Armstrong Redwoods / Austin CreekBrochure |
Brochure of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve (SNR) and Austin Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
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Armstrong Redwoods
State Natural Reserve
Austin Creek
State Recreation Area
Our Mission
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
The cathedral-like
trees of Armstrong
Redwoods State Natural
Reserve complement
the rolling, tree-studded
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(707) 869-2015. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Austin Creek State Recreation Area
17000 Armstrong Woods Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-2015 or (707) 865-2391 District Office
© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)
hills of neighboring
Austin Creek State
Recreation Area.
A
rmstrong Redwoods State Natural
Reserve and Austin Creek State Recreation
Area share a boundary, but the parks are
quite different from each other. Serene,
805-acre Armstrong Redwoods — shaded
by ancient coast redwoods — has been a
cool summer escape for generations of park
visitors. Temperatures are moderate, with fog
year-round. The nearly 6,000 tree-studded
acres of Austin Creek provide a bright, sunny
place best experienced in spring and fall;
summer temperatures here can reach
100 degrees.
PARK HISTORY
Native People
Before the early 1800s, the Kashaya Pomo
people lived along the coast and what is
now called the Russian River. The ocean and
the river’s plentiful resources sustained the
Kashaya people.
With the construction of nearby Fort Ross in
1812, the lives of the Kashaya were abruptly
altered. Fur trappers from the RussianAmerican Fur Company arrived at the fort,
seeking sea otter pelts and a place to grow
food for their Alaskan outpost. For nearly
30 years, the Russians employed numerous
Kashaya Pomo people as agricultural
laborers—many of whom lived around the fort
or in nearby villages. Some Kashaya women
intermarried with the Russian immigrants.
Today Kashaya Pomo and other native
groups still live in or visit the area to gather
leaves, roots, and other natural ingredients
needed to make some of the world’s finest,
most sought-after Native American baskets.
Colonel James B. Armstrong
Ohio native Colonel James B. Armstrong
was one of the very few 19th-century lumber
barons who appreciated both the intrinsic
beauty and the commercial uses of the
redwood groves.
In 1874 Armstrong moved to Sonoma
County with his wife and family. They built
their home in Cloverdale, where he invested
in orchards and real estate there and in Santa
Rosa. Working with crop plants, Colonel
Armstrong became a lifelong friend of
agricultural pioneer Luther Burbank.
Upon his arrival in Sonoma County,
Armstrong began to purchase land in the
dense redwood forest 2.5 miles north of
Guerneville. He saw that thousands of acres
of seemingly inexhaustible redwoods were
being reduced to clear-cut tree stumps
(thus inspiring Guerneville’s original name,
Colonel James Armstrong
in 1883
Elizabeth Armstrong
Jones, ca. 1900
Colonel Armstrong Tree
“Stumptown”). To preserve some of his
land from this fate, he deeded 600 acres of
the ancient forest to his daughter Kate, with
plans for an arboretum and natural park.
The Armstrong family allowed the public
to visit and enjoy the beauty of the
peaceful redwoods.
Armstrong later bought the Big Bottom
Sawmill and cut and processed millions of
feet of redwood lumber. The redwoods he
had deeded to Kate remained intact; 400 of
those acres eventually became Armstrong
Redwoods State Natural Reserve (SNR).
Armstrong’s other daughter Elizabeth
(Lizzie) and her husband, Reverend
William Ladd Jones, dedicated the Colonel
Armstrong Tree. This “monarch of the
forest,” chosen before his death in 1900,
commemorates Armstrong’s vision of
saving ancient redwoods.
The State of California acquired the grove
in 1934; by 1936 Armstrong Redwoods State
Park was open to the public.
Armstrong Redwoods became a reserve
in 1964, after insight into its ecological
importance suggested that this vital
resource should be more effectively
managed. That same year, the State began
acquiring the land which now comprises
Austin Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) to
provide camping and recreational facilities
and preserve important wildlife corridors.
Since then, Save the Redwoods League
has protected nearly 1,700 acres in Austin
Creek SRA.
NATURAL HISTORY
The remaining coast redwoods (Sequoia
tree voles. Hound’s tongue
and common madia make
seasonal displays in the
sparse understory, which is
also home to wood rats and
alligator lizards.
Oak Woodland —
This habitat includes
California buckeye,
manzanita, Oregon white
oak, and California black
oak. Band-tailed pigeons,
The popular Redwood Forest Theater was built in 1934. king snakes, and gray foxes
live here. Checker lilies may be found among
sempervirens), the tallest living trees on
the oaks.
Earth, now grow naturally only along a narrow
Riparian — Along rivers, streams and other
coastal belt from southern Oregon to central
waterways, wood ferns, bracken ferns, and
California. The wet fog that shrouds this
maidenhair ferns thrive. White and red alder,
ancient, temperate rainforest helps maintain
chain fern, giant horsetail, western azaleas,
the moist conditions that the trees — and the
and various mosses shelter California newts,
wildlife that depend on them — need to exist.
Pacific tree frogs, American dippers, and
Today, scientists are studying the effects of
belted kingfishers.
climate change on redwoods.
Great blue herons
Habitats and Wildlife
fish in streams
The area’s distinct habitats shelter a wide
for coho salmon,
range of native wildlife.
steelhead, or redRedwood — Coast redwoods shade forest
legged frogs as river
floor plants such as redwood sorrel, trillium,
otters play.
calypso orchids, and sword and bracken
ferns. Look for banana slugs, myotis bats,
and black-tailed mule deer.
