Will it rain again? That is what we are asking ourselves in Redwood National Park this fall. Since Thanksgiving, it has only rained once-yes a record- After a foggy summer and a wet early fall, we have been enjoying cool and clear weather! I am heading off to Fern Canyon today-can’t wait! Very few people out and about this time of year. The Elk are hanging out at the Elk Meadow Cabins, enjoying the sun.
Hope every one has a great holiday,
Redwood Adventures!
redwood sun image by Dennis Carrigan from Fotolia.com
California’s majestic redwood trees thrive in the moderate coastal climate of Redwood National Park
The Clean Beaches Council today released its annual list of beaches which have been officially certified as clean, healthy and environmentally well managed. This year’s announcement coincides with National Clean Beaches Week (NCBW) held annually from July 1-7. This “Earth Day” for beaches has four main themes: environment, healthy seafood, sustainable travel, and fitness. Founded in 2004, NCBW has grown in mammoth proportion.
The Blue Wave is the first environmental certification program for beaches in the U.S. Now in its tenth year, the program has been called the “LEEDS” certification for beaches. To become certified, beaches adhere to best management practices in the following areas: water quality, beach and intertidal conditions, hazards/safety, services, habitat conservat 5a8 ion, erosion management, public information and education.
2009 BLUE WAVE BEACHES
Crescent Beach, Redwood National Park
Gold Bluff Beach, Redwood National Park
Enderts Beach, Redwood National Park
1. Keep kids within arms reach (especially in the sea, but also on land)
2. Don’t dive in (2/3 of catastrophic neck/head/spinal injuries occur in the ocean and sea)
3. Knee deep is too deep (strong winds, waves and currents create dangerous rip currents that can sweep a child out to sea)
4. Know before you go (swim near a lifeguard - know your flags; red means stop/green means go)
5. Take frequent breaks (every hour take a sun, bathroom, or water break)
6. Go with the wind (children tend to take the course of least resistance - follow the wind to fin 5a8 d your lost kid)
7. Look but don’t touch (call local authorities to help injured/stranded sea life)
*The Clean Beaches Council has collaborated with Dr. Tom Griffiths, Director of Aquatics at The Pennsylvania State University to produce the “7 Tips for Family Beach Safety.” This guide is meant to help families make the most of their trip to the beach.
For More Information: www.cleanbeaches.com
Here‘s a quick list of ten trees to get you started. All are within a few miles of Hwy 101. Almost all are easily accessible. Many are viewable or a short walk from the Avenue of the Giants and the Newton Drury Scenic Parkway, which parallel Hwy 101.
Big Tree - 304′ x 21′ diameter (RSNP) This tower stands out in one of the prettiest old growth groves. Located Redwoods National and State Parks, north of the Prairie Creek Visitor Center on Newton B Drury Parkway. The 100-yard trail to the Big Tree is paved. Two nearby bonuses are the Roosevelt Elk herd in Prairie Creek meadow, and Fern Canyon, where a creek splits two walls of sheer rock draped in a thick carpet of ferns. Its prehistoric look convinced Steven Spielberg to film a “Jurassic Park “scene there.
Corkscrew Tree - (RSNP) This photogenic oddity has four trunks intertwined together as they all reach up skyward. Located in Redwood National & State Park north of Prairie Creek Visitor Center near Big Tree.
Tall Tree - (RNSP) Named the tallest redwood in 1963, this tower helped generate public support for the creation of Redwood National Park five years later. Located in the Tall Trees Grove. The round trip hike on Redwood Creek Trail can take a day, but the first leg includes a nice stand of old growth trees and a meadow frequented by elk. To sidestep most of the hike, a limited number of free daily permits are available in nearby Orick Take Bald Hills Rd to the Tall Groves access road. Call for permit: 707-465-7354 Prairie Creek Visitor Center. MAP
Giant Tree - (HRSP) Once 363′, now 354′ after a storm broke off its top. Not the tallest redwood, but pretty much the best in show. Designated a Champion redwood tree for having the best combination of height, diameter, and crown spread, or how the branches spread out. It may be the largest coastal redwood, as far as mass goes. Located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park near Mattole Rd., in the Rockefeller Forest. (the world’s largest remaining contiguous old growth coastal redwood forest)
Founders Tree - (HRSP) Offers a nice view from a distance because the limbs don ‘t start until almost 200 feet up, more than half the length of a football field. Onlookers notice primarily the big trunk, described as a majestic temple column. Located In Humboldt Redwoods State Park near the town of Weott. Four miles north of the Visitor Center, just off the Avenue of the Giants on the Dyerville Loop Road. MAP
Dyerville Giant - (HRSP) This champion tree crashed to the ground in 1991, creating a thunderous roar akin to a train wreck, but still impresses visitors today. The one million pound giant left behind a carcass almost 400 feet in length, a huge uprooted root cluster with wooden “dreadlocks “sprouting in all directions, along with an enormous crater where it once stood. Located just south of the Founders Tree. (see directions above)
Girdled Tree - (HRSP) This big redwood is thin-skinned but managing to survive a major insult. About one hundred years ago, a group removed most of the first 30 feet of bark and took it to San Francisco to stitch together a faux redwood trunk for an exhibition. Remarkably it survived, and the scar edge allows visitors a dramatic view of the one-foot thickness of the redwood bark, which protects them well from fires and pests. Located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park in French Grove, just south of the town of Pepperwood.
