Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Humboldt Redwoods State Park extends along the Eel River and covers roughly 21,450 hectares (53,000 acres) with ancient coastal redwoods rising over 100 meters (330 feet) tall. The terrain consists of narrow river valleys, dense forest groves, and gentle hills crossed by trails that weave between the massive trunks.

The area became protected land in 1921 when the Colonel Raynal C. Bolling Memorial Grove was secured as the first section. Over the following decades, additional parcels were added to preserve a continuous corridor of old forest that had previously faced logging threats.

The area takes its name from Alexander von Humboldt, a German naturalist whose 19th-century writings on plant geography influenced conservation thinking. Visitors today see interpretive signs along the trails explaining how coastal fog nourishes the trees and why these forests grow only in a narrow strip along the California coast.

Visitors find trails of varying length, from short walks near the visitor center to longer routes deeper into the forest. Campgrounds and picnic areas remain open year round, with spring and autumn offering lighter crowds.

The Rockefeller Forest within the park holds the largest remaining stand of old coastal redwoods anywhere on the planet. Some specimens have reached ages over 2,000 years and stand close together, creating a canopy that filters much of the daylight.

Location: Humboldt County

Inception: 1921

Operator: California Department of Parks and Recreation

Website: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=425

GPS coordinates: 40.31190,-123.97200

Latest update: December 14, 2025 05:53