Off the Beaten Path

Conservationists Hike 1,230 Miles of California Coast to Foster Spirit of Stewardship

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Hikers along the California Coastal Trail in Del Norte County have begun to mistake Morgan Visalli and Jocelyn Enevoldsen for twins. If you ignore Visalli’s blonde hair and Enevoldsen’s dark brunette braids and pay attention to the color spectrum that radiates around them, you can see it too. They wear matching turquoise rain coats, handkerchiefs, and socks.

Photo by Paolo Vescia

New Lost Coast Trail Extension Now Open

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The Lost Coast lends itself to adventure like nowhere else in California. As you explore this stunningly beautiful, remote expanse of coastal bluffs and forests, a true sense of discovery takes hold – it feels wonderfully wild and unchanged. With 100 miles of almost completely roadless beauty, this is the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline left in California. Small wonder that the spectacular trail that winds along the Lost Coast is a top-tier, bucket-list adventure for all who love to get into the wild. And now that trail is even better!

Kyle Da Silva, League Redwoods Reporter. Photo by Ella Teevan

The Understory

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In the tangle of our wireless world we are more connected than ever before. It’s puzzling, then, how distant we now find ourselves from the natural environment. While our world migrates into the cloud, the Redwoods Reporter series will keep a pair of boots on the trail with educators, adventurers, foresters, chefs, doctors, artists and scientists who are called back by the redwood forests.

The redwood forest inspires the students in our Redwoods and Climate Change High School Program.

Redwood Haikus

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It is well known that the redwoods inspire people in many different ways. Some want to study how the trees and forest function; others hike beneath the branches for exercise, and still others paint and photograph these majestic beauties.

Student Perspectives: Have You Taken Advantage of Nature Yet?

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According to The Outdoor Foundation, just under half (49.2 percent) of Americans participated in an outdoor recreational activity in 2013. If you have not visited a national, local or state park lately, you are missing out on a great way to engage in outdoor recreation. Visiting parks not only supports a healthier lifestyle, but also an opportunity to learn.

Joaquin Miller Park. Photo by Lisse Lundin

Student Perspectives: 4 Reasons to Visit Joaquin Miller Park

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Although this park may be small in comparison to others, it is not lacking in variety of activities and scenery. From mountain biking to attending an outdoor play, this park has opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy, all while being removed from the bustle of the surrounding cities. Go to Joaquin Miller Park to discover the magic of the redwoods. Just minutes away from San Francisco and East Bay towns, you can take advantage of this local park any day of the week.

Student Perspectives: Give Your Future Kids a Place in Nature

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I haven’t swum along the Great Barrier Reef or trekked through the Amazon Rainforest. I haven’t looked up towards the Aurora Borealis or looked down at the enormity of Victoria Falls. What I have seen, and what I’m lucky to have seen, are redwood forests stretching far and reaching tall.

Giant sequoias in the snow. Photo by divwerf, Flickr Creative Commons

Join Me for a Snowy Sequoia Adventure

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We here in California are all pretty relieved by the rain and snow we have received this winter. Our plants are starting to bounce back, we can go skiing again, and our shoes are actually getting muddy when we hike …

Transamerica Redwood Park in San Francisco. Photo by TheWestEnd, Flickr Creative Commons

Super Bowl and Redwoods – What Could They Possibly Have in Common?

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NOTHING! Well, almost nothing… Really, the only thing they share in common is bringing people together outdoors. Although it’s a far cry from a park or beach, at the very least, the Super Bowl will be played outside among a …

Sean Halter explores Mt. Tamalpais.

Student Perspectives: The Mystery of Mount Tam

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I always wondered what made Mount Tam so special. It always seemed mysterious to me since I had no idea what to expect. Once I got up there, I found out for myself that Mount Tam is more than just a place in Marin, it’s my home in the redwoods.

Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserve

16 Amazing Redwood Escapes near San Francisco

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If you’re like so many San Francisco Bay Area residents, nearby Muir Woods National Monument is your go-to place for a redwood-forest experience. But did you know about these 16 redwood parks within a one-hour drive of San Francisco?

League volunteers planting redwood seedlings.

Spend MLK Day Giving Back and Connecting with Nature

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Monday, January 18, is the federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Thinking about all the good that King contributed in his lifetime – his advancement of civil rights, his moving words, his doctrine of peaceful change – you may be inspired to give back as well. If you’re interested in participating in the MLK Day of Service (#MLKDay) on Monday, you can give back while spending time in nature!

Student Perspectives: Are You in the Redwoods?

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Your help is wanted and needed to increase the accessibility of parks to people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and economic statuses. National and state parks offer an experience that you simply cannot know from frequenting your local urban park. Serene naturalness, breaths of fresh air and lush trees abounding, and never-ending trails – what more can a person ask for? This begs the question, are you in the redwoods? And if not, why?

The Inspiring Response to Free Redwood Parks Day

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Group after smiling group rolled into Samuel P. Taylor State Park on November 27 for the first Free Redwood Parks Day sponsored by Save the Redwoods League, all of them happy to be in the forest’s embrace instead of fighting mall crowds on Black Friday.

Great Horned Owl

Redwood treetop offers excellent owl perch

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Often during the night I wake to hear the distinctive sound of my neighborhood’s Great Horned Owl calling out. It’s a lovely deep call that sounds like, “hoo-HOO-hoo-hoo” and while I’ve heard it often, I only first laid eyes on the bird last week.

Life Hack: Fun Hiking Game for Kids

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Hiking with kids can sometimes feel like a forced march, we’ve all experienced kids complaining about walking for walking’s sake. Obviously, the best remedy for reluctant young hikers is regular doses of candy, but the next best remedy is also super fun and does not contribute to cavities! This is a nature color game that is a trade secret of environmental educators and is really easy to play.

Wildlife at Cape Vizcaino

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For the past few years the League has been actively restoring our Cape Vizcaino property along the wild and beautiful Mendocino coast. Our wildlife cameras have captured pictures of deer, foxes, coyotes, mountain lions and even bears.

How My Family Backpacking Dream Came True (And Yours Can, Too)

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I can think of no wilder adventure than spending a week exploring the Yosemite backcountry with three teenage boys. With my oldest son heading into his final year of high school, I decided to go all out this summer in search of a truly epic, life-changing, never-to-forget experience that my sons and I could share.

Avenue of the Giants Anniversary

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The beautiful Avenue of the Giants that winds for 32 miles through Humboldt Redwoods State Park was dedicated 55 years ago, on August 27, 1960. Thousands of visitors drive under the towering redwoods that line the Avenue as they visit Humboldt Redwoods to experience the breath-taking majesty of the largest old-growth forest on the planet.