Albino Redwoods - (HRSP) A handful of these rare white specimens, which take in nutrients from their mother trees, dot the redwood groves in Humboldt County parks. Hard to find, but worth a look. Located: One, the 30-foot-high Christmas Tree, is located in the Women’s Federation Grove, a few miles north of the town of Weott. The other, the 20-foot tall Spirit Tree, sprouts from the base of a giant redwood in a redwood grove about three miles north of the town of Redcrest.
Johnson Trail Trees - (HRSP) The high elevation section of this forest includes redwoods at the limit of their growing range. There are big boulders strewn about, which the redwoods grab and break down with their roots. A bonus is a trail section recovering from a fire a few years ago, where blackened redwoods share floor space with young fire-friendly plants. Located: Trailhead is off Mattole Road, a few miles west of Weott.
Trees of Mystery - (RNSP) Not quite in Humboldt County, but this private redwood reserve within RNSP is worth a mention. Here visitors can ride a gondola from the ground to above the treetops, taking a close look at the redwood canopies, which often host “fern islands, “small, watery ecosystems with rare salamanders, waterbugs, fungi and plants. 15500 Hwy 101 N., Klamath.
What are the differences between the Sequoias and the Redwoods? A very good question that I get often on tours with Redwood Adventures. The article below, written by By Tom Wagner, has some great information on the subject. However, there is one inaccuracy. The Coastal Redwoods are the tallest and the most massive living things on earth. During a recent push in research on the Coastal Redwood, many of the trees were remeasured (the first time since the 1960’s) and it has been determined that the Coastal Redwoods are truly the tallest (which we knew) and also the most massive. This ‘new’ mass mainly comes from the extensive ‘branching’ found on the Coastal Redwoods that was previously not accounted for in the initial measurements.
Any way, this article is worth reading.
Giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron gigantea) and coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) both belong to the redwood family, called Taxodiaceae. While closely related and similar in appearance, they are of different species. The Taxodiaceae family of trees also includes the Japanese cedar, the dawn redwoods of central China and the bald cypress (or swamp cypress) common to the Southeastern United states but found all over America’s eastern states. People commonly plant trees in the Taxodiaceae family in ornamental gardens around the world.
from stumps, burls, roots or from the branches of blown-over trees.Read more: Difference Between Redwoods and Sequoias | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6643498_difference-between-redwoods-sequoias.html#ixzz0s5Z6no6a
With so much diversity found in Redwood National and State Parks, it can sometimes over-whelm people visiting this area. Here is a great article that I came across from the web site called Wild Life 360. This is a great collection of information about the parks and some good advice on who, what, where, when and even why to visit Redwood National Park.
The trees took the blunt and axe from loggers, and were badly threatened by logging. Once covering over two million acres of land from final ice age, tress after trees were fallen with a windswept force.
Redwood National Park near the northern limit of redwood’s slender range of the coat, preserving the remnants of a forest. Massive redwood trees, can live for some 2000 years, grows to the heights up to 367 feet, and the base of trunk can be as wide as 22 feet.
With a joint venture of the Save-the-Redwoods League and state of California who collaborated to rescue redwood trees as they acquired hundreds of groves and started the movement of protecting tress and with making of 26 state parks. In 1968, three redwood state parks Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, all encompass and merged into the national park. The Redwood National Park, from 1994 is under management of joint collaboration of National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The Redwood National Park is located along the coast of northern California, situated roughly between Orick and Crescent City. These parks have been declared an International Biosphere Reserve and in 1980 it got inscribed in World Heritage Site.
Logging on adjoining private land, however, endangered the parks’ sheltered redwoods. A major threat to the tallest trees was from the logged-over territory, as the soils and sediments are washed into the rivers and in the creeks. These sediments settle in to the bottom downstream. Hazard of the silt deposits, is that it asphyxiate redwoods—for the massive are astoundingly vulnerable and at risk. Adding to the danger is the waterlogged soil which weakens the tree’s resistance towards the wind. Redwood trees roots are shallow, which are often only ten feet deep.
