Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Humboldt Redwoods protects about 17,000 acres of old-growth coast redwood — the largest remaining stand of it anywhere — inside a park of roughly 52,000 acres. Rockefeller Forest, the Bull Creek tract at the park's western end, is generally considered the largest contiguous old-growth redwood forest in the world. The Giant Tree there is the National Champion coast redwood, at 354 feet with a 16.9-foot trunk, judged on the best combination of height, diameter and crown spread.

Almost all of it is free. Parking costs nothing at every trailhead and day-use area except Williams Grove, which is $8 a vehicle. Founders Grove, Rockefeller Loop and Gould Grove — three of the best short walks in the county — cost nothing at all.

The park is unusually good on accessibility. Five trails are officially accessible with compacted surfaces: Founders Grove, Gould Grove at the visitor center, Rockefeller Loop, Drury-Chaney and Fleishmann Grove. That's a rare amount of choice for anyone using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller.

Land here was Sinkyone territory for thousands of years before settlers began clearing redwood for pasture in the 1850s. Save the Redwoods League formed in 1918 in response, and the park was assembled grove by grove from 1921 onward, largely through memorial donations — which is why so many groves carry someone's name.

Practical notes: the park takes seven to ten feet of rain a year. The Eel River is cold, fast and deep through winter and spring, and blue-green algae can bloom in late summer when flows drop, which is hazardous to swallow for people and dogs alike. There are no lifeguards. It's bear country, so store food properly.

The visitor center sits on the Avenue two miles south of Weott, 9–5 in summer and 10–4 the rest of the year.