This is a flipping awesome hike. It is not difficult. Bring your own paint to the party. Just be sure to not leave paint cans or anything else. This a special place. Visit the chapel of Trees and the Cistern as well.

Urban legend. Others have spray painted leaf and weed markers to the tree area. Beautiful in a weird bewitching way. Read about its history after visiting. otherwise you may be to freaked out to enjoy.

A very unique experience that continues to evolve, possibly daily? A ton of great photo opportunities

Very easy to get to, good to hike even with health issues.

Very beautiful place to visit. A good hike.

This place is a fascinating collision between man and nature; between vandalism and art. Not very often do you see such a place where people are given a creative outlet inside of nature, and where they stay within their limits to make something beautiful. Its a canvas that keeps giving.

Bring spray paint and an hour you can explore. Make history and get creative

Definitely worth adding this stop to your trip! A very quick hike, not challenging at all. Check out the cathedral as well.

It was peaceful especially after visiting a old time friend at Munson Hospital

Such a cool place in an area you wouldnt expect to find it. Wish I had some paint to leave a mark

Omg such an amazing place! Great hiking around...dont be intimidated by all the different trails, its actually pretty easy to navigate and hey...theres always people hiking there incase you start feeling a little lost. When you finally find the hippie tree...its just cool. A+ hike with the family. And dont forget about the water tower! The graffiti is awesome

Except for TRUMP PAINTED in several areas. Well take care of that!

When i travel i like to find hidden gems and unique places. This time, visiting my brither in Traverse City we ventured to look for the Hippie Tree which is a giant tree that was painted by humans to make it look fun and hippie. To me it was fun but nothing special even though i’m happy i went to check it out!!!

I love this place....just stay on the right trail.

Read about it on Atlas Obscura and decided we had to go. Definitely not a portal to hell as advertised, but really lovely! The hike is fun; we got to explore a little before finding our way.

Great place for a photoshoot, fun colors pop out from all the spray paint on trees and plants throughout the woodsNote of challenge- the steepness of the hill can make it slightly more difficult to access for those with trouble walking

Couldnt find the purported gateway to hell, but enjoyed all the spray paint, the natural springs, and rope swing over a creek on the search! A fun walk

Something different to go and see. Nice walk.

Wish I had brought paint to contribute

Great place to see when hiking back in those trails behind the old asylum.. has been cleaned up alot and neat to walk through or by and see

Ah, the Hippie Tree. Ive been here countless times. 100s of photos of this place. From my Drone to my regular DSLR. Etc. Many memories as well, bringing newcomers here and friends and families and so on.Sometimes I just went there to chill and relax on the tree and take a break from hiking around and doing this and that. Other times it was for video reasonings and photo reasons as well. Most of the time though it was bringing first timers there haha. But hanging out with friends here was common as well. A great place. But its run its course and it is dying pretty hard and isnt in the shape it used to be once upon a time. I can tell a dramatic difference from when I was first going there in 2011 to what it is now in 2019.

Pretty creepy, neat place though, even in winter. Fun ghost hunting trip

I’m always game for an adventure. Oddly peaceful there!

Short hike, awesome pictures taken here. Had a good time with my teenagers looking up the folklore beforehand too.

Its just a thing called wood.

Recommend! Little bit of a hike...up the hill but well worth it. Take stuff along to use such as paint to add your name or whatever you want to write or draw on them.

I love it, meet some pretty chill people there

Super neat.

A nice hike and a fun place to chill. You can even add your own touch of color to the tree!

Great local spot. Tons of local history in the art here

I love that there is a place to go like this that all people respect. Its absolutely beautiful. It was a great adventure.

Amazing place

Interesting place in the haunted woods. If you are close I would check it out

Who knew this bizarre place existed! Good hiking trail as well, nearly in the middle of Traverse City!!

If you go the trail behind the older, run down buildings, youll come upon a huge circular structure. The easiest way directly to the tree is near the school offices. Nice walk. Bring your waterproof boots if youre going in spring.

Feels like home no matter how long youve been away. Pure beauty

Perfect family outing and great pics! A must see for all outdoorsy families visiting TC.

