Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks is a network of protected reserves along the northern California coast, combining federal and state lands into a single managed area. Towering groves rise from valleys carved by seasonal streams, their canopies filtering light into green-tinted shadows that stretch across fern-covered forest floors.

Congress authorized the national park in 1968 after conservationists campaigned to protect remaining old-growth stands from industrial logging. Three existing California state parks later merged into the federal system to create a unified management zone.

Early inhabitants wove bark into clothing and shelters before European contact changed forest use patterns forever. Today visitors walk quietly among the groves, aware they are crossing territory once shaped by seasonal harvests and controlled burns.

Roads through the reserves wind between the groves and may be narrow in places, so drivers should watch for wildlife crossing and proceed slowly. Trails range from short loops near parking areas to longer routes into backcountry zones, and sturdy footwear helps on uneven ground.

Park officials keep the locations of the tallest specimens secret to prevent visitor damage to their root systems and surrounding soil. Only a handful of researchers know where to find them, and trails do not lead directly to these record holders.

Location: Del Norte County

Location: Humboldt County

Inception: October 2, 1968

Operator: National Park Service;California Department of Parks and Recreation

Phone: +17074646101

Website: https://nps.gov/redw

GPS coordinates: 41.37389,-123.99806

Latest update: December 4, 2025 14:21