As you drive along Highway 101 along the California/Oregon Coast, you may not ever realize that you are driving in the Redwoods National/ State Park. There is no ranger entry station or entry fee, just an impressive sight of tall trees.The Redwood National and State Parks are located along the narrow corridor of California's northern coast, the world's tallest trees reign over a fog-shrouded domain. The parks, comprising the Redwood National park (established 1968) and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks (dating from the 1920's) contain 133,000 acres. Located entirely within Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, the four parks, together, protect 45% of all remaining redwood old-growth forests, totaling at least 38,982 acres. These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth. Within an elevation range from sea level to 3,200 feet a delightful array of scenes invites visitors to experience the splendor of this special place.
Standing at the base of one of these lofty monarch, one may be overwhelmed by the presence of a tree whose crown is not visible.
Some redwood are taller than a football field is long; many exceed the height of the Statue of Liberty or a 30 story building.
These venerable giants may live a thousand or more years, but the average of a virgin redwood in 500 to 700 years. The oldest known individual, felled long ago, was more than 2,200 years old.
When logging began in 1850, roughly 2,000,000 acres of ancient or "old growth" coast redwoods forest canopy mantled the coastal Mountains of California. After many decades of unobstructed clear-cut logging, serious efforts toward conservation began. Today, just about 10% remains. It wasn't until the early 1960's that a movement for a national park generated support to begin to save these tall giants. About 50,000 acres of the remaining 300,000 acres are located within the National and State Park system.
The drive along Highway 101 and also the Howland Hill Road that navigates through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, is very impressive. What an awe-inspiring place!Makes you feel rather small.
Until later,
Candy and Johnny along the road.
