See Expanded Calendar of Activities in Redwoods

Enjoy the peace and beauty of the redwoods you have helped protect. Visit our new, comprehensive calendar of events and activities throughout the ranges of the coast redwood and giant sequoia in almost 40 parks. Many of these activities are in parks that were slated for closure under a previous plan by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to address a budget shortfall. However, under his revised budget, the parks will stay open! Your e-mails, calls and letters were among more than 100,000 messages the Governor received from constituents concerned about the proposed closures. Our collective voice was heard. But our work is not done! The Legislature still must vote on the budget. Your legislators need to hear from you now. Send a message to your elected officials, encouraging them to keep the parks open. Ask your friends to do the same by forwarding this e-mail.

Grant Grows Future Redwood Stewards

Thanks to your support, 280 San Francisco Bay Area 5th and 6th graders discovered their connection to the natural environment and prepared to become future redwood stewards. A grant from the League’s Education Program enhanced the Caritas Creek Environmental Education Program in Cazadero, California, this spring, providing tree identification guides, laminated photos and diagrams of redwoods, journals, binoculars, and redwood-themed storybooks. "This project created a sense of reverence within the students for the redwoods, and it inspired the staff to develop a new curriculum, which will be shared with thousands of students who attend Caritas Creek in the coming years," said Emily Wood Ordway, Caritas Creek Program Director.

Staff Member’s Favorite Redwood Hike: Founders Grove Nature Trail

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

Name and Title: Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director

Favorite Redwood Hike: Founders Grove Nature Trail, Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Difficulty/Distance: Easy; 0.6 miles

Why I like it: At The Founders Grove entrance, you can’t help but stare up at the immense, columnar Founders Tree. You might even witness the common practice of several visitors grabbing hands and trying to reach around the base of this giant! Along the rest of the trail, the quiet and stillness are striking. This path leads to another marvel: the fallen Dyerville Giant. At 362 feet, this was one of the world's tallest trees. It now lies prostrate in the grove, slowly decaying and returning its nutrients to the soil. This trail also is important to me because The Founders Grove was dedicated in 1931 to the founders of Save-the-Redwoods League.

Best time to visit: While the park is open year-round, I personally enjoy it most just after the first fall rain when it’s drippy and enveloped in mist.

Other places to visit nearby: Humboldt Redwoods State Park contains The Avenue of the Giants, a 32-mile scenic alternative to Highway 101 that winds through old-growth redwoods. On both sides of the road are many honor and memorial groves that, like the Founders Grove, have been dedicated by League members, and many of them have day-use sites where you can enjoy the giants.

More information: Visit the Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association Web site. Make reservations to stay at the park.

Directions: Get directions to the park.

Featured Favorite Redwood Memory

I was walking alone through John Muir Woods. It was misty, rainy, and cold. It was in autumn and it was beautiful. I saw no one, nothing, but a wet red squirrel. I loved it. I will always remember that day.

— Paul
Member since 1984