Del Norte Coast Redwoods

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=414 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Norte_Coast_Redwoods_State_Park Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, USA, and a component of the Redwood National and State Parks. The property is about half old-growth forest of coast redwoods and includes 8 miles (13 km) of wild Pacific coastline. The park was significantly expanded in 2002 with the 25,000-acre (10,000 ha) Mill Creek Addition. Originally established in 1925, the park is now 31,261 acres (12,651 ha). The park was designated part of the California Coast Ranges International Biosphere Reserve in 1983.

Del Norte Coast 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. the rugged California coast, scenic river canyons, dense forests, and steep cliffs create a mosaic of California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (707) 465-7335. 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 Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Redwood National and State Parks 7 miles south of Crescent City on Hwy. 101 Crescent City, CA 95531 (707) 465-7335 © 2015 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper interdependent habitats in the Del Norte region. V isitors to Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park experience the grandeur of an old-growth redwood forest on California’s rugged coast. Inland, they can witness historic efforts to restore forests felled by a century of logging. The steep cliffs, lush river canyons, and rocky beaches invite hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and anglers. This area has the state’s heaviest rainfall, averaging 70 inches annually. Year-round temperatures vary from 30 to 80 degrees. Summer days bring morning fog to thirsty redwoods and ferns. Park History Native People The Tolowa and Yurok are the original inhabitants of the area now known as Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. The Tolowa derive from Athabascan-speaking peoples whose aboriginal lands extend north into Oregon and east along Mill Creek and the Smith River. The Yurok language has Algonquian roots; their aboriginal lands extend south to the Little River and east along the Klamath River. Both the Tolowa and Yurok utilize the bountiful ocean. They also hunt and gather from inland mountain ranges and free-flowing rivers. Their important foods include salmon, steelhead, smelt, clams, deer, elk, berries, and acorns. The region’s indigenous people suffered enormous losses from genocide and disease when Euro-Americans arrived in the 19th century. Today’s Tolowa and Yurok descendants flourish in a thriving society — continuing their cultural heritage, life ways, traditional languages, and tribal governments. The Legacy of Logging European settlers came to the Del Norte coast in the 1850s. To build homes and businesses, logging quickly became the foremost industry; by the 1930s, many old-growth redwoods had been cut down. Hobbs, Wall and Company established logging camps on Mill Creek’s upper watershed in the 1920s. The company built a railroad line to transport temporary logging camps into the groves and NATural History ship logs back to mills in Crescent Geology City. Constructing a railroad through Rhododendron Offshore and beneath the forest, the mountains was considered the most layers of sandstone, shale, serpentine, ambitious undertaking on the North Coast. chert, and greenstone (a blend called Redwood National and State Parks Franciscan complex) emerge eight miles Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park from the ocean floor. was established in 1927. When Mill Creek These layers resulted from repeated Watershed was added to it in 2002, Del Norte tectonic plate collisions and processes became the state’s fifth largest state park. of three plates — the North American, It’s also part of Redwood National and State Pacific, and Gorda plates, which form Parks, which also includes Redwood National the Mendocino Triple Junction south Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, of Eureka. and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. Offshore, isolated rock towers called The 133,000 acres in these four parks are “sea stacks” remain from erosion and recognized by the United Nations as a coastline retreat. World Heritage Site and an International Plants Biosphere Reserve. Part of one of the largest contiguous Mill Creek’s old-growth trees and natural sections of ancient coast redwood forest beauty made it a strong candidate for the first left in the world, Del Norte shelters 350redwood national park in the 1960s. In 1968, foot redwoods as well as tanoak, madrone, however, a nearby 100,000-acre parcel was red alder, big leaf maple, Douglas-fir, selected to become Redwood National Park. western hemlock, grand fir, and California Loggers increased their pace in Mill Creek, bay trees. Sitka spruce trees hug the cliffs. and by 2002 when California State Parks Ferns, azaleas and orchids blanket the acquired upper Mill Creek watershed, most of forest floor in lush colors and textures. the big redwood trees were gone. Rhododendrons may reach 30 feet. Ho

