26 don’t-miss events, adventures, and conservation moments on the horizon
At Save the Redwoods League, we’re charging into 2026 ready for big wins and big adventures—no matter the challenges the world brings. From landmark conservation projects to rare celestial moments, this year is stacked with reasons to celebrate and opportunities for joy.
Our 26 moments to anticipate:
- Eight free entrance days at our national parks. These special dates make it easy for everyone to experience the redwoods in their wild glory—here’s the full list.
- Watching the Super Bowl this February at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, our partner in redwoods conservation. Bonus: the stadium is only 30 miles from redwood parks galore.
- Celebrating trailblazers. This March, we’re shining a light on women conservationists—like North Coast legend Laura Mahan—during Women’s History Month.
- Spotting newts as they crawl toward streams in search of mates. We have a soft spot for red-bellied newts, their rust-colored toes blending in with fallen redwood leaves.
- Marveling at the lunar eclipse in March. Even better: watching the shadowed moon rise over a tree that orbited the moon in its youth.
- Transferring the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway property to the Yurok Tribe, who will steward the land, forests, and wildlife there as they have for millennia. Look for more news this spring.
- Getting out there and snapping photos of local redwoods and wildlife during the international 2026 City Nature Challenge, April 24–27. Sharing images is a fun way to connect with citizen scientists around the globe.
- Discovering Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve on a guided public hike with Save the Redwoods staff. These treks explore some of Sonoma County’s tallest—and girthiest—giants. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest on the reserve.
- Moving properties like Armstrong Ridge into California State Parks stewardship will be easier thanks to SB 630. This new law means faster protection for redwoods and the wildlife they shelter.
- The annual gray whale migration. Each spring, these peaceful giants head north from Mexico to their Alaskan feeding grounds. Grab some binoculars and plop down on a patch of redwood-lined Big Sur coast to scan for spouts.
- Raising the roof—and the funds— at our annual Take Me to the Trees celebration on May 2, one of the highlights of our year. Tickets will be available soon through our website.
- Diving into Season 6 of I’ll Go If You Go, Save the Redwoods’ podcast featuring lively conversations with emerging environmental leaders, from community organizers to trail crews.
- Making new friends and exploring new places during California State Parks Week. The June celebration also marks the state’s 175th anniversary (the dodransbicentennial—try saying that three times fast).
- Meeting—and funding—our newest student starter grantees. These future science leaders always wow us with their research, like shining a tiny spotlight on the equally tiny Sonoma tree vole.
- Mountain biking through the Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion is one of the best two-wheel experiences you can have in Northern California. Now that we’ve transferred the property to Sonoma County, these once-secret trails are accessible to all.
- Celebrating 80 years of Samuel P. Taylor State Park. This stunning redwood park hosts many of our community engagement programs and boasts Marin County’s tallest redwood.
- Cozying up in a cabin in the redwoods. With fog cooling the coast and wildflowers in bloom, early summer is the perfect time to get hygge in a cabin beneath the trees. Check out our faves.
- Honoring Yurok traditions at the Salmon Festival in Klamath, California. The August event features a parade, cultural demonstrations, and film screenings—all with a tasty side of salmon. See last year’s lineup.
- More cultural burns with our tribal partners at Alder Creek to boost the sequoia grove’s wildfire resilience and help rekindle a once-banned ancestral practice.
- Grabbing a fresh pie at Mojo Pizza, a delicious slice of the North Coast restoration economy and a favorite among workcrews.
- Grooving under the trees at the Redwood Grove Summer Concerts in the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. The 2026 lineup will be announced in the spring.
- Strolling across the re-re-opened Pfeiffer Falls Bridge in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on a warm fall afternoon, our faces cooled by mist from the waterfall.
- Three words: Fall. Mushroom. Foraging.
- Elk watching as herds of Roosevelt elk munch their way through the recently restored Prairie Creek floodplain. After five years of hard work with our partners, the creek is the centerpiece of a thriving ecosystem once more. Just ask the elk.
- Winter backpacking in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove. Campsites open when the first snow closes the road to the grove. We’ll see you on the trail.
- Kicking off the season of generosity with Giving TREESday on December 1, 2026. Last year you helped us meet our match goal for the Redwoods Resilience Fund and we’re deeply grateful.
