Camping |
Hotels
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.
Some travelers whistle through on the
freeway, missing most or all of the natural grandeur of
the park. Others shoot through on the Avenue of the
Giants, not staying to walk in the redwoods or to
take the sideroads through the forest. We recommend a
slow drive that allows for plenty of tree watching.
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
There are 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