Mixed Evergreen / Douglas-Fir — Along
ridges and slopes grow a mix of Douglasfir, Pacific madrone, tanoak, and California
bay laurel. These trees house northern
spotted owls, pileated woodpeckers, and
Closed-Cone Cypress — Sargent’s cypress
stands grow on serpentine rock outcrops.
Chaparral — Chamise, manzanita, and sticky
monkeyflower make up this habitat. Deep
in tangles and thorns, white-footed mice,
California quail, and other small prey hide
from gray foxes. Bobcats may be spotted
hunting in chaparral and grassland areas,
bordered by a mixed conifer forest.
Grasslands — Native purple needlegrass and
California oatgrass grow wild. Soap plant,
clarkia, globe lily, and other wildflowers feed
and shelter black-tailed jackrabbits, Oregon
juncos, western fence lizards, gopher snakes,
and garter snakes.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Trails — Hikers on 20 miles of trails find it
necessary to carry plenty of water at Austin
Creek, where summer temperatures can be
extremely warm.
Equestrians — Park trails are open seasonally
to horses; horse trailers are not allowed
beyond the picnic area at Armstrong
Redwoods SNR. For trail conditions, call
(707) 869-2015.
Banana slug
Bicycles — Ride bicycles only on paved
and unpaved fire roads, not on trails. At
Austin Creek, the paved and unpaved
fire roads gain 1,000 feet of elevation. At
Armstrong Redwoods, bicyclists must share
the flat, paved road with hikers, horses,
and vehicles.
Camping — At Austin Creek, camping is
available year round. Some campsites
are first-come, first-served; others can be
reserved at www.hipcamp.com. Sites have
tables and fire rings with nearby flush toilets
and drinkable water (but no showers). For
questions, call Stewards at (707) 869-9177.
Backcountry (Primitive) Camping — The nonreservable Tom King and Mannings Flat hikein campsites require permits for backcountry
camping, available when the entry kiosk or
volunteer center are open. Sites have tables,
fire rings, and nearby pit toilets. Water from
the year-round stream must be purified
before drinking.
When camping is allowed, register and
get a permit for Austin Creek camping at the
Armstrong Redwoods SNR entry kiosk. If staff
is absent, contact Stewards at (707) 869-9177
or stewards@stewardscr.org.
Facilities — The reserve has a visitor
center, outdoor amphitheater, picnic
facilities, and about nine miles of hiking
trails. The visitor center (nature store) has
interpretive displays and sells a variety of
educational items.
Two picnic areas in the redwoods are
¾ mile from the park entrance. Nearby
Fife Creek runs swiftly in winter and slows
or dries in spring, summer, and fall. A
Bullfrog Pond
seasonal waterfall is close by. Amenities
include picnic tables, barbecue grills and
pit, and restrooms. For group picnic area
reservations, call (707) 865-2394.
Pond Farm Pottery
Shortly after World War II,
internationally known ceramic artist
Marguerite Wildenhain accepted
an invitation from Gordon and Jane
Herr to move to their art colony
(now part of Austin Creek SRA).
Wildenhain lived, worked, and
taught at Pond Farm until her death
in 1985. In 2014, Pond Farm was
added to the National Register of
Historic Places.
Annual Events — Armstrong is home to many
annual events. The Old Grove Festival takes
place in September. For an event calendar,
visit www.parks.ca.gov.
ACCESSIBLE FEATURES
Armstrong Redwoods
Picnic Area — Accessible picnic sites are
near the trailhead at Pool Ridge Trail.
Parking — Routes of travel from parking area
to accessible sites are paved, but help may
be needed with slopes.
Exhibits / Programs — The visitor center is
accessible; wheelchair users may need help
with ramp and path slopes.
Trails — The accessible Discovery,
Armstrong, and Pioneer Nature Trails
through the redwoods are self-guided.
Austin Creek
Currently there are no accessible features
at this park. Accessibility is continually
improving. For updates, visit
http://access.parks.ca.gov.
Bullfrog Pond Campground
PLEASE REMEMBER
• All park features are protected by law and
may not be disturbed in any way.
• Stay on designated trails. Off-trail walking
and riding cause soil erosion, damage
redwood root systems, and expose visitors to
ticks, snakes, and poison oak.
• Vehicles are permitted only on paved roads.
When meeting oncoming traffic in Austin
Creek SRA, vehicles traveling downhill must
yield to uphill traffic.
• Vehicles more than 20 feet long or towing
trailers may not use the narrow, steep park
road up to Bullfrog Campground.
• Except for service animals, dogs are
permitted only on paved roads in both
parks. Dogs must be on leash.
• Hunting and the possession of weapons are
prohibited anywhere in the parks.
• Fishing is available only in Bullfrog Pond. All
streams are closed to fishing to protect vital
spawning habitat.
NEARBY STATE PARKS
• Fort Ross State Historic Park
19005 Highway 1
Jenner, CA 95450
(707) 847-3286
• Sonoma Coast State Park
3095 Highway 1
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
(707) 875-3483 or
(707) 865-2391
Austin Creek SRA is currently
operated by Stewards of the Coast
and Redwoods. Both state parks
receive support through
this nonprofit organization.
For more information, contact:
Stewards of the Coast
and Redwoods
P.O. Box 2, Duncans Mills, CA 95430
(707) 869-9177
www.stewardscr.org
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Campsite I
AREA
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East Austin
1000
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BULLFROG POND
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Campsite II
A
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1000
400
600
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s
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st
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Austin Creek
Ea
e
Fir
800
1000
Parson
Jones
Tree
Kiosk
Visitor Center
2.5 miles
© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)