Comment The tree recognized as the tallest in the world is now off limits to visitors. The National Park Service announced last week that it is discouraging hikers from visiting Hyperion, an old-growth redwood in Northern California that holds the Guinness World Record for height at 380 feet, 9.7 inches, according to a 2019 measurement .People caught in the closed area of ​​Redwood National and State Parks could face a $5,000 fine and six months in jail, the NPS says. The tree, which was “discovered” in 2006, is off established trails and in dense vegetation that requires heavy digging. “Despite the difficult journey, the increased popularity due to bloggers, travel writers and websites of this off-the-beaten-track tree has resulted in the destruction of the habitat around Hyperion,” a National Park Service bulletin says. 6 Alternatives to America’s Most Popular National Parks According to the park service, the number of people trampling the area over the years has caused the base of the tree to degrade and eliminate the ferns that would normally surround it. Garbage and human waste were also found littering the road to the world’s tallest tree. In addition to the damage and debris, accessing Hyperion can be dangerous because hikers must leave the trail completely to access it. The tree is rooted in an area with no cellphone reception and spotty GPS coverage, according to the NPS, so sustaining a minor injury could be scary and dangerous. In its version, the park service discourages people from visiting Hyperion, pointing out that it is not as exciting as it sounds. “Hyperion’s view does not match its hype,” the NPS statement says, adding that the tree’s trunk is small compared to many other old-growth redwood trees and its height cannot be seen from the ground. The “tallest tree” tag is a moving target. Years ago, the park created a tall tree trail so hikers could see what was then designated as the tallest tree in the world. That tree no longer holds the title, but the trail features several redwood trees that exceed 350 feet, the NPS says. It is common for redwood trees to lose portions of their crown – the part above the tree’s trunk – due to wind and lightning.