On California’s North Coast, the Coast Redwood is the world’s tallest tree. These cone-bearing trees and their cousins (sequoias) descended from conifers that lived during the age of the dinosaurs. Redwood groves once covered much of the northern hemisphere over one hundred million years ago. After the last ice age, the redwood groves have retreated to over two million acres along the California coast. After the gold rush, a century of aggressive logging has reduced the rainforest to 37 miles. Redwood National Park has teamed up with Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to protect these endangered giants.

MUST SEES

Redwood

Coast redwoods only grow in a narrow band along Northern California’s Pacific coastline. These dense forests thrive at the edge of nutrient-rich rivers protected from the wind. Heavy rainfall and frequent fog keep the redwoods well hydrated even during summer droughts.

Tall Trees Grove

At the Tall Trees Grove, you can hike a 4.5-mile loop through the old-growth forest. In this grove, redwoods can reach almost 370 feet and live to over 2,000 years old. Explore the dense understory and look up at the green canopy. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th-tallest trees were in or close to the grove.

Climb a Redwood

Embrace your inner tree hugger. Reconnect with trees in two stages. Climb to the top and then zip around the canopy. In Northern California, seek out legal methods of climbing a giant redwood.

Plants

This lush rainforest zone is abundant in mosses and ferns. The clumps of moss cling to redwood branches and along with mushrooms provide nutrients to the rich soil. Ferns hold moisture on the forest floor and also thrive at the canopy.

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