Why Redwood National Park
Situated along the northern coast of California within Del Norte and Humboldt counties, Redwood National and State Parks is a unified natural preserve comprising one federal national park and three state parks: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. Encompassing approximately 139,000 acres within the California Coast Ranges, this combined reserve protects forty-five percent of the world's remaining old-growth coast redwood forests. The territory features humid temperate rainforests, 37 miles of coastline, grassland prairies, and pristine waterways in an area known for seismic activity and tsunami potential.
The park complex is globally recognized for safeguarding the endangered coast redwood, a species distinguished as the tallest and among the oldest and most massive trees on Earth. Beyond these ancient forest stands, the complex preserves a diverse sanctuary for native plants and wildlife. Notable threatened animal species residing within the sanctuary include the northern spotted owl, Chinook salmon, and Steller's sea lion.
Human history in the region spans thousands of years, with dozens of native nations historically inhabiting the coastal landscape. Indigenous groups such as the Yurok, Chilula, and Tolowa held deep ties to these lands, utilizing harvested redwood planks to construct homes, boats, and villages. Following early European explorations and Jedediah Smith's inland expedition in 1828, the California Gold Rush brought rapid influxes of settlers to the region around 1850. This surge resulted in severe displacement and population loss among local tribes, while initiating decades of extensive clear-cut logging.
To combat widespread forest destruction, conservation organizations including the Save the Redwoods League and the Sierra Club spearheaded protection efforts throughout the twentieth century. Three state parks were established during the 1920s following a landmark survey by Frederick Law Olmsted. Redwood National Park was officially created by Congress in 1968 and expanded in 1978 to assist watershed restoration. In 1994, federal and state agencies integrated the four reserves into a single administrative unit aimed at restoring old-growth forest conditions. The area gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1980, and local tribes declared an Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area in 2023.
Visitors to the park complex can access roughly 200 miles of established trails designated for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, alongside options for camping throughout the reserve system. Park admission is generally free, though special permits are required for specific activities.
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