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Alternate Route to Minaret

Notes: Use this alternate route to visit Minaret whenever Bull Creek is impassable. If the seasonal footbridge over Bull Creek is installed or Bull Creek is low enough to wade across, use the 1.0 mi (1.6 km) shorter normal route to Minaret from the Big Trees Day Use Area parking lot instead.

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 5.2 mi (8.4 km) on Mattole Road to the bridge which crosses Bull Creek. 500 ft (152 m) past the bridge, near a small sign that reads Fire Lookout, turn left onto an unmarked road (also known as Grasshopper Road and Grasshopper Multi Use Trail). Drive south 250 ft (76 m) on the unmarked road and park in a pullout on the right. The unmarked Bull Creek Flats Trail South trailhead is on your left.

Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. From the trailhead, hike east 1.2 mi (1.9 km) on Bull Creek Flats Trail South to Giant Tree Junction. Continue hiking east on Bull Creek Flats Trail South, following the normal route, from Giant Tree Junction to Minaret.

Rating: Moderate One-Way Distance: 2.9 mi (4.7 km) Ascent: 335 ft (102 m)
Time: 1 hr 30 min Off-Trail: 0.1 mi (0.2 km) Descent: 434 ft (132 m)
Minaret Tree Alternate Hike Map

View Minaret Tree location in Google Maps