Chandelier Tree

If you’re a road-tripper with an appetite for big trees, you’ll want to visit the Chandelier Tree, which stands along northern California’s Avenue of the Giants in Leggett. It’s one of just three drive-through redwoods left in Northern California, joining the Shrine and Klamath Tour-Thru Trees.

The Drive-Thru Tree park is a privately owned grove of redwoods, where people can pay to drive through a carved-out opening in the trunks of the trees. There are two other drive-thru trees in private parks along Highway 101, but the Chandelier Tree is the most popular.

Its name comes from the limbs that resemble a chandelier, which start 100 feet above the ground. The tree is estimated to be over 2000 years old and has a 6 ft wide by 6 ft 9 in hole cut through its base that allows cars to pass through the trunk.

Originally a Coolidge Drive-Thru Tree (which was sucked down in 1937), the Chandelier Tree replaced it as the main attraction of Underwood Park, an old-growth, 200-acre redwood grove that’s been owned by the Underwood family since 1922. It’s a beautiful piece of land, surrounded by redwoods that are a treat to walk among and picnic in the shade.

Aside from the tree, the park has a gift shop with T-shirts, postcards and mugs. It’s a great place to buy souvenirs and get ready for your next trip to Humboldt County!

The Chandelier Tree is the biggest of the drive-through trees in Northern California. It’s located in a private redwood grove near Leggett, and it has a six-foot-wide by seven-foot-tall hole cut through the base that allows vehicles to pass through its trunk.

There’s a sign over the tree’s hole that claims it is 315 feet tall and 21 feet wide, but a Certified Arborist measured it to be 276 feet high with a diameter of 16 feet.

It’s believed that this tree was carved in the early 1930s by Charlie Underwood, a tree carver who lived nearby. It is the oldest of all of the trees in the park and is considered a national historic site by the United States Bureau of Land Management.

The Chandelier tree is part of Underwood Park, a protected grove of redwoods that’s been owned by the Underwoods since 1922. It is a beautiful place to hike, picnic and explore the massive Coast Redwoods that adorn this property.

During the summer, the drive-thru tree sees 500+ vehicles each day. It’s one of the busiest trees in the area, and it’s best to visit when traffic is lighter.

While you’re here, take in the views of the park’s redwoods and enjoy the pond that surrounds the picnic area. The park is also home to many trails, including a trail that leads to a large meadow. It’s a great place to have a picnic and take a picture of the whole family driving through the tree.