{"id":1873,"date":"2024-11-18T21:26:58","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T02:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/?page_id=1873"},"modified":"2024-11-20T10:01:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T15:01:54","slug":"coast-redwood-parks-visited-with-short-reviews-and-photos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/?page_id=1873","title":{"rendered":"Coast Redwood Parks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have visited all the parks noted in the last ten years. All the photos and videos are mine. The parks are ordered from south to north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This park has a nice old growth grove with large trees. You need to park in a lot and take a short walk to reach the trails. There is a nice visitor center and gift shop. The park is very close to Felton. Next door is Roaring Camp which hosts a scenic round trip train excursion to Santa Cruz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Main trail in Henry Cowell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Large redwoods along the loop trail in Henry Cowell redwoods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Large tree in Henry Cowell Redwoods, 280 feet tall and 1,500 years old<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Redwoods along rail line in Roaring Camp area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Hendy Woods State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hendy Woods is about 140 miles north of San Francisco International Airport. It’s a fairly difficult drive, with lots of traffic in the San Francisco area and many congested areas along California 101. The final leg from Cloverdale to Philo is a winding and hilly two land road with some nice scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The park itself has many impressive trees, some exceeding 350 feet in height. It is situated on flats above the Navarro River and has about 100 acres of old growth redwoods split 80-20 between the Big Hendy and Little Hendy groves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bridges cross small ravines (which can be wet in the winter) along Big Hendy Loop trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A fine redwood near the Big Hendy Loop trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Big Hendy loop trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Little Hendy loop trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Little Hendy Loop trail near the river<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Hendy Redwoods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montgomery Woods is about 15 scenic, winding and hilly miles west of Ukiah, situated in a small canyon along Montgomery Creek. The primary old growth area is about 40 acres, and contains about 18 trees over 350 feet in height, including 3 or so over 360 feet. Reaching the grove from the parking area adjacent to Orr Springs Road requires a quarter mile hike with 300 feet of elevation gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Large and tall tree MWSR middle flat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Late afternoon sun lighting crowns in MWSR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tall redwood MWSR lower flat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Jackson Demonstration State Forest – Chamberlain <\/strong>Waterfall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chamberlain Waterfall Grove is an exceptionally scenic 10 acres of old growth coast redwood trees about 20 road miles west of Willits. The drive is scenic but some forest roads are involved and phone reception is not reliable so a written or printed route is required. The trail is well maintained and drops from the gravel road parking area down some stairs and switchbacks into the canyon where the grove and waterfall are located. There are a couple 335-340 foot tall trees in this grove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Steps leading down to Chamberlain Waterfall trail from gravel road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Along the Chamberlain Waterfall trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tall old growth adjacent to Chamberlain Waterfall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Chamberlain Waterfall Grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This small and mighty grove is named after Frank and Bessie Smithe who formerly operated a private resort that included this grove. The area is on a flat above the South Fork Eel River just south of Dora Creek and about four miles north of Leggett. It is adjacent to the southbound side of a winding high speed area of California 101 so take care entering and exiting from the parking area pullout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The old growth grove is about 11 acres and includes 3 trees between 330 and 340 feet in height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some of the Smithe Redwoods are along 101 and can be approached from below. Avoid the road berm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nice flat above the Eel River in Smithe Redwoods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Richardson Grove State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richardson Grove contains 40 acres of old growth redwoods astride either side of California 101 just north of the Mendocino – Humboldt county line. There are several trees in the park around 345 feet in height. The park has a good number of trails and small roads and is mostly on a flat above the South Fork Eel River although there are also some upland areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longer length tractor trailers may soon be able to travel through Richardson Grove on Highway 101 due to a planned project to make some of the curves more gradual. No large old growth trees are to be removed though roots of some trees will be cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rail lined trails, pretty fancy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tall tree grouping around the visitor center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nice redwood on the west side of Highway 101<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Humboldt Redwoods State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This park has about 60,000 acres of old growth coast redwood forest in both alluvial and upland settings. Some of the forested areas are very tall, with about 120 trees between 350 and 360 feet in height, about 24 trees between 360 and 370 feet in height, and about 6 trees between 370 and 374 feet in height. