Hendy WoodsState Park - California |
Hendy Woods State Park is a state park of California, USA, located in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County. It is known for its old-growth coast redwoods and also provides camping facilities near the wineries of the Anderson Valley. It is named after Joshua Hendy, who owned the land and stipulated that it be protected; it passed through several owners after Hendy without being logged, before becoming part of the California State Park system in 1958.
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https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=438
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendy_Woods_State_Park
Hendy Woods State Park is a state park of California, USA, located in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County. It is known for its old-growth coast redwoods and also provides camping facilities near the wineries of the Anderson Valley. It is named after Joshua Hendy, who owned the land and stipulated that it be protected; it passed through several owners after Hendy without being logged, before becoming part of the California State Park system in 1958.
Our Mission
Hendy
Woods
Hendy Woods
State Park
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.
Beneath the
majestic redwoods,
the blended fragrances
of rhododendrons and
redwood sorrel create
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(707) 895-3141. This publication can be
made available in alternate formats. Contact
interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249.
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
Discover the many states of California.™
SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp
Hendy Woods State Park
18599 Philo-Greenwood Road
Philo, CA 95466
(707) 937-5804 or 895-3141
© 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2012)
unforgettable memories.
H endy Woods State Park, less than three
hours from the bustling San Francisco Bay
Area, protects two magnificent ancient
redwood forests. Eighty-acre Big Hendy
and twenty-acre Little Hendy groves offer
peaceful surroundings and serenity broken
only by the sounds of nature. The beautiful
Navarro River plays a soothing counterpoint
to the distant tapping of woodpeckers and
the gentle wind in the trees.
Located inland, about eight miles
northwest of Boonville in the middle of the
Anderson Valley, the park is warmer and
less foggy than redwood parks along the
coast. High and low temperatures between
November and March can range from the
high 50s to the low 30s at night. From April
through October, daytime temperatures
range from the low 60s to low 100s, and from
the low 40s to the low 50s at night. Layered
clothing is recommended year round.
PARK HISTORY
Native People
The presence of the Pomo people in
this area dates back thousands of years.
Their traditions included respect for their
surroundings and the plants and animals
that inhabited them. These huntergatherers lived by the seasons, shaping
their territories to fit their needs. Their
stewardship included pruning, burning off
underbrush, planting grasses to attract game,
and harvesting in a manner that ensured
healthy new growth.
The Pomo’s harmony with their
surroundings was brought to an end with
the arrival of newcomers, who saw the native
people as a ready labor force. After depleting
the area’s natural resources, these settlers laid
claim to Pomo lands. The Pomo attempted
to resist these losses, but hard labor, clashes
with settlers, and diseases to which they had
no immunity decimated their numbers. Today,
Pomo descendants occupy a small portion of
their ancestral lands, and are reviving their
language and traditions and passing them on
to their children.
Joshua P. Hendy
Joshua P. Hendy vowed never to allow his
ancient redwoods to be cut down, and he
was as good as his word. Born in England in
1822, Hendy came to California in September
1849. However, he was not interested in
finding gold. His practical approach was to
get to know the area well enough to provide
what his neighbors needed. Since
construction materials were in
demand, Hendy’s first venture
was a redwood lumber mill. Soon
after, Hendy had a string of highly
successful lumber mills.
Hendy then observed that gold
mining was progressing from hand
tools to more complex methods of
extracting gold. In 1856 he founded
the Joshua Hendy Iron Works and
manufactured mining equipment,
some of which is still in use today.
Hendy grew to love his
home in the Anderson Valley,
and was determined that his
beloved nearby virgin groves be
preserved. Though large stands of redwoods
surrounding Hendy’s groves were logged
after his death, Big Hendy and Little Hendy
were spared for the enjoyment and wonder
of future generations.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Flora and Fauna
The most outstanding features of this 845acre park are the two redwood groves on
the flats along the Navarro River. Some of
these trees stand more than 300 feet tall and
may be close to 1,000 years old. Madrones,
Douglas firs and California laurels share
the cool shade of the redwoods. Massive
stumps and fallen trees lie covered in moss.
Beneath the old-growth giants, ferns and
redwood sorrel blanket the ground, and soft,
decomposed redwood duff mutes all sound
to a mellow hush.
Fallen redwood tree root system
Occasionally, bobcats
and mountain lions stalk
black-tailed deer
and small animals
such as raccoons,
cottontails,
gray foxes,
skunks and
chipmunks.
Black bears
are sometimes
seen among berry bushes, and
Steller’s jays, thrushes and
woodpeckers add to the restful
sounds of wind in the trees.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Camping, hiking and day use
offer an opportunity to relax and
enjoy this special place. Fishing
is not permitted.
