Visitors will have to make like a tree and leave the world’s tallest tree alone unless they are willing to incur $5,000 fines and jail time, according to a new order from the National Park Service.
An influx of visitors disrupted the environment around Hyperion, the world’s largest tree, leading to environmental destruction, the NPS told would-be tourists. In an effort to preserve the monolith, the NPS released a service bulletin banning visitors from the nearly 400-foot tree.
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“Hyperion is located off trail through dense vegetation and requires heavy ‘bushwhacking’ in order to reach the tree. 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,” it reads. “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?”
The bulletin also seemingly attempts to dissuade visitors by denigrating its status. In an answer to a “commonly asked question” inquiring as to whether it’s the most impressive tree, it reads, “No, it’s not,” adding a view of the tree “doesn’t match its hype.”
“Hyperion’s trunk is small in comparison to many other old-growth redwood trees and its height cannot be observed from the ground. … There are hundreds of trees on designated trails that are more impressive to view from the tree’s base,” the website continues.
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Climbing any tree in the Redwood National and State Park or flying a drone is strictly prohibited without a permit, according to the NPS.
At 380 feet, 9.7 inches, Hyperion holds the Guinness World Record for the single largest tree on Earth. The coast redwood is estimated to be between 600 and 800 years old.
