Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, by Jon ParmentierThere’s nothing like an ancient coast redwood—reaching high to the clouds, massive and gnarled at the base, surrounded by green ferns and streaks of dappled sunlight. Coast redwoods rely on California’s unique coastal ecosystem to thrive: heavy rains, moderate year-round temperatures, and dense fog that carries moisture to the trees even in the hot summer months. Coast redwoods even create their own rain, capturing fog on their leaves, which then condenses into water droplets and drips to the ground, providing water to the understory.
