Notes: Before it perished in the 2020 Castle Fire, Near Gutless Giant, so named because it stands near Gutless Goliath, was the largest tree in Wheel Meadow Grove.

Drive: Near Gutless Giant is 241 mi (388 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 Porterville, transfer to California State Route 190 East.

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.

From Porterville, drive east 39 mi (63 km) on California State Route 190, past Camp Nelson, and turn right onto Pine Way, near Wellsville Saloon, toward Cedar Slope.

Road Warning: Although the route through Cedar Slope to the trailhead is straightforward, the road is winding, and the street name (easily overlooked as signposts here display street names vertically) changes frequently.

Drive south 0.15 mi (0.24 km) on Pine Way and merge left onto Cedar Drive. Drive southwest 0.13 mi (0.21 km) on Cedar Drive then merge right onto Ponderosa Drive at Spring Drive. Drive west 200 ft (61 m) on Ponderosa Drive then veer left onto Redwood Drive where Ponderosa Drive veers right. Drive south 0.35 mi (0.56 km) on Redwood Drive and turn right onto Forest Service Road 20S46. Drive south 0.75 mi (1.20 km) on Forest Service Road 20S46 to the parking spot at the end of the road.

Hike: From the trailhead, hike southeast 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on an unnamed trail, across Boulder Creek and South Fork Middle Fork Tule River, to the junction with Nelson Trail. Turn left at the trail junction and hike east 0.7 mi (1.1 km) on Nelson Trail to Bent Tree which stands beside the trail on your right. Turn left at Bent Tree and, using a GPS device, hike northeast 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail toward a distinctive tree with dead spike top. Cross South Fork Middle Fork Tule River near the dead spike tree and hike east/uphill 250 ft (76 m) off-trail to Near Gutless Giant. After visiting Near Gutless Giant, hike east/uphill 200 ft (61 m) off-trail to Gutless Goliath.

View Near Gutless Giant Tree location in Google Maps

Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of Near Gutless Giant Tree

Photos: Pictures of Near Gutless Giant Tree taken from different sides