One of the highlights of our visit to the Redwood forests of Northern California was a hike through the Founder’s Grove, situated just off the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. This grove consists mostly of redwoods and ferns and is home to several of the tallest trees in the world. It’s a short and easy walk (less than a mile and mostly flat and accessible), and the scenery is among the best you’ll see in the redwoods.
It’s hard to appreciate the size of redwoods until you walk among them. The first attraction you’ll see is the Founders Tree, a 346-foot-tall redwood. This tree, like the rest of the grove, honors those who created the Save-the-Redwoods League (formed in 1917 and has since protected 170,000 acres of redwood forests).
(My wife in front of the Founder’s Tree — providing size perspective)
There are some fire-damaged trees along the walk….
A number of the trees have burls on them…
At the far point of your hike is the fallen Dyerville Giant. This redwood once stood 362 ft. tall — one of the tallest trees on the planet — and was about 2000 years old before its fell in 1991. The tree’s crash was registered on a nearby seismograph, and a witness who was some distance away said it sounded like a train crash. Today you can walk the length of the tree….
(Views of the fallen Dyerville Giant)
If you visit:
The Founder’s Grove is located close to both the 101 Freeway and the Avenue of the Giants, on Dyerville Loop Rd. There is lots of parking and the trailhead adjoins the parking lot. The trail is about loop about a mile long (depending on how much you wander), with an elevation change of about 30 feet. It’s an easy and beautiful walk, open year-round. Unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed on the trail.
Very recommended!
(Walking among giants)
Excellent article for hikers and “non-hikers.” Beautiful photos, too!