California: visitors to world’s tallest tree face $5,000 fine and possible jail time

Hyperion' in Redwood national park, 380ft high and up to 800 years old, now off limits after damage done by trampling visitors

Tree enthusiasts who make the trek to the world's tallest tree deep in a northern California forest will face a fine and possible jail time after park officials declared the remote area off-limits because of damage done by trampling visitors to the tree and surrounding forest, a park official said on Monday.

The tree, a 380ft (115m) coast redwood, is in a remote area of Redwood national park and is not accessible by any trail. But that hasn't stopped scores of visitors from hiking to the tree, said Leonel Arguello, the park's manager for natural resources.