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Avenue of the Giants and Mattole Road wind through much of the old growth, with good trail access through the groves. Some of the largest most impressive groves are Founders, Federation, and Bull Creek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Founders Tree. Very nice but now 335 feet tall, kind of average for Founders Grove. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dyerville Giant, a titan that fell in 1991.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rockefeller Loop northeast side tall crowns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tall Tree, also known as Rockefeller Redwood. Now 367 feet tall, about #15 tallest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This redwood has been surrounded by Bay Laurels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Grieg-French-Bell grove memorial bench and a girdled (bark removed long ago) redwood <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tallest redwood in the Pepperwood area, well over 350 feet and surrounded by poison ivy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park \/ Van Duzen County Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This area includes three separate areas of old growth along the Van Duzen River. The redwoods highlight is the Cheatham Grove, which has 5 trees over 340 feet, with the tallest around 355 feet. Overall there are 550 or so acres of old growth. The drive from the west over to this area is very nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The big tree in Cheatham Grove. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Maple dome in Cheatham Grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nice trailside tree in the Cheatham Grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cheatham Grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Redwood National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redwood National Park contains about 29,000 acres of old growth forest. There are about 40 trees between 350 and 360 feet in height, about 15 trees between 360 and 370 feet in height, five trees between 370 and 380 feet in height, and one tree above 380 feet in height (Hyperion). The largest trees in the park are in the Mill Creek unit just south of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of the park is untrailed and steep. However the trails provide a good sample of the forests in the park, including Lostman for the big forest in the north and Tall Trees Grove trail for the remnant forests along and above Redwood Creek. The area around Elam Camp contains thick intimidating forests along steep slopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Redwood Creek gravel bar looking south. Many tall redwoods both near and distant are in view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Tall Tree in Tall Trees Grove loop. Still a very tall redwood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tallest tree on Emerald Flat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Redwood Creek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Tall Trees Grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prairie Creek Redwoods contains about 12,600 acres of old growth redwoods. There are about 12 trees over 350 feet in height, with the tallest around 361 feet. There are many notable large redwoods in this park. The Drury Parkway is a relative quick paced road through the park, then Cal Barrel Road, when open, is more of a slow scenic drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prairie Creek Redwoods near visitor center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Big Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View along Prairie Creek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del Norte Redwoods includes about 3,400 acres of old growth forest. There are a handful of trees over 330 feet in height. The old growth groves are fairly tightly packed with large trees, with ample rain and lots of fog. This results in this park having the highest average old growth biomass across all the redwood parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At some point in the near feature there may be an underground tunnel constructed to bypass the landslide stricken Last Chance grade on Highway 101. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tall trees a ways above the beach Damnation Creek trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Damnation Creek trail rhododendrons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Redwoods along old coastal highway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jedediah Smith redwoods contains about 10,300 acres of old growth coast redwoods. This park is known for its large trees. There are about 10 trees over 350 feet in height, with the tallest tree at about 361 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boy Scout Tree trail runs through the central area of the park and is recognized as one of the premier hiking trails. This park also has the Grove of Titans boardwalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Large redwood with huge crown along with young redwoods growing along a log<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This single stem 20 foot diameter redwood grows right by the Boy Scout Tral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A nice fern garden high on the trunk of big redwood on Boy Scout Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Large trail side redwood on Boy Scout Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Grove at Howland Hill road Boy Scout Trail parking area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have visited all the parks noted in the last ten years. All the photos and videos are mine. The parks are ordered from south to north. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park This park has a nice old growth grove with large trees. You need to park in a lot and take a short walk … Continue reading Coast Redwood Parks<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1873","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1873"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1918,"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1873\/revisions\/1918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/verylargeandtallredwoods.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}