Run in the Redwoods

Monti Bultz in the 2015 Annual Prairie Creek Redwoods Half Marathon & 5k Run/Walk [Photo provided by Redwood Parks Conservancy]

Join us for the third annual Prairie Creek Redwoods Half Marathon and 5k on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, sponsored by Redwood Parks Conservancy. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; both runs begin at 9 a.m. and are limited to the first 200 participants. Registration deadline is Friday, September 2. Proceeds from the event will be used for visitor services and educational programs at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway will be closed to all vehicle traffic on race-day, Sept. 17, creating a wonderful opportunity for runners, walkers and cyclists. (You do not have to participate in the race to take advantage of the vehicle-free road.) The Parkway winds through the heart of old-growth redwoods in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park unit of Redwood National & State Parks and is located off Hwy 101, six miles north of Orick, Calif., or four miles south of Klamath, Calif.

The parkway is ten miles long and can only be accessed from the south gate on this date only. Visitors should park vehicles south of the closure and park only in designated spaces parallel to the roadway and adjacent to Elk Prairie in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Please do not block the gate or park in lots reserved for visitor center or back country use.

This year’s run is one of the many events celebrating the 2016 Centennial Anniversary of the National Park Service. The vehicle-free parkway provides great opportunities to “Find Your Park” by safely exploring the beauty of the redwoods on foot or bike without worry of competing traffic. Redwood National and State Parks invites families to bring their children out for a walk or bike ride. Walking or biking with children through the wonders of the ancient coast redwood forest not only helps young people get physical exercise and enjoy quality time with family and friends, but also fosters a better understanding and appreciation of the environment and enthusiasm for exploration.

For more information about the Prairie Creek Redwoods Half Marathon & 5k Run/Walk, contact Redwood Parks Conservancy 707-464-9150. For maps and suggestions for exploring your parks, stop by any of our many visitor centers or call 707-465-7335 Monday through Friday or visitwww.nps.gov/redw.