Hendy Woods

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 l ai ss 1 2 5 He 4 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 7 37 9 36 38 10 14 11 12 v Nav a rr o 31 30 29 28 42 27 26 43 25 24 39 23 22 21 17 13 15 16 18 19 20 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)