An ELEVATED WALKWAY Is Being Built To Protect Jed Smith’s Grove of Titans Understory

In 2012, lush vegetation covered the Grove of Titans before visitors trampled the forest floor. [Photo by Max Forster from Save the Redwoods League website]

On November 6, 2019, construction will begin on a 1,300- foot-long elevated walkway through the Grove of Titans (Grove) in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, part of Redwood National and State Parks in Del Norte County, California. This work is the first phase of a three-year, $3.5 million project organized and implemented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Redwood Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service. The project, first announced in November 2018, was conceived to provide environmentally sensitive access to the Grove and adjacent forest.

 

Visitors who ventured off of the park’s official trails have created this large patch of compacted bare soil. [Photo by Max Forster (2018) from Save the Redwoods League website]

Thousands of visitors have been finding their way on “social trails” or unofficial pathways since the location of the Grove was first shared online in 1998, which has caused considerable damage over time.During construction, from November 2019 to May 2021, the Mill Creek Trail will be closed from Howland Hill Road to the Smith River. See below for dates and alternative routes.The renovation project will establish official, safe access to the Grove, provide ecosystem protections for the trees, visitor services and amenities, including a new restroom facility where the Mill Creek Trail meets Howland Hill Road.Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to visit the park during the construction:

CLOSURES AND GROVE ACCESS Access to the Grove of Titans is closed.

– For park visitors’ safety, the area around the Grove of Titans will be fenced off and closed. Any park visitors in violation of the posted closure will be subject to a citation.

 

From November 6, 2019 to May 2021 (anticipated), the Mill Creek Trail will be closed from Howland Hill Road to the Smith River.

• –  Park visitors may use the nearby Boy Scout Tree, Nickerson Ranch, Little Bald Hills, or Stout Grove trails, which are accessible from Howland Hill Road. For more recommendations on trail alternatives to avoid the potentially hazardous construction area, visit the California State Parks website.
• –  As always, please recreate safely and protect you and your loved ones, as well as your natural surroundings. Always use official, open trails and avoid walking along roadways or on the forest floor. Be sure to actively supervise children at all times. For more safety tips, click here.

BACKGROUND ON THE GROVE OF TITANS AND THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD IT

 

The Grove of Titans was identified deep in the old-growth forests of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in 1998. Following the unofficial publication of its location, in print and online, visitation increased dramatically over the past 20 years, with peak travel of 13,000 cars per month along Howland Hill Road during the busy summer months, often resulting in gridlock.

With increased visitation, the negative impacts anticipated by California State Parks materialized. Over the years, a complex web of “social” trails has formed. The resulting influx of foot traffic has destroyed understory plants and compacted soil. It has inhibited the uptake of water and nutrients by the shallow roots of the redwoods and is threatening the long-term survival of the Grove itself. Additionally, unplanned trails can cause soil erosion and corresponding runoff that can affect streams where coho and steelhead live, feed, and spawn.

“Instead of looking like a prehistoric and pristine forest, it’s been looking increasingly like the LA freeway system,” said Brett Silver, California State Park’s Deputy District Superintendent, North Coast Redwoods District. “I know it will be frustrating for people not to have access during this extended construction period. We ask all visitors for their patience and cooperation as we work to preserve and protect this incredible place for future generations to enjoy.”

For further information on the project and to donate to support this important work, visitSaveTheRedwoods.org/Titans or GroveofTitans.org. You may also make donations by calling Save the Redwoods League at (415) 820-5800 or Redwood Parks Conservancy at (707) 465- 7329.

Project updates are available at SaveTheRedwoods.org/project/grove-of-titans.