In the year 1978 Congress again took an initiative as it added 48,000 acres to 58,000 acres of the national park. This also included 36,000 acres about land which had been logged, that looked as raw and clear-cut land. A park official once wrote about this part of land as “the look of an active war zone.”
Redwood Renaissance, an epic earth-moving project in which the crews reclaim immense extends of logged-over lands. Project which should be highly appreciated is taking many influential and effective steps:
The Redwood renaissance is a new dimension to the conventional rite of gazing up at redwoods. Today’s visitor can look over at hillsides and where shorn of giants and now know that years from now the trees will rise and raise there again.
Redwood Renaissance is an effort, to save our ecosystem, the actual gems of earth and give our future generations all these marvels to admire at. Though it will take at least 50 years for the blemishes of logging to wane and some another 250 years or more for the replanted seedlings of redwood to grow to tallest size.
The park’s coastline:
Tide pool creatures:
Flora and Fauna of inside the Redwood National Park:
Here in the park only hardy plants of hardwoods and shrubs are able to survive in its narrow zone i.e. where land meets sea. Salt-laden winds, steep slopes, chilly fog-shrouded days and sandy beaches work against against plants.
The threatened and endangered species:
Found in old-growth forests, estuaries, open prairies and coastline for essential sanctuary of survival.
Black bears
Roosevelt elkThough the park is open to visit year-round, summer attracts highway-jam swarms, visiting in spring or fall is the best time. As in both the seasons, bird migrations augment the charm of redwood groves. Rhododendrons burst into view in spring; in these seasons deciduous trees mystifies with color in fall. During Rains, which is welcome to redwoods but not to guests, the park is drenched in winter.
The park though of course is mainly known for the massive fantastic redwood trees, its also a 40 to 50 miles of the so beautiful coastline which is part of the national park system. This includes rocky promontories, sea stacks and beaches in the Pacific Ocean. Along the coast whales and myriads of sea life is observed from shore. The trails are especially mesmerizing in the early morning or on those days when there is medium fog. So picturesque is the early morning twilight, with the sun’s rays at angle through the trees piercing with long beams of light, creates a spectacular exhibit of light and shadow and do observe the ever-changing hues of green. When there is light fog, forests befall a dreamscape of astonishing beauty.
Most of the visitors travel to Redwood National Park by car. There is very limited public transportation in this area and Redwood National and State Parks are stretched out over 40 mi, with US HWY 101 running right through it. So, unless you are riding your bicycle, more than likely your are driving.
What is there to see while you are drive around in the Park? That is a question I get all of the time here at the Elk Meadow Cabins. Below is a list of different resources for suggested ‘diving experiences’ from the Humboldt County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
North of Orick- - While on Bald Hills Road, you may experience numerous areas for Elk viewing. The area features magnificent oak woodlands, prairies, … find out more
Drive through a tunnel of trees and stop to wander among the giants on this 10 mile scenic drive . find out more
This historic stretch of Hwy 101 twists and turns through the world’s largest old growth redwood forest, located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. find out more
Drive your car through a redwood tree or over a fallen redwood log. Gift shop and tree are located on the Avenue of the Giants. find out more
This wild and spectacular scenic drive is the closest you can get to the wildness of the lost coast without a backpack. Drive from Victorian … find out more
A selection of our favorite drives through the redwoods, along the coast and into the mountains. A little bit of everything. find out more
Only three drive-thru trees remain in California, all on the Redwood Coast: the Chandelier, Klamath, and, our favorite, Shrine Tree. find out more
Take this insider’s tour of the fabled Redwood Highway, as it winds through ancient redwood forests, skirts small towns and hugs the scenic … find out more
Link to up to the minute website on California road conditions. Map of motorcoach highway requirements. find out more
See San Franciscans gush over their sister city, admiring her history, beaches, brews, eats, artists and trees. find out more
Humboldt County has some of the best motorcyle rides in the state, and bikers are warmly welcomed. find out more
This handy online map has the details on 25 attractions on the redwood coast. It includes redwood parks, beaches, towns and more. find out more
Oceans, Rivers, Lagoons and Humboldt Bay - If you like to fish, we’ve got the spot.
RIVERS
EEL RIVER
The Eel flows through some of the most beautiful redwood groves in the state, including Humboldt Redwood State Park. The Eel River flows for approximately 100 miles north through Mendocino and Humboldt counties and offers year-round fishing opportunities, with fall and winter salmon and steelhead runs being the best known. Shad fishing during the late spring and early summer offers the angler an exciting change of pace.