Cool little hidden gem. Find it if you can.

We came here for the Fairy Trail. My girls had tons of fun building their own houses.Very nice trail.

Very cool, loved the walk!

Worth the hike gorgeous and so amazing

Really cool

Its a large painted dead tree

Fun place and a nice place for a walk or a hike .

Fun hike in the dark

Beautiful landmark, was definitely worth the short walking trip on the trail

What a bomb place to see. Enjoyed the walk.

Absolutely repulsive scene where teenagers savagely murdered a large tree. Parents like it because their privelaged kids can go smoke pot there and be in a safe, boring environment.

Creepy and cool!

We originally came here because we heard it was haunted, but quickly found out as we seen multiple families exploring the area that its actually a very fun place with so many neat little things to see

Soulful and awesome. It is definitely worth visiting.

A must see location! Great vibes and very uplifting!

Great hike out

Very cool pop up art installment

A little hike in the woods to see Hippie Tree. It was a nice walk if you enjoy nature.

Great place to visit off the beaten track.

Interesting hike back to this area... Would lime to know more history.

Nothing to see. Glad it was a short waste of time next to a great brewery. Skip the walk and go to Earthen Ales.

People have vandalized the tree something awful. I was so sad to see the damage done in the area. Growing up here and visiting the tree every summer was a joy. Now I would tell people to stay away.

Nice little hike to check out a hangout spot with a lot of history.

Recommend going...a little difficult walking uphill in loose gravel but well worth it

My family really enjoyed this hike. They thought it was pretty, and my kids really enjoyed climbing all over the hippy tree. I thought it was the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. It has brought great conflict to our family as we debated how to write this review. Ultimately, I’ve decided to abandon my wife and children and seek out new companions who can recognize a stupid activity when they see one.

Beautiful tree, Intriguing story ;)

Nice trails and pathways.

Peaceful amazing place to go

Its a really big tree that is all but dead now. All the fallen trunks are spray painted. Worth checking out before its completely rotted.

Cute tree. Quiet and chill. Looks totally dead in winter. Would be best for spring or fall

Very great and well manicured running and walking trails. Great views and friendly people. Unfortunately there ARE baby boomers here so beware.

Amazing!!!!!! A must see in traverse Citys hidden treasures....

Very neat, colorful broken tree. Lots of backstory behind it, and if you leave something, a presence happens.

The hippie tree was much more spectacular back in the day like 10 years ago. Now that some digital native put it on Google its gotten a ton more visitors. This has led to its decline and maybe by now total death from all the foot traffic nicotine smoke and spray paint! One probably over looked fect about the tree is that its a Black Willow these trees are an amazing water purifier and carbon sequestering plant and infact they were planted by the the State Hospital back in the day when the hospital got its drinking what from the near by springs. Kind of a shame that this tree is now dead.

Feels like a murder is going to happen.

No hippies seen while I was attending the tree

Its far out

Very good visit. Gotta see this historical site, from the 60s to current times.

Super cool

Pretty cool.

Its not made out of hippies like I thought it would be but its p radicool

Irony: a natural scene trashed by hippies.Used to be a cool place to take my kids. Natures playground equipment.Now its more aptly called potsmoking graffiti tree

A nice afternoon walk in the woods reveals this giant tree that split in 4 pieces. A casual spot for locals and tourists to burn one down

Very hippie. Much tree.

Though it is pretty and a traverse city landmark, there were beer bottles and blunt wrappers thrown around the ground

Nice kept trails. Quiet and peaceful.

Maybe I should have gotten high first.

Was everything I expected but was no spirits

Awesome

I have been here before!! everyone should go there it is amazing!!!

So cool to see this amazing spot and the local artist contributions.

Great little hike. When you get to the top..look down and to the right. Its just off the path.

Interesting spot amongst some great hiking trails.

A nice hidden little gem

Cool place to go and hangout

Quiet and refreshing

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Icy hard pack tough to walk on, wear the Yak-Traks.

Excellent

Great place for friends.

Amazing feelings you get here, it is kept clear of trash!

Fun place to find

Great place