and Idril block your path. Instead, hike Bull Creek Flats Trail North, around Calf Creek Flat, to approach Idril from the south. This route is more-accessible and requires less off-trail hiking.
From the parking area, walk west 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on Bull Creek/Mattole Road to a turnout on the left/south side
of the road near a small sign which reads Trail - No dogs except service dogs.
This sign marks the connection to Bull Creek Flats Trail North which veers
left/south following Bull Creek.
Hike south 0.5 mi (0.8 km) on Bull Creek Flats Trail North, under a fallen tree, to the trail exit point near a tree with an oval burn scar on your right. Turn left here and hike north 150 ft (46 m) off-trail on an old, unpaved road which curves gently left/west. Veer left/north where the road turns right/east and, using a GPS device, hike north another 150 ft (46 m) off-trail to Idril. After visiting Idril, hike west 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Stratosphere Giant.
Rating: | Easy | One-Way Distance: | 0.8 mi | (1.3 km) | Ascent: | 22 ft | (7 m) |
Time: | 14 min | Off-Trail: | 312 ft | (95 m) | Descent: | 63 ft | (19 m) |
View idril Tree location in Google Maps
Photos: Pictures of Idril Tree taken from different sides