The primary fish of interest for the Eel include steelhead, Chinook, Coho, and sea-run cutthroat trout. Chinook start coming into the river in August. They tend to hold in the waters below Ferndale Bridge until rains allow them upstream. The Chinook run from August through December, with the peak in late October. The average Eel Chinooks are 8-15 lbs, with some up to 40lbs.
Winter steelheads are what the Eel River is known for. The winter steelhead start moving into the river in November running through March, with peak activity during January. The average Eel steely runs 8-10 lbs, with fish to 16lbs common and a number of fish in the 20lb class caught each year.
The species of the Mad include steelhead, king and silver salmon, and resident trout. The Mad has become known for its excellent winter steelhead, due in large part to the operation of the Mad River Fish Hatchery, which is located one mile southeast of Blue Lake on the south side of the river.
TRINITY RIVER
The Trinity River is world-famous for its fine steelhead and salmon fishing, as well as for trophy brown trout. Chinook salmon are the most sought-after gamefish in the Trinity River system. Spring-run salmon begin to enter the river in May and provide trophy fishing through November throughout the river.
Although brown trout are not native to the Trinity River, they were heavily stocked until the late 1970s. Today, a wild population continues to the upper river, providing fly and bait fishing for mostly 10- to 14-inch fish, although an occasional trophy to 10 pounds is sometimes landed.
The upper two miles of the river, from Lewiston Dam down to the Old Lewiston Bridge, is open only to fly-fishing.
KLAMATH RIVER
The Klamath River is the largest of the North Coast rivers of California stretching over 200 miles from its mouth to the Oregon border. Its mouth is located 60 miles north of Eureka and 20 miles south of Crescent City off Hwy 101. The fish of the Klamath are King and Silver salmon, Steelhead, and resident trout. The Kings start running in July with the best action near the mouth coming in August and running through September. Summer/Fall steelhead start running from late summer through October. The winter run starts in November and goes through February.
LAGOONS
BIG LAGOON and STONE LAGOON are brackish because their ocean barriers are breached by storms nearly every winter and are a favorite fishing spot for cutthroat trout.
This is a good question and one I receive here at the Elk Meadow Cabins all the time. Redwood National and State Parks are unique in many ways from other National Parks in the USA. There is no ‘entrance’ or ‘gate’, to pass through, US Highway 101 runs right through the park. There is also no fee to enter the National Park, there is a day use fee for the State Park.
Below is a great summary of ‘What is Redwood National Park?”
Written by Anna B. Smith
Redwood National Park is a 130,000 acre U.S. federal recreation area located along the coast of northern California. Created to protect old growth redwood trees and their natural habitat, the park currently protects over 37 miles of undamaged coastline, open prairies, old growth redwood groves, and two major state rivers. The groves of the park constitute 45% of all internationally protected old-growth coastal redwoods.
Four separate parks join together to form this area — Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Prarie Creek Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park itself. The original three state parks were created during the early 1900s by the Save the Redwoods League, which sought to end the devastating logging that occurred in northern California during the previous 100 years. The United States Congress created Redwood National Park to protect the land between the three separate state parks, and ultimately agreed in 1994 to manage all four as one unified national park.
Redwood trees in the park may grow to a height of 367 ft (111.86 m) 379.1ft and have an average lifespan of at least 600 years. Some trees are over 2,000 years old. They reach a width of about 22 ft (6.70 m) at their base, and have a thick, leafy tree canopy and heavy bark, which naturally protect them from heat and insect damage. Diseases are often rare among these trees due to their high tannin levels. New trees are formed from basal burls, or knotty protrusions on the side of old redwood stumps that result from naturally falling trees, fire damage, or logging.
Redwood groves are dependent on their biological habitat for continued growth. The park typically receives over 100 inches (254 cm) of rainfall per year, which diminishes the soil’s naturally-occurring nutrient content. The soil is instead enriched by the decaying, fallen redwoods that remain on the forest floor. These nutrients soak back into the soil, which then feeds new trees. Logging caused great devastation to these forests, due to its removal of old trees from the groves because it prevented natural compost creation. Redwoods also benefit from the intermixed growth of Douglas firs, western hemlocks, tanoaks, leafy ferns, moss, and wild mushrooms, all of which enrich the soil and improve the overall health of the grove.
The Redwood National Park also protects a variety of animal life living within its borders. Visitors may catch glimpses of sea lions and gray whales along the coast, elk passing through the prairies, and black bears and mountain lions moving among the trees. These animals, as well as several endangered species, rely on the protected natural habitat provided by the park, much like the trees themselves. Almost all parts of the park, apart from designated road systems, do not allow the use of motorized vehicles in order to prevent damage and erosion of the natural ecosystem, upon which indigenous species rely. Hunting and fishing are prohibited in the park, except in specifically designated water areas, to allow the propagation and continuation of all species living there.