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Humboldt Redwoods
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Humboldt Redwoods State Park - California

Possessing an impressive series of 70 memorial groves, this park is the best-known of California's redwood parks. With campgrounds, picnic sites, trails and interpretive sites, the park attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

About halfway along the Avenue of the Giants is the park visitor center, near the village of Weott. This is a natural starting place for a full exploration of the park. There are interpretive exhibits -- outside and inside -- and a full range of information, including trail maps, guided walks, junior programs and campground information.

At the south end of the park is the Chimney Tree. A campfire accident in 1914 started a fire in a great redwood. The fire continued to burn inside the tree until the entire interior of the trunk was burned. The tree's top was torn off by a windstorm, exposing the "chimney."

Many of the memorial groves throughout the park are in memory of the organizations that raised money to aid the "Save the Redwoods League," which from 1918 purchased forest land from lumber companies and other local owners to create the park. Founder's Grove, north of Weott, has its own parking lot with a short trail from the foot of the "Founder's Tree." There are self-guiding brochures available for the trail that passes the Dyerville Giant and other notable specimens.

The Rockefeller Forest has been called the nation's finest forest by environmentalists. Its 13,000 acres extend for five miles west of the Avenue of the Giants. Take the road across from Founder's Grove to a parking lot at Bull Creek, which gives access to a pleasant walk beside the creek. Farther north along the Avenue of the Giants is Redcrest, a small village where you will find the Eternal Tree (about 70 feet around) and the Immortal Tree.

Camping

The park visitor center is near the Burlington Campground, on the Avenue of the Giants. You'll find environmental campsites -- primitive walk-in tenting sites where the camper leaves no trace of his or her stay. These are in addition to large family campgrounds. Most travelers who have experienced the full effect of the forest say that camping in the dark interior is the only way to truly appreciate the wonder and mystery of the ancient redwoods.

The campgrounds are always full for the whole summer period, and those intending to camp in the park must reserve their site at least eight weeks in advance by phoning 800-444-PARK.

For more information on this region
go to
Redwood Coast, Humboldt Redwoods State Park,
Lost Coast, and Garberville

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