Hendy Woods State Park

Hendy Woods State Park is a nature reserve in Mendocino County covering 816 acres with two significant groves of ancient coastal redwoods. The tallest trees here reach about 300 feet (91 meters) and some are over 1000 years old, with the park stretching along the Navarro River.

Joshua Hendy, an English blacksmith who arrived during California's Gold Rush, left this land to his nephews in 1891 with instructions to protect it. The property was eventually established as a state park to preserve the ancient redwood groves for future generations.

The Pomo Nation inhabited this region for thousands of years, shaping how people lived among the forests and rivers. Visitors walking through the park can see how the land was used and understood by those who came first.

The park provides two campgrounds with 92 campsites, four cabins, and 25 picnic areas spread throughout the property. Summer and early fall are the best times to visit when weather is dry and mild for exploring the forest trails.

During the 1960s and 1970s, a man named Petrov Zailenko, known as the Hendy Hermit, lived alone within the park for over ten years. His solitary life in the forest remains a curious part of the park's story that few visitors know about.

Location: Mendocino County

Inception: 1958

Website: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=438

GPS coordinates: 39.06667,-123.46667

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:59