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park 1111 Second Street • Crecent City, CA 95531 (707) 464-6101 Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park was one of the first land acquisitions of the California State Park System. Today the park covers 33,000 acres and extends from the Pacific Ocean at its west boundary, through old-growth redwood forests and into Mill Creek Basin and the west fork of Mill Creek. Each of the campground’s 145 campsites have a picnic table, food locker, and fire ring. The campground is open from May through September. PARK FEES are due and payable upon entry into the park. The campsite fee covers one vehicle. Additional fees apply for extra vehicles. OCCUPANCY: Eight people maximum are allowed per campsite. VEHICLE PARKING: Vehicles may be parked only in your assigned campsite. They must remain on the pavement and must not extend into the roadway beyond the campsite number or limit line. Two vehicles may park in each campsite. CHECK-OUT time is at noon. Please vacate your site by that time. Check-in time is 2 p.m. RE-REGISTRATION: Campers without reservations who wish to re-register for another night must contact the entrance station before 10 a.m. on the morning they are due out. Site availability is not assured. SPEED LIMIT: The maximum speed limit is 15 mph. When pedestrians, bicyclists, and children are present, even 15 mph might be too fast. Use good judgment. BICYCLES are allowed only on paved roads. All riders under the age of 18 are required by law to wear a helmet. DOGS must be kept on a 6-foot-maximum leash and may not be left unattended at any time. They are allowed only on paved roads or in your campsite. Dogs are not permitted on fire roads or trails (except for service dogs). Dogs must be confined to a vehicle or tent at night. Please clean up after your pets. BEARS commonly explore campgrounds looking for food. Metal bear-resistant lockers are provided for each campsite. All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in the provided food lockers, unless being consumed or prepared for consumption. QUIET HOURS are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. To ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, please do not disturb other campers, regardless of the time of day or night. FIRES/FIREWOOD: Fires are allowed only in established fire rings or camp stoves and must be attended at all times. Do not gather firewood in the park—the nutrients must be allowed to recycle back into the ecosystem. You may purchase firewood from the camp hosts. The sale of the firewood provides funds for the North Coast Redwoods Interpretive Association, which supports interpretive programs in the park. WATER for holding tanks is available at the RV sanitation station. Do not use hose bibs as water hookups. Dishwater may be dumped into the drains beneath the water faucets. TYING or nailing anything (hammocks, clotheslines, etc.) to trees is prohibited. THEFT WARNING: Keep your vehicle locked and your valuables out of sight. Do not leave property out at night. Report suspicious activity to a ranger or camp host. CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275). To make online reservations, visit the California State Parks website at www.parks.ca.gov. ALTERNATE FORMAT: This publication can be made available in alternate formats. Contact interp@parks.ca.gov. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Mill Creek Campground 108 106 107 105 Your Site #__________ 102 99 103 101 100 104 98 95 97 96 111 112 113 114 Legend Unpaved Road: Multi-use Trail: Accessible Mi l 117 119 118 120 121 122 123 l Cr e Accessible Feature Camp Host Campfire Center 1-145 Campsites 137 138 135 136 134 133 132 131 92 90 89 88 86 87 to Kiosk and 101 ## Campsite: Accessible Campsite: Hike & Bike 71 70 9 Water 16 Map no to scale 11 12 15 60 59 58 57 56 17 50 51 49 Trestle Lo 26 37 28 27 op Trai l 48 47 46 45 23 24 25 k 22 52 Cree 54 53 55 20 21 Mi ll 61 19 il 63 62 14 18 a Tr 13 op Showers 69 68 67 66 64 65 Lo 10 tle RV Sanitation Station 72 s Tre 8 7 Restrooms 4 3 2 5 6 Locked Gate Trail 91 83 85 84 130 81 82 124 76 79 80 126 128 75 77 78 ek Trail: Hike 93 141 142 143 145 144 116 140 139 115 94 30 29 34 31 32 33 36 35 44 38 43 42 39 41 40 Round Trip Mileage Hobbs Wall...................... 3.4 ............... Strenuous Saddler Skyline ............... 1.7 ............... Moderate Alder Basin ..................... 0.6 ............... Moderate Trestle Loop .................... 1.1 ............... Easy to Moderate Nature Loop .................... 0.4 ............... Easy to Moderate © 2006 California State Parks (Rev. 2019) For Emergencies, Dial 911.