Notes: Minaret is the world's 10th tallest tree, the 5th tallest tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, and the tallest tree on Middle Bull Creek Flat.

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

Drive: Minaret is 196 mi (315 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). Drive north 0.2 mi (0.3 km) on California State Route 254 (Avenue of the Giants) and turn left, under the bridge, onto Mattole Road.

Southbound: From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Weott, take exit 663 South Fork Honeydew and turn right onto Mattole Road.

Drive west 4.4 mi (7.1 km) on Mattole Road to the entrance for the Big Trees Day Use Area. Turn left here and continue to the Big Trees Day Use Area parking lot.

Shortcut: Take this shortcut, which reduces hiking time by 45 minutes each way, to visit Minaret when Bull Creek is low enough to wade across. Park at a turnout on the right/north side of Mattole Road near Cow Creek.

Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. From the trailhead near the eastern end of the parking lot, hike east 150 ft (46 m) toward Bull Creek. Cross the seasonal footbridge, if available, then veer right/west toward Giant Tree. Just past Giant Tree, turn left at the junction with Big Trees Loop Trail and hike southeast 250 ft (76 m) on Big Trees Loop Trail to the junction with Bull Creek Flats Trail South. Turn left at the trail junction, and hike east 1.6 mi (2.6 km) on Bull Creek Flats Trail South, past the junction with Johnson Camp Trail and Bushy Toe, to the trail exit point 40.34666 -123.96686. Leave the trail here and, using a GPS device, hike northeast 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Minaret. After visiting Minaret, hike southeast 0.15 mi (0.24 km) off-trail to Harriett Weaver, hike southeast 0.25 mi (0.40 km) off-trail to Bull Creek Giant, or hike southeast 0.25 mi (0.40 km) off-trail to John Muir and Pipe Dream.

Shortcut: From the turnout on Mattole Road, hike southwest 0.15 mi (0.24 km) off-trail, following Cow Creek, to Bull Creek. Cross Bull Creek and, using a GPS device, hike southwest another 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Minaret.

Creek Warning: Minaret is not accessible from the Big Trees Day Use Area parking lot or Mattole Road when Bull Creek has high water levels and the seasonal footbridge is not installed. It is best to visit Minaret from July through October when Bull Creek is low enough to wade across. To visit Minaret whenever Bull Creek is impassable, use the 1.0 mi (1.6 km) longer alternate route via Grasshopper Road instead.

View Minaret Tree location in Google Maps

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

Photos: Pictures of Minaret Tree taken from different sides