Tr ai l
to U pp er Lo op
9
8
Di
11
sc
ry Trail
Meadow Trail
ove
D i s c over y Trail
10
to fire road
6
13
Ac
ce
m
Tr
All
r
3
it
Hu
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ai
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2
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He
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Hendy Woods State Park
Discovery Trail:
A Self-guided Walk
12
7
12
11
Notice that this stump has a small
redwood tree growing out of its
center. This is because some of
the decayed, nutrient-rich soil caused by
the action of rain and fungi has collected on
the stump. A seed, carried by the wind, has
managed to lodge itself in this rich soil and
is now giving rise to a new tree.
Tr
ail
Parking
Day Use
Area
to Eagle Trail,
campground
The Discovery Trail is open year round.
ACCESSIBLE FEATURES
The Discovery Trail is easily accessed on
foot; the first portion is on the wheelchair
accessible All Access Trail.
t
As you walk along the park trails,.
you may notice branches sticking
out of the ground. Often called
“widow makers,” these branches—some as
thick as mature tree trunks and weighing
hundreds or even thousands of pounds—
were once dead limbs hanging from the tops
of trees. Strong winds cause them to fall to
the ground. In the early days of redwood
cutting, unlucky lumbermen were known to
have been standing beneath them when
they fell.
13
We should thank the Save
The Redwoods League for this
beautiful park, including this very
grove. The League, a nonprofit organization,
buys or accepts donations of land where
redwood trees grow, and donates the land to
California State Parks. Founded in 1927, the
League continues to protect redwood lands
for future generations. In 1955, the League
bought the original 200 acres that comprised
this park; the park has since grown to 850
acres. The League and those who donate are
to be commended for their work in helping
protect the redwoods.
© 2010 California State Parks
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
Mendocino District
12301 N. Hwy 1, Box 1
Mendocino, Ca 95460
(707) 937 -5804
1
Look around you. Is this a forest or
a meadow? Actually, it is both. This
area is in transition
from meadow to forest. Its
shrubs and small plants
provide the perfect
habitat for deer and
smaller animals, such as
birds, rodents, gray foxes,
raccoons and rabbits.
2
Coast Redwoods
are the tallest trees in
the world. (The largest
trees are their “cousins,” the
Giant Sequoias, of the Sierra
Redwood branch
Nevada.) Look closely at this
tree; its circumference is huge! When you
look up, note that the sky is blocked by
branches. Some redwoods climb upwards
for more than 350 feet.
3
The black marks on the bark of these
trees are fire scars. Redwood bark
contains fire retardant resins and is
very thick. It protects the tree from fire,
decay and insects. The bark eventually
heals its own scars.
4
Look at the tree in front of
you. Why is it leaning so
drastically? The answer
is simple: the dense foliage
of the redwood forest lets
little sunlight come through.
Trees need sun, and will often
do anything, even bending or
growing at odd angles, to get it.
This California bay obviously
found a patch of sun on the side
of the trail and started to grow towards it to
obtain as much sunlight as possible.
5
Redwood trees have no deeply
reaching taproot, as most other
trees do. Instead, they have a broad,
shallow and widely spread root system.
These shallow roots can be damaged if
anyone steps on them. Redwood trees
are unique in that they do not grow from
seeds. The redwoods’ primary source of
propagation is its root system, from which
new trees spring.
6
The lumps you see on these trees
are called burls. Nobody is quite
sure what causes burls, but we do
know that they are cells that have grown
extremely rapidly. Burls do not seem
to harm the tree. Many have distinctive
shapes and forms, like oddly proportioned
faces. Look at some and see if you can find
any likenesses.
7
This massive tree has a large fire
scar on it. Some trees seem to be
completely hollowed by fire, but
they are still alive, with green growth at the
top. Though the tree’s bark protects it from
most fire incidents, fire scars can only be
healed over time.
8
Douglas iris
Notice the three decaying trees in
this general area. Each of these trees
is being slowly turned to rich, damp
soil. Decay in a redwood forest is mostly
due to constant moisture, bacteria and
fungi. Eventually another tree may spring
out of the nutrient-rich soil created by one
or more of these decaying trees.
9
Redwood trees
are very plentiful
in Hendy Woods,
but other plants thrive
as well. The field in
front of you is filled
Trillium
with small plants called
redwood sorrel, which resemble clover.
Note the green, arching fronds of sword,
bracken and chain ferns. While you are on
the trail, look for wood roses.
In winter, mushrooms grow in the soil
or under leaves; look, but please DO
NOT TOUCH OR TASTE. In spring, the
blooming wild flowers include trilliums
and Douglas irises. Various mosses and
lichens grow profusely year round.
