![]() | Grizzly Creek Redwoods Park Brochure |
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Grizzly Creek
Redwoods
State Park
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.
Thanks to lumberman
Owen R. Cheatham,
these acres of
redwoods were saved
for all time — to inspire,
dazzle, and awe many
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(707) 777-3683. 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
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
16949 Highway 36
Carlotta, CA 95528
(707) 777-3683
© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2015)
future generations of
park visitors.
G rizzly Creek Redwoods State Park offers
one another, they still shared many cultural
a sense of seclusion and intimacy that has
traits. Ethnographers have codified this
endeared it to generations of visitors. Nearly
region as a Northern California culture area.
30 miles inland from the coast, the lush,
Native groups traded with each other; local
green, 393-acre park is an unspoiled gem.
objects such as ceremonial blades and shell
Towering ancient redwoods guard three
beads have been identified as far away as
separate parcels of unspoiled riverfront.
America’s Deep South and East Coast.
Athabascan-speaking ceremonies
PARK HISTORY
often included multiple groups, and
intermarriage between groups was common.
California Indians
Many local indigenous people spoke or still
For thousands of years, native California
speak two or more languages.
Indians known as Nongatl lived in this area.
With the coming of Europeans and
The Nongatl speak Athabascan, a distinct
Americans, native lands around the Van
language family whose speakers range from
Duzen River were turned into farms and
the Arctic Circle, along the North American
ranches. The new settlers insisted that the
west coast from Alaska to Humboldt County.
Indians be relocated, so U.S. Army troops
Four distinct language families still exist
from Fort Humboldt took the Nongatl
in the local region: Athabascan, Algic,
people to the Round Valley, Hupa Valley,
Hokan, and Yukian. Though distinct from
and Smith River
Reservations in
the 1860s. Many
of these people
eventually
returned to their
homelands, and
the Rohnerville
Rancheria was
established
north of Fortuna
in 1910.
Some
descendants
of the Nongatl
belong to the
Bear River
One of many dedicated redwood groves
Band of
Rohnerville
Rancheria,
maintaining
cultural and
ancestral
ties while
retaining and
practicing
their own traditions.
American Settlers
In the late 1860s, the Van Duzen River
area—named for New Jersey gold seeker
James Van Duzen—was a stagecoach
stopover and resort. When the State of
California acquired the acreage in 1943,
the river and its banks had long been
popular with visitors.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Wildlife
Black-tailed deer watch for bobcats or
mountain lions. Tracks of California black
bears, raccoons, and river otters may dot
the river’s damp banks on any morning.
Beautiful pileated woodpeckers hammer
at the trees, in the company of dark-eyed
juncos, northern spotted owls, winter
wrens, and boisterous Steller’s jays. Great
blue herons fish among the river rocks.
Endangered marbled murrelets nest
in the redwood canopy, but corvids
(jays, crows, and ravens) prey upon their
eggs and chicks. Please do not drop food
or crumbs.
Habitats
Coast redwood trees dominate the
park. Near the eastern boundary of the
redwoods’ range, the trees rely on winter
rains and morning fog for survival. As
climate change accelerates, experts fear
that diminished rain and fog may cause
the loss of some redwoods as well as other
plants and animals that depend on
these forests.
Some typical redwood understory plants
include three-leaf white trillium, purple
calypso orchids (lady slippers), fairy
lanterns, wild ginger, and Douglas irises.
Douglas-fir, tanoak, and big leaf maple
trees grow among various ferns, mosses,
wild huckleberries, and salal.
Owen R. Cheatham Grove
About four miles west of the visitor center,
the ancient redwoods of Cheatham Grove
stand among redwood sorrel. The beauty of
this grove — named for Owen R. Cheatham,
founder of what would become the GeorgiaPacific Plywood and Lumber Company —
inspired Cheatham to spare the trees for
others to enjoy.
In 1983, thanks to the Save the Redwoods
League, California State Parks acquired the
Cheatham Grove, one of more than 1,000
dedicated redwood “honor” or memorial
groves donated by League benefactors.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Camping — Grizzly Creek has 30 family
sites, a group site, and one hike/bike site.
Family site reservations may be made at
www.parks.ca.gov or call (800) 444-7275.
To reserve the group site for up to 40 people,
call (707) 777-3683.
Boating — The Van Duzen River fluctuates in
depth seasonally, but strong river currents
make rafting and kayaking in winter and early
spring a Class III adventure.
Trails — 4.5 miles of trails offer scenic views.
Picnicking — open for day use. To reserve a
30-unit group picnic area, call (707) 777-3683.
Swimming — Grizzly Creek joins the Van
Duzen River to create a popular swimming
spot. Use caution in the strong currents; no
lifeguards are on duty.
Fishing — In late fall and early winter,
steelhead and salmon migrate from the
ocean. All anglers aged 16 and over must
carry a valid California fishing license.
INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
The visitor center has a schedule of events
and programs including summer campfire
programs, nature walks, and the Junior
Ranger program. Take a self-guided tour on
the Nature Trail near the campground.
PLEASE REMEMBER
• Do not feed wildlife. Store all food and
scented items in bear-resistant lockers.
• Fires are permitted only in the stoves or
fire rings provided by the park.
• Dogs must be on a leash no more than six
feet long and must be confined to a tent or
vehicle at night. Except for service animals,
pets are not allowed on trails.
ACCESSIBLE FEATURES
The visitor center, two campsites, routes of
travel, restrooms, and three picnic tables
are accessible. Assistance may be needed.
Accessibility in parks is continually
improving. Visit http://access.parks.ca.gov
for details or updates.
nearby state parks
• Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
3431 Fort Ave., Eureka 95503
(707) 445-6567
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park
17119 Avenue of the Giants, Weott 95571
(707) 946-2311
This park receives support in part through the
Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association
P.O. Box 276 • Weott, CA 95571
(707) 946-2263
www.humboldtredwoods.org
Grizzly Creek Redwoods
Hik
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Williams and
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Grove
Graham Grove
36
P
Willow
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Six
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NF
Fort Humboldt SHP
Van Du
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101
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Eureka
il
G R I Z Z LY C R E E K
REDWOODS
S TAT E PA R K
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299
sh
Fortuna
Ferndale
Rio Dell
Scotia
36
Humboldt
Redwoods
SP
Abe
Grizzly Creek
Redwoods SP
Grove
Redcrest
Weott
Myers
Honeydew Flat
Redway
36
Phillipsville
dB
Trail
Philip Bard
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to Bridgeville
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© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2015)
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Bridge
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Campground
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Restrooms
Unpaved Road
Group Camp
Locked Gate
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Trail: Hiking
Hike/Bike Camp
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Campfire Center
Ranger Station
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Swimming
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see detailed map
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