From pygmy redwood forests to walk-in camping, these places offer a variety of cool experiences
ExploreRedwoods.org has long showcased more than 100 national, state, and local redwood parks in California as well as a few in Oregon. To help narrow your choices as summer approaches, consider these favorite, off-the-beaten-track parks as chosen by Save the Redwoods League staff members if you’re seeking splendor with more of the parks to yourself.
Listed from north to south:
River, coast, pygmy forest, and history
Van Damme State Park is 3 miles south of the charming town of Mendocino, where the Little River crosses Highway 1. The park is a great place for hiking, biking, birding, jogging, kayaking, and watching salmon spawn. Its trails include a quarter-mile-long wheelchair-accessible boardwalk to view stunted redwoods and other conifer trees in a pygmy forest. Camping spots include nine hike-in sites in a beautiful redwood forest. The 1930s-era visitor center was once a recreation hall for the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Easily accessible ancient forest
In Mendocino County in the heart of the Anderson Valley winemaking region, Hendy Woods State Park’s easy trails lead through spectacular ancient coast redwoods along the Navarro River. The area is warmer than most redwood parks along the coast, making Hendy Woods popular for swimming in the summer and canoeing and kayaking in late winter and early spring. Our staffer also likes the nearby wine-tasting opportunities. The park offers many wheelchair-accessible features, including campsites, a cabin, the half-mile All-Access Trail, and day-use area.
Dramatic coast and quiet camping
Sonoma Coast State Park offers several beaches separated by dramatic rock bluffs and headlands spanning 17 miles from Bodega Head to Vista Trail, about 4 miles north of Jenner in Sonoma County. Beachcombers, anglers, sunbathers, and picnickers can reach the beach from more than a dozen points along coast Highway 1. Look for lounging harbor seals on the beach near Jenner. Pomo Canyon Campground offers 21 first-come, first-served primitive campsites in lovely redwood canyon along a seasonal stream. These walk-in campsites are within a quarter mile of the parking lot, away from the din of traffic. Our staffer has always been able to find a last-minute campsite, even on weekends.
Cool retreat for hot days
In Marin County, locals love Indian Tree Preserve west of Novato as a shady place to beat the heat. Breezes from the west, as well as the north-facing slopes cloaked in oak, bay, and madrone will keep you cool in summer and early fall. Big Trees Trail lives up to its name: Hike through stands of redwoods and mature woodlands that open up to scenic views of Stafford Lake. On a clear day, look for Mount Saint Helena at the edge of Lake County. Biking, horseback riding, and dog walking are favorite activities here.
A verdant forest overlooking Half Moon Bay
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve lies in the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County. The centerpiece is Purisima Creek Canyon, with its towering second-growth redwoods, rushing creek, and understory of ferns, berries, and wildflowers. Visitors love hiking, biking, and horseback riding here. Magnificent views of the coast and Half Moon Bay are highlights from the northern part of the preserve.
Old-growth redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Also in San Mateo County, Portola Redwoods State Park is one of the few old-growth redwood parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains that didn’t burn in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires. Here you’ll find a deeply shaded redwood forest, offering a hushed getaway from nearby Silicon Valley. Eighteen miles of trails follow meandering creeks, where giant coast redwoods stand tall among ferns and huckleberries. Portola also protects some of the most remote and scenic redwoods in the region: Peters Creek Grove. Hiking, camping, backpacking, and picnicking are favorite activities in the park.