10
Just as there are many shrubs,
flowers and fungi
Hendy Woods State Park
18599 Philo-Greenwood Road, Philo, CA 95466 • (707) 895-3141
Our dedicated employees and volunteers hope your visit is enjoyable and refreshing. Our goal is to protect and
interpret the coast redwoods and other natural resources of Hendy Woods while providing a safe, relaxing, and high
quality camping and hiking experience. We invite you to offer your comments or suggestions to any of the staff as we
look to continually improve the operation of this State Park.
Campground Hosts
Our volunteer campground hosts
provide a priceless service to park
visitors and staff. Hosts are available
to provide information, sell firewood,
make pay-shower change, and
initiate emergency response. Hosts
may also remind visitors of park rules
and regulations. When not available
in their campsites, the hosts may
often be found around the park
greeting the public or working on
projects. Please take time to thank
them for their service.
Dogs: Dogs must be kept on a leash
no longer than six feet and under
control at all times. They are not
permitted in buildings or on trails.
Dogs must be confined to a vehicle
or tent at night and must not be left
unattended at any time.
NOISE: Quiet hours begin at 10:00
p.m. and extend through 8:00 a.m.
Music and conversation should not be
heard outside of your campsite and
must be discontinued after 10:00 p.m.
Generators may be operated between
10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Camping: The Hendy Woods
campground is open all year.
Reservations are recommended midMay through mid-September. Up to
8 people may occupy a campsite.
Cabin sites accommodate up to 6
people (4 in the cabin, and 2 at the small tent pad
in each cabin site). Check-out time is noon.
Firewood: Wood for campfires is
available for sale at the ranger station
and from the campground hosts. Funds
collected from wood sales go directly
toward naturalist programs at Hendy
Woods and throughout the Mendocino area state
parks. Wood gathering is prohibited in all California
state parks.
Hiking: Hiking trails crisscross the entire park.
Hikers can spend much of the day on the trail,
yet never stray too far from the park roads. Most
trails are level or have an easy grade. Comprising
more than 100 acres, the Big and Little Hendy
Groves offer pleasant walks through an old-growth
redwood forest. The All Access Trail in the Big
Hendy Grove is wheelchair accessible. A short climb
out of the campground, the Hermit Hut Trail leads
to the redwood stump once called “home” by the
Hendy Hermit.
Bicycles: Bikes are allowed on all paved roads
and the dirt fire road. All trails are closed to bicycles.
Bicycle helmets are required for children under
18 years old.
Fishing: Fishing is not allowed within Hendy Woods.
The Department of Fish and Game has set aside all
waters and tributaries of the Navarro River watershed
upstream from the Philo-Greenwood Bridge as
spawning habitat. Ask a park ranger for current seasons
and conditions in the lower Navarro watershed.
Discover the many states of California.TM
CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275).
To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov
ALTERNATE FORMAT: This publication can be made available in alternate formats.
Contact interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249.
Trail to Hermit Huts
Hendy Woods
State Park
Wildcat
Campground
51
3 miles west of Philo
1/2 mile off Hwy. 128
on Philo-Greenwood Rd.
54
55
ck Loop
Fire
per Loop
61
Trail
75
72
70
66
63
65
r
He
74
73
71
5
41
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36 38
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Nav
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Ranger Station
er
Ta
nk
Ro
Campground
ad
Hike/Bike Campground
Cabin
Hermit Hut
ra
W
at
T
il
Sunny Campsite
.
Litt
le
CH
Cree
k
nd
Restrooms
y
T
Campground Host
Picnic Area
ail
He
alea
Tr
Az
Showers
ra
il .
LITTLE HENDY
GROVE
Accessible Feature
RV Sanitation Station
Service
Area
Campfire Center
Ranger Station
Parking
Water
128
Trail
Philo-G
To Pacific Coast
(20 mi.)
32
LEGEND
See enlargement
To Philo
(3 mi.)
34
Azalea Campground
Water T
a nk Loop
le
Huckleberry
33
40
8
Hermit
Huts
ag
CH
4
6
76
1
2
il
ail
ow
77
3
90
Trail to Little Hendy Grove
and Ranger Station
H ut T
ra
sco
ad
Me
Di
m
it
Acces
s
Trail
Day-Use
Area
R
iv
er E
80
82
79
88
Wood Rose
45
91
89
86
Trail to Big Hendy 67
68 69
Grove and day-use area
e r y Tr
All
81
64
d
BIG HENDY
GROVE
83
62
92
Ringtail
78
60
Roa
Up
CH 47
87
84 85
58
59
44
48
53
56
57
Puma
50
52
To River
Ba
49
Visitor Center
reenwood Road
Road
To Elk
(18 mi.)
© 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2011)