So many redwoods, so little time.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is part of a series of California State Parks and one National Park dedicated to the wonderful redwood tree. Humboldt is further inland, nestled in a steep river valley, the rest along the coast.
Humboldt is home to the famous Avenue of the Giants, a beautiful curvy road penned in on both sides by enormous redwoods and one of the first attractions in the area. The eternally shaded road takes you to most of the hiking trails. I chose four easy overgrown loops. Get ready for a lot of pictures of trees.
The first trail was the Stephen’s Grove Loop, which was once a campground before it flooded. However, very little remains from that development.
The trail starts off well. Nice and easy which was great since I was so distracted by all the pretty trees.
I kept looking up at the trees.
Just a magical forest. That is all.
This forest made me really happy.
Just the first of four perfect trails.
The next trail is part of a system right across the street from the visitor center, the Gould Grove Nature Loop.
This rainfall chart at the visitor center started with so many good intentions and then it all went downhill.
This trail also made me really happy.
Everything became even more magical when then sun came out.
After seeing the wide-open forest of Arizona every day for three years, seeing a good overgrown one like this one was a real treat.
I love a good fern.
Redwood forest sunbeam.
The sun does wonderful things in this forest.
Now for the Founders Grove Nature Loop Trail.
The Founder’s Tree. It’s the tall one on the left. It’s not the biggest tree. It is rather tall though at 346.1 ft. (105.5 m) and 40 ft (12 m) around at the base. Redwoods are really hard to photograph. People like to name giant trees after other people (Kings’ Canyon has some too) or groups. This one is dedicated to the founders of the Save-the-Redwoods League.
The Founders Grove is the fanciest trail by far in a very nicely maintained park. It has nice wooden fencing and everything. Doesn’t stop anyone from going around it though.
Felt more like a garden than a trail.
Sunbeams and ferns. So much to love.
A branch of this pine tree is albino. According to the guide, it somehow lost its coloring and is still growing.
Wonderful forest this is.
Redwoods can survive fire. In fact, they need fire to spread and grow. This tree had been gutted but is still alive. It’s really cool walking through a tree.
That burnt out tree living its best life.
Did you ever wonder what happens to a redwood after it falls over? Plants eventually start growing all over it like this. Eventually, the redwood will return to the dirt. Sometimes it will spawn little redwood trees. Well, it should, but it won’t if people walk or climb all over fallen redwoods. Barren redwoods laying on the ground shouldn’t exist. They don’t exist naturally. Many redwoods are clones, but the clones won’t grow if they get trampled.
Now for the final trail, the Rockefeller Loop Trail. The trail was further from water, so there was less undergrowth, still pretty though.
Like I said, still pretty.
It does look quite storybook doesn’t it.
A lovely blanket of green.
Very storybook.
It isn’t very often you can see the tops of redwoods.
Humboldt Redwoods was such a great experience. Ferns, giant redwoods, and wonderful trails, Humboldt is now one of my top favorite parks I have ever been to and that includes national parks. Burlington Camp campground is also amazing. You get to camp at the base of redwoods. How amazing is that! However, Humboldt is one of a series parks dedicated to redwoods in California alone. More redwoods are to be seen in my next post.
Check out my next update where I visit Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park!
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Check out more amazing places in California!
humbolt is great. been a few times. i can’t get over how pretty the park is.