Humboldt Redwoods State Park - California

Address:17119 Avenue of the Giants
Weott, California

The coastal redwood trees were once used by the Sinkyone Indians for housing materials, basket making, and building canoes. Today, these same trees, also called sequoias, are a protected species that can live to be up to 2,000 years old. Humboldt Redwoods State Park was established by the Save-the-Redwoods League with the goal of protecting the remaining coast redwoods in California, which were thinned in number due to non-native logging, and luckily today their longevity is secure. This park offers hundreds of miles of hiking and fishing, and nature walks covering topics such as redwood ecology and animal tracking. There are summer programs here for interested junior rangers and three campgrounds with 250 campsites, some of which have hot showers. This park is a true dedication to the perpetuation of the magnificent redwood trees and is a powerful symbol of the success of the American conservation movement.

The Sinkyone Indians, who lived in this region for thousands of years, had relatively little impact on the redwood forest. They were hunters and gatherers for whom salmon and tanoak acorns were staples. Redwood planks were used for housing. Redwood root fibers were used for basket making. Redwood logs were used to make canoes. As elsewhere in California, the Gold Rush changed their way of life forever. Beginning in 1850, many non-native people began to pass through and settle in the area. They established homesteads, built railroads, and developed large-scale logging operations to harvest the trees. In 1917, the organizers of the Save-the-Redwoods League visited the area and saw that the magnificent redwood forests of this area would be lost within a few years unless something was done to save them. Their concern and foresight led to the creation of the League in 1918. Through their efforts, the first acres were purchased, legislation was established that led to the development of a statewide system of parks, and the first state park bond act provided $6 million in matching funds for the acquisition of additional redwood forest lands. Today, Humboldt Redwoods State Park includes more than 52,000 acres offering magnificent groves of old growth coast redwoods. The park offers: more than 100 miles of hiking trails; fishing canoeing and swimming in the Eel River; family, group, horse, bicycle and backpack camps; a visitor center with exhibits and bookstore; scenic drives; and seasonal interpretive programs such as campfires, nature walks, and Junior Ranger programs. There are three campgrounds offering 250 campsites that can accommodate tents and up to 24 foot trailers and 33 foot motor homes. Burlington Campground is open, and may be reserved through Reserve America, year-round. Albee Creek and Hidden Springs Campgrounds are approximately open mid-May through mid-September. (Contact the park directly to find out the exact dates, as they vary slightly year to year depending on weather.) There are no hookups in any of the campgrounds.