The Grove of Old Trees

A spectacular forest of 2,000-year-old coast redwoods, The Grove of Old Trees is an oasis of ancient beauty overlooking a sea of vineyards and housing developments. While its historical owners logged nearby forests, they chose to preserve this 33-acre treasure in Sonoma County. The Grove stands as one of the few remaining redwood forests in the county, open to the public for free, thanks to generous donors at Save the Redwoods League and LandPaths, which protected the forest in 2000.

The two organizations have collaborated again to further protect the Grove and offer more opportunities for the public to enjoy it. Save the Redwoods League has expanded the park to 48 acres by purchasing a neighboring 15-acre property and deeding it to LandPaths, the Grove’s owner and manager. Containing old-growth coast redwoods, oak woodland, grassland and a stretch of Coleman Valley Creek, this newly acquired property is a priority identified by the League’s Vibrant Forests Plan. This plan is a data-driven mapping tool used to evaluate conditions of redwood forests and identify threats and conservation opportunities throughout the redwood range.

“California’s redwood parks are the crown of our state’s network of parks, inspiring millions of visitors every year with the beauty and power of nature,“ said Sam Hodder, President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. “The Grove of Old Trees, a park Save the Redwoods League helped establish over a decade ago, is a critical gem on that crown, offering a globally unique redwood experience in a local park environment. “This acquisition adds more than 50 percent to the area of the park, offering a critical buffer to the protected old-growth forest and expanded public access.”

A Place to Learn and Enjoy

Map of Grove of Old Trees addition — Click to enlarge.

Craig Anderson, Executive Director of LandPaths, reflected on plans for the expansion.

“We’re incredibly excited to see what the future holds,” Anderson said. “As with all LandPaths Preserves, this living remnant of the once-expansive coast redwood range will continue as a place for building community around land—especially for our region’s youths. The Grove is already a catalyst for bringing nature into daily life, for walks, stress relief, beauty, learning and stewardship. We’re thrilled to share this new expansion with the neighbors and community.”

LandPaths plans to establish hiking trails on the new property with an eye towards a long-distance trail alongside a wildlife corridor. The organization also hopes to incorporate the property into its outdoor education programs, which focus on youths and those historically under-represented in nature programs. The property’s landscape—its transition from redwood forest to oak woodland and grassland—illustrate concepts in ecology, making it an ideal outdoor classroom.

Interest and leadership from Grove friends and neighbors were critical to the expansion. The League’s dedicated members played a crucial role in the success of this project, providing $171,000 toward the $240,000 purchase price. Generous LandPaths donors provided the balance. LandPaths is building a stewardship fund to support fire fuel reduction, public access and education.

Since the League’s donors assisted LandPaths with the purchase of the original Grove of Old Trees in 2000, many League members have dedicated groves along the park’s short, flat trail.

Open year-round and eminently walkable, Grove of the Old Trees is perfect for picnicking, strolling and dog walking. Plan your trip to the Grove.