It is the world's fifth largest coast redwood in terms of wood volume (the Del Norte Titan was listed as the largest single-stem coast redwood tree, in part because the basal measurements of the Lost Monarch contain multiple stems).

[2][3] Lost Monarch was discovered on May 11, 1998, by botanist Stephen C. Sillett, and naturalist Michael Taylor, and is located among other giant redwoods called "The Grove of Titans" in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park,[4] although its exact location has not been revealed to the public out of concern that excessive human foot traffic may upset the ecosystem or lead to vandalism.

[5] The tree is estimated to contain 34,914 cubic feet (988.7 m3) of wood volume,[2] and is surrounded by other coastal redwoods known as some of the largest of the species.

Of the surrounding redwood trees, some have names from the discoverers, such as El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans, Eärendil and Elwing, Stalagmight, and others.

One report from 2003 estimated that Lost Monarch held about 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of P. scouleri fern mat material.