4/29/2020 Octopus Tree of Oregon – Tillamook, Oregon - Atlas Obscura

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Octopus Tree of Oregon

Tillamook, Oregon
No one knows how this Pacific Northwest spruce tree came to have so
many trunks. 

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint

Tillamook, Oregon, 97141
United States
Directions 

N E A R BY
Tillamook Creamery
6.48 miles

2nd Street Coffee House

6.78 miles

Twin Rocks
7.73 miles

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4/29/2020 Octopus Tree of Oregon – Tillamook, Oregon - Atlas Obscura

LO C AT E D AT T H E C A P E M E A R E S State Scenic Viewpoint, the oddly-shaped, and even

more oddly-named Octopus Tree of Oregon is a massive oddity, the origins of
which are uncertain.

The Octopus Tree (also known as the Council Tree, the Monstrosity Tree, and
the Candelabra Tree) is believed to be around 250 to 300 years old. The tree itself
extends from a central base that is nearly 50 feet around, and instead of shooting
straight up with a central trunk, the body of the tree splits into a number of
smaller trunks. The bizarre arbor has long been an attraction but the origins of its
odd shape are up for debate.  

Some believe that the huge Sitka spruce was simply shaped by natural conditions
such as extreme weather. Others have developed the theory that it was the
American Indians in the area that trained the tree into its cage-like assortment of
thick vertical trunks. It is believed that they created the tree to hold canoes and
corpses for ritual purposes.  

However the tree came to be, it is still protected as a popular attraction by a short
fence and its importance is explained by an informational sign. There are no
octopi at the site, but hopefully this weird tree is interesting enough that that
won’t be much of a disappointment. 

AT L A S O B S C U R A E X P E R I E N C E S
Portland’s Mayoral Walking Tour
Portland, Oregon
$25 per person

F LO R A TREES

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4/29/2020 Octopus Tree of Oregon – Tillamook, Oregon - Atlas Obscura

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