The World's Tallest Trees

 



The bottom 30 feet of the tallest tree in the world
363 feet tall

On our travels this year we have seen some of the world’s largest trees, the Giant Sequoias and some of the world’s oldest trees, the Bristlecone Pines so it was only fitting that we visit should see some of the world’s tallest trees, the Redwoods.

 

 

 

Redwoods and Giant Sequoias are both members of the Redwood Family.  While Giant Sequoias are among the world’s largest trees and can live up to 3,200 years old, Redwoods live 'only' around 2,000 years!  But they are the world's tallest trees. 

 

Giants of the forest

 

During past vacations, we've seen Redwoods near San Francisco and along the northern California coast but one place we had never visited was Humboldt Redwoods State Park.  Located on Hwy 101 about 50 miles south of Eureka, this beautiful park encompasses over 52,000 acres including 17,000 acres of old-growth Redwoods and the stunning Rockefeller Forest, the largest remaining old-growth Redwood forest in the world.

Redwood sorrel, a clover like plant that often 'blankets' the floor of Redwood forests 

Once upon a time back in the age of dinosaurs, fossil records indicate that Redwoods grew naturally in many places across the Northern Hemisphere.  Now all that remains is a small coastal fog belt 5 – 35 miles wide extending 450 miles from extreme southwest Oregon to central California.  Before the arrival of European settlers to North America, this coastal strip of land was covered in Redwoods but today they grow in only a fraction of that area. 




Looking up to the canopy

As we drove the scenic “Avenue of the Giants” (the park road through Humboldt Redwoods State Park) passing through the groves of immense Redwoods we couldn’t help but compare it to other areas outside the park where most of the Redwood groves were gone.  Many of the Redwood forests have been saved but they are mainly in the state and national parks with very few, especially the old growth groves, existing outside the parks. It can’t help but make you sad.  But the Save-the-Redwoods League has been working tirelessly since 1917 to preserve areas of primeval Redwood forests.  To date the League has protected 170,000 acres of Redwoods in 35 California State Parks and two national parks.

 

Visitors to the forest dwarfed by the towering Redwoods

 

Fallen log gives life to new plants

 

A Redwood forest must be experienced.  In some places the trees are so tall and thick that little light reaches the forest floor.  Often the forest is shrouded in mist or fog.  It is an effort to see to the tops of the trees – if you even can.  Fallen giants have become a nursery for new plants.  Mosses, ferns, flowering plants, shrubs, and even new Redwoods cling tightly and draw life from the ‘old bones’ of the ancient trees.  Walking through these magical forests is an experience of wonder and for some, renewal.  Words and pictures can only hint at the mystery.  

 

 

 

David's Stats:
Days Hiked       3
Total Miles Hiked      7.56
Ave. Miles per Day      2.52
Total Elevation Gain       767
Ave. Elevation Gain per day   256