Redwood National Park Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park in the northwestern corner of California preserves virgin (old-growth) groves of ancient redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens), the world’s tallest tree. It also features 40 miles (64 kilometres) of scenic Pacific coastline. The park covers an area of 208 square miles (539 square kilometres) and includes land held in three state parks: Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Prairie Creek Redwoods.

The Redwood National Park (and state parks) stretch along the California coast from Crescent City in the north to the town of Orick in the south. Hiking, backpacking and camping are popular in the park. The park’s headquarters is at Crescent City.

The redwood is a fast-growing and long-lived species. Redwoods live to about 600 years on average but can reach up to 2,000 years old. The redwood is also the tallest of the world’s trees. In 1963, a redwood called

Tall Tree in the southern section of the park was measured at 367.8 feet (112.1 metres) tall and 14 feet (4 metres) in diameter. In 1994, its top died and broke off, and it lost the title of tallest tree. Since then several redwoods have been found within the park that exceed

370 feet (113 metres) in height. Commercial logging has greatly reduced the old-growth forest area.

In 1850, old-growth redwood forest covered more than 2,000,000 acres of the California coast.

The northern part of that area was noticed by lumbermen and others when a gold rush brought them to the region. As they did not become rich from gold, these men decided to log the gigantic trees.

The timber went to San Francisco and other places on the West Coast.

After many decades of logging, efforts were started in conservation.

In the 1920s the ‘Save the Redwoods League’ worked to save old-growth redwoods. Due to their efforts, a number of State Parks were formed. Then in 1968, Redwood National Park was created. By that time nearly 90% of the original redwood trees had been logged.

The United Nations designated the parks a World Heritage Site on September 5, 1980. Other parts of the area were added on June 30, 1983.

The National Park Service (NPS) and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) combined the management of Redwood National Park with the three Redwood State Parks in 1994.

The parks have old-growth temperate rainforests. The four parks include 45% of all remaining coast redwood forests. These total at least 38,982 acres. These trees are the tallest and one of the biggest trees on Earth. In addition to the redwood forests, the parks protect much nature within the area.

Sea lions and harbor seals live offshore, and birds such as bald eagles, doubled-crested cormorants, and California brown pelicans glide above the ocean beaches and sea cliffs. Within the forests are Roosevelt elk, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, blacktail deer, chipmunks and squirrels.

The ecosystem of the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) preserves a number of threatened animal species. These include the tidewater goby, Chinook salmon, northern spotted owl and Steller's sea lion.

Native American tribes have made their home within the North Coast region since time immemorial and still maintain their cultural presence today in areas surrounding RNSP. The parks' managers work in consultation with the tribes to ensure that their cultural practices can continue.