Redwood

Lore & Background

Modern-day Native American nations such as the Yurok, Tolowa, Karuk, Chilula, and Wiyot have historical ties to the region, which has had various indigenous occupants for millennia. The Yurok, Chilula, and Tolowa were the most connected to the current parks' areas. Native Americans residing within the park areas relied on redwood trees as a construction material, and some featured the trees in their mythology, including the Chilula, who viewed the trees as gifts from a creator. The parks protect the endangered coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)—the tallest, among the oldest, and one of the most massive tree species on Earth—which thrives in the humid temperate rainforest.

Reader's Guide

Park admission is free except for special permits, and visitors may camp, hike, bike, and ride horseback along about 200 miles of park system trails. The parks preserve 37 miles (60 km) of pristine coastline, indigenous flora, fauna, grassland prairie, cultural resources, waterways, as well as threatened animal species, such as the Chinook salmon, northern spotted owl, and Steller's sea lion. Modern RNSP management seeks to protect and restore the coast redwood forests to their condition before 1850, including by controlled burning.

Did You Know?

• The park region is highly seismically active and prone to tsunamis.
• In recognition of the rare ecosystem and cultural history found in the parks, the United Nations designated them a World Heritage Site in 1980.
• Local tribes declared an Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area in 2023, protecting the parks region, the coastline, and coastal waters.