Hyperion

Hyperion is a coastal redwood located in the Redwood National and State Parks in California and rises to nearly 116 meters in height. This living specimen holds the record as the tallest measured tree on Earth and surpasses all other known examples of its kind.

Naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor discovered this exceptional Sequoia sempervirens on August 25, 2006, during an expedition through the forest. Since then, authorities have kept its exact location undisclosed to prevent visitor damage and preserve the tree.

Its name comes from Greek mythology and refers to one of the twelve Titans, children of Gaia and Uranus. This naming practice follows a tradition of honoring exceptional coastal redwoods with mythological references that reflect their towering presence.

The exact location remains unpublished and off-limits to visitors in order to protect the tree from trampling and human impact. However, those who visit the redwood forests can see and experience many other exceptionally tall trees in accessible areas of the park.

While this tree holds the height record, it does not qualify as the largest, since General Sherman in Sequoia National Park surpasses it in total volume. Height alone does not determine a tree's size when considering its entire wood volume.

Location: Redwood National and State Parks

Inception: January 1, 1300

Height: 115.85 m

GPS coordinates: 41.20491,-124.01556

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:00