September 5th, 2011
We drove to Redwoods last night after exloring Oregon Caves - about a 2 hour drive. We were very fortunate to have friends in both parks who invited us to stay in their homes!
This morning we started early in Crescent City, CA with a quick stop to the park visitor center. Emily picked up her Jr. Ranger book and was ready to go explore! I had been to the Redwoods years ago with Tom and Abbey, but this was Emily's first trip. I was so excited for her.
Redwoods only grow in a narrow strip along the Pacific Coast of California and southwestern Oregon. They are the world's tallest trees and can weigh up to 500 tons and stand taller than the Statue of Liberty. Having been extensively logged in the mid-1800's, only about 40,000 acres are left in the world. We explored both old growth and new growth groves.
First we drove down the coast to Prarie Creek Redwoods State Park. We started our exploration on the Trillium Falls Trail - a two mile hike through beautiful old growth redwoods, crossing no less than 10 little footbridges over soggy creek beds and small waterfalls. The shady trail was a welcome relief from the burning sun! It took us some time to enjoy the hike because at the beginning and end we were greatly distracted by hundreds of plump, ripe blackberries weighing down their branches all along the trail! Yum!
In the afternoon, we started our journey back to Crescent City and took the Howland Hill Road back to the main highway. The road was a windy, narrow gravel road that took us into the heart of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. There we got up close and personal to some of the biggest trees in the redwood forest. It truely was a magical day.
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