The Magnificent Redwoods Have Their Own National And State Park, This Is Why You Should Go
Its no secret that a walk in an ancient Redwood forest can have profound effects on your spirit, mind, and body. While walking through the Redwood forest last year along the coast of California, I felt like I wanted to move slower than I ever have in my life. I wanted to hone in on the sounds of birds sining so clear and crisp, zoom in on every twist and turned detail of redwood skin, and study each ray of light that broke through the trees and levitated in the forest before me.
Our Cross-Country Van Trip
This experience took place during my cross-country van trip of 2021. While the world was in lockdown, leaving many people stuck inside, I decided to get stuck outside. My partner and I did some simple upgrades to my van that made it a more cozy home-on-wheels (that cost us less that $10) and hit the road on January 1st. We left North Carolina and eventually made our way over to the East Coast, parking in interesting spots along the way, and headed straight for the Redwood giants. You can learn exactly how much we spent on our van trip here.
A Powerful Forest Experience
I learned some interesting facts about forest-dwellers after returning home from our two month adventure. Did you know that plants can hear and see? That’s right. After reading The Heartbeat of Trees by Peter Wohlleben I learned that and so much more.
Check Out These 5-Read Books To Connect With Nature
The Health Benefits Of Forest Bathing
I always knew that walking in the forest was beneficial for my health intuitively, but he writes: “Walking under trees is beneficial: the compounds beeches, oaks, and many other trees release into the air communicate among themselves. These affect our circulatory system and our subconscious, and our blood pressure sinks…” Although, that is not true in every forest. While native, healthy trees may release chemicals that have a relaxing effect on humans, non-native trees that are stressed about insect attacks and lack of water can also be picked up by humans.
Uncovering The Awareness Of Plants
Now about plants hearing and seeing. Years ago a test proved that at least some plants can hear. “Scientists discovered that the roots of Arabidopsis oriented themselves towards clicks in the frequency of 200 hertz and then grew I that direction. They can also produce sounds that function as a kind of Morse code.” They’ve also found that plants are not fooled by the sounds of fake rushing water vs real rushing water (they only grew roots towards the real water) and that they were irritated by white noise.
Exploring Beyond-Human Life In The Forest
In addition to this wonderful information, I also learned some fantastic facts about nonhuman animal life in the forest: The bog orchard imitates the sent of humans to signal to mosquitoes that there might be a meal available, getting themselves pollinated. Firehawks in Australia have been observed picking up burning sticks to spread wildfire so they can hunt the animals that flee from them.
After reading this book a walk in the forest is so much more to me. At the beginning of 2022 I reflected on some of the trees that I’ve met on my travels and it led me to writing this forest appreciation post. Consider that trees have existed for more than 300 million years, and humans just for 300,000. Why not ask them to lend an ear next time you need some wisdom?
People bound up in commercial systems, however, live shorter lives and impose those preferences of the day on ecosystems. When it comes to trees, with their long lifespans, these preferences can still be seen decades later. Forests act as a mirror to our cultural past.
Peter Wohlleben
Redwood State and National Parks
The famous Redwood trees are partly protected by national and state parks. That means that visiting the forests takes a little bit of planning. If you decide to hit the road and discover the magic of the Redwoods for yourself, be sure to check out the current conditions before you get there. This will help you to stay updated about any trail or road closures, dangerous weather situations, and more.
Activities in the Redwoods:
- Forest Bathing
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Scenic Drives (Don’t miss the Avenue of the Giants)
You may be enticed to sleep under the great canopy of the Redwoods while visiting. There are no hotels or lodges in the park, so you will need to plan ahead and get a permit for backcountry camping or reserve a spot at a developed campground. If you plan to park or camp outside of the parks to save money, use my guide to find free camping and parking spots. Some hikes and special activities require permits, so be sure to check this page to get yours in advance.
Find more unruly National Park guides here!
