Notes: Pipe Dream is the world's 14th tallest tree, the 8th tallest tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, and the 2nd tallest tree on Middle Bull Creek Flat. The area surrounding Pipe Dream is also known as Patriarch Forest and Patriarch Grove. Pipe Dream is also the 21st fastest-growing redwood yet measured; it grew an average of 23.0 ft³ (0.65 m³) and 578 lb (262 kg) each year over a recent decade.

Cal Poly Humboldt forestry professor Stephen C. Sillett photographed the intermingled crowns of John Muir and Pipe Dream from the crown of Bull Creek Giant. Author Richard M. Preston photographed the trunk of Pipe Dream from 175 ft (53 m) above ground.

Drive: Pipe Dream 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 50 minutes each way, to visit Pipe Dream 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 parking lot, hike toward Bull Creek and cross the seasonal footbridge, if available. The trail veers left/east just after you cross the footbridge. In 400 ft (122 m), turn right/south toward Giant Tree. Pass to the right of Giant Tree and, when you reach the first Bull Creek Flats trail marker, turn left. When you reach the Johnson Camp Trail sign, turn left again toward the Bull Creek Trail sign. In approximately 2.0 mi (3.2 km), you will encounter a cut log on your right next to a splintered log on your left. Turn left just past the next tree beside the trail and, using a GPS device, follow a small gully north/downhill 464 ft (141 m) off-trail to Bull Creek Giant. As you hike down the gully, walk over a log, veer to your left, and then pass under another log to reach the valley floor. Continue straight across the valley floor until you see a long, fallen log on your left. Follow this fallen log, past Bull Creek Giant, and hike northeast 400 ft (122 m) off-trail to Pipe Dream. After visiting Pipe Dream, hike southwest 50 ft (15 m) off-trail to John Muir, hike southwest 400 ft (122 m) off-trail to Bull Creek Giant, hike west 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Harriett Weaver, or hike northwest 0.25 mi (0.40 km) off-trail to Minaret.

Shortcut: From the turnout, 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 southeast another 0.2 mi (0.3 km) off-trail to Pipe Dream.

Creek Warning: Pipe Dream 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 Pipe Dream from July through October when Bull Creek is low enough to wade across. To visit Pipe Dream whenever Bull Creek is impassable, use the 1.0 mi (1.6 km) longer alternate route via Grasshopper Road instead.

View Pipe Dream Tree location in Google Maps

Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of Pipe Dream Tree

Photos: Pictures of Pipe Dream Tree taken from different sides