New Redwood Activities in Calendar

Our calendar of events and activities throughout the ranges of the coast redwood and giant sequoia features new listings for 2009, including festivals, tours, marathons and seasonal highlights. Go to savetheredwoods.org/events to see how you can enjoy the redwoods in more than 30 parks. Photo by Julie Martin.

7 Grants Support Redwood Research

Thanks to support from our members, Save the Redwoods League is expanding scientific knowledge of redwood ecosystems and the impacts of global climate change on redwood forests. Our Research Grants Program recently awarded seven grants totaling $96,000 to advance understanding of these subjects. The program has made these annual grants since 1997 to a variety of scientists. See a list of the grantees and their projects and learn about possible ways to save giant sequoias facing climate change. Todd Dawson, a grantee and climate change researcher, is pictured at left in this newsletter. Photo by George Koch.

Staff Member's Favorite Redwood Hike: Sequoia Nature Trail and the Old Tree Trail

In this recurring feature, our staff members share their favorite places to experience redwoods.

Name and Title: Hattie Washington, Office Manager

Favorite Redwood Hike: Sequoia Nature Trail and the Old Tree Trail, Portola Redwoods State Park, San Mateo County, California. See the park map (PDF).

Difficulty/Distance: Easy. Less than 2 miles.

Why I like it: Winding roads to the park showed off the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. The quiet trails and creek were easy for four generations of my family to explore: My mother, me (pictured, second from left), my daughter and 2-year-old grandson! We got to see the old giant pictured here. We also saw several banana slugs of all sizes. After our hike, we had a picnic lunch at one of the many picnic tables in the park.

Best time to visit: Fall, before the rainy season.

More park information and directions

Featured Photo

While you can drive into Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, the best way to experience the towering redwoods is to follow the park’s trails. Thanks to our members, the Save the Redwoods League Education Program has awarded grants to an organization that hosts redwood education programs in the park. Such programs inspire participants to love and protect redwoods for current and future generations. Photo by Larry Ulrich.

Featured Favorite Redwood Memory

"Austin Creek State Recreation Area and Sonoma County's Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve are so full of beauty, peace, harmony and love that I am renewed in these same qualities every time I visit. I become its beauty and peace."

— Martha, member since 2000