Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Evan Dudley
History
In the early 1900s, the redwood forests of Northern California were unprotected and exploited by men who chopped down the trees and sold the lumber. Shocked by the destruction of the redwood forests, a grassroots movement to save the trees started in 1918 and the Humboldt State Park was founded in 1921.
The Trees
With a lifespan of more than 2,000 years, the old-growth coast redwoods found in Humboldt Redwoods State Park are the tallest and oldest trees in the world. The average redwoods in the park are 200 to 240 feet high, with diameters of 10 to 15 feet.
Park Activities
The Avenue of the Giants offers a 32-mile drive, where visitors can camp at one of the 250 campsites or hike or bike 100 miles of trials. Located on the South Fork Eel River, visitors can also enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing.
Visiting the Park
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is 288 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101. The park does not charge an entrance fee, but there is a $20 to $45 fee per night for campsites, and $5 per person fee for trail, bike and hike camps.
Fun Fact
Coast redwoods get their rich red-brown color from tannic acid. The tannins in the wood and bark also protects the trees from insect damage, fungus diseases and even fire.
Article Written By Michelle Ellsworth
Michelle Ellsworth has been a professional writer and researcher for 10 years. In addition to writing for Demand Studios, she writes for television documentary programs on forensic science, crime, extremism, and lifestyles. Ellsworth holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking and a minor in philosophy from Old Dominion University.
