And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
— John Muir
Date Created: Redwood National and State Parks were established on October 2, 1968.
Location: Northern California coast in the United States.
Size: The combined area of Redwood National and State Parks is approximately 139,000 acres (56,209 hectares).
Old growth forests, redwoods in particular, help keep our air clean, remove carbon dioxide and store 5 times more carbon above ground than any other type of forest on the planet. To the casual visitor – oh my gosh! These trees are massive. Unfortunately only about 5% of the old-growth redwoods remain today. The 14 mile scenic drive through the forest is beautiful. A separate section of the park, Coastal Drive Loop, is a 9 mile unpaved road along the Pacific Ocean. Beware, potholes are massive particularly after a rain. A hike up Fern Canyon shows the exquisite beauty of a natural garden. As human encroachment on this pristine environment continues the coordination of conservation, preservation and restoration groups must work together to keep this beautiful park from further dissemination.
