This weekend, I visited a corner of paradise in Portola Redwoods State Park. This park is the home of some of the tallest, most majestic redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Now is the perfect time to see a veil of water cascading over a moss covered rock face. Look down and you’ll see a still life composed of redwood sorrel, mushrooms, and a banana slug on a background of rusty leaves. This idyllic setting, solitude and proximity to San Francisco make Portola RSP an ideal destination for hiking, picnicking, camping and backpacking.
But, I wasn’t there just for recreation and I wasn’t alone. The group included staff from California State Parks, Peninsula Open Space Trust and the League, as well as board members from the Portola and Castle Rock Foundation—a group that is well accustomed to working within the beauty of the redwood forest. I realized that we each walked bearing one or more perspectives and that, by discovering the forest through these different lenses, it became all the more magical.
We hiked as protectors of nature—the League and POST working to safeguard an adjacent 145 acres of redwoods, Peters Creek Old-Growth Forest.
We hiked as the land’s stewards, appreciating the park staff and the Foundation for nurturing this amazing landscape.
We hiked as explorers, discovering trails in Peters Creek Old-Growth Forest.
And last, we hiked as parents, mesmerized by an adorable 8-month old named Trillium as she enjoyed her first redwood hike. We were happy to protect this forest for her to enjoy now and in the future.
How do you see the redwood forest? Get out to Portola Redwoods State Park and help us protect Peters Creek Old-Growth Forest. Then, leave a comment and tell us your perspective!
