Hiking to the world’s tallest tree? You face $5,000 fines and jail, California officials say
California’s Redwood National Park issued a warning that any visitor who gets caught near the Hyperion tree faces a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.
Hyperion, certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest living tree, is now officially off-limits to visitors, and the national park is making a determined effort to enforce the rule.
The coast redwood tree – known as a “sequoia sempervirens” type of ancient evergreen tree – has faced serious environmental degradation from tourists and hikers who have visited since 2006. The tree stands 380 feet tall and is named after Greek mythology; Hyperion was one of the Titans and the father of sun god Helios and moon goddess Selene.
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“Hyperion is located off trail through dense vegetation and requires heavy ‘bushwhacking’ in order to reach the tree,” the Redwood National Park said in a statement. “Despite the difficult journey, increased popularity due to bloggers, travel writers, and websites of this off-trail tree has resulted in the devastation of the habitat surrounding Hyperion.
“As a visitor, you must decide if you will be part of the preservation of this unique landscape – or will you be part of its destruction?”
Wildfires are also a concern with ancient trees. General Sherman, world’s largest tree based on density and not height, was wrapped in an aluminum-based burn-resistant material last year to evade any devastating fires.