Redwood Forest Road: A Scenic Drive Through Nature

The winding road through a dense redwood forest is one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring natural sights in the world. A narrow gap in a vertical wall of foliage, the forest features trees towering 300 feet above a lush canopy and fragrant fern floor. The slender, tall trunks sometimes measured 30 feet in circumference. Redwood forests thrived for millennia, once covering acres throughout the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Today only a fraction remain, with remaining pockets of trees standing as sentinels of a bygone era. Nature enthusiasts visit redwood forests specifically for the grandeur of the trees, but these landscapes also host vibrant ecosystems.

What are redwood forests, and why are they so unique?

The redwood forest is a rare biome dominated by coastal redwoods, the tallest trees on Earth. The trees are so giant, these forests encourage you to look up at the sky in a completely different way. These trees thrive in dense clusters that create a dark shady, green ecosystem. The coastal redwood forests are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. They offer habitat for a wide array of plants and animals. The trees reach heights of over 300 feet, and can live for over 2,000 years. Redwoods thrive in the misty climate near the northern California coast, where dense fog coats their needles with moisture and the trees' roots can drink from deep down in the soil. Their skin-like bark offers protection from fires and insects, while their wider bottoms have grown huge enough over centuries for two people to stand together. Redwoods thrive in the misty climate near the northern California coast, where dense fog coats their needles with moisture and the trees' roots can drink from deep down in the soil. The tallest species can produce a fresh new layer of bark every 14 months. Their tannin-rich bark offers protection from fires and insects, while their wider bottoms have grown huge enough over centuries for two people to stand together. The higher the tree, the thicker the tree and man's axed damage.

Their grandeur as a lure to protect an era that almost vanished

Standing 300 feet tall, the redwoods are not only the tallest tree in the world but also the oldest. Some have over 1,000 rings. The oldest known redwood, named "General Sherman", is approximately 2,200 years old, has 36.5-foot circumferences at the ground level. Many redwoods have formed ecosystems of their own with plants and animals fully dependent on the trees' life cycle, from saplings to death. Redwood trails give you the sense of actually walking through a different time; it's almost like walking in prehistory. It's like going back to the past and there's this a very strong sense of this place that has been here for thousands of years. These conditions make redwood forests a lush home for wildlife. However, the trees are often threatened by logging.

The fate of old-growth redwoods

The number of old-growth redwoods decreased from 200,000 square miles to less than 10 percent in the span of 120 years. Within the last century, decades of logging have left only 3 percent of the original old-growth redwoods remaining. Redwoods are a symbol of resilience and strength to many people, but they've also been a symbol of destruction in the form of logging. The logging of redwoods changed dramatically through the 1950s, when loggers targeted the tallest trees. Loggers built railroads into the forest and clear-cut large swaths of the redwoods. However, over time, the redwoods' popularity and aesthetic value led to conservation efforts and the creation of national parks. The practice of clear-cutting these forests—swaths of trees felled for lumber—set off a conservation movement.

Elevated perspectives of towering trees

Standing in a redwood forest, you'd be hard pressed to see new shoots through the dense canopy and rich soil. The older trees are a giant backdrop for the smaller shoots of the forest. Their unusual height makes it difficult for new trees to find sunlight and grow. The trees can grow up to 5 inches per year, providing a continuous source of renewable building materials. The height of new shoots doesn't stop redwood trees from forming a unique ecosystem. Each redwood tree provides habitat for a wide variety of smaller plants. So, the forest provides habitat for a number of animals. The trees absorb CO2 from the air and make it into carbohydrates. Redwoods have the ability to find moisture in the air and grow without requiring even soil. These trees allow other plants and animals living near the forest to share the benefits.

The harvest, today

A wide variety of products are made from redwood timber, from construction materials to art. Redwood lumber is traditionally favored for outdoor construction to its ability to withstand rot and insect damage, though the supply of trees is dwindling. [Lightweight, strong, and resistant to decay], redwood timber supports the growth of nearby species. Redwood forests can survive for over 2,000 years, but logging has severely threatened their existence. However, these landscapes still offer a canopied respite from busy life, as well as a unique perspective on the planet's history. Go hiking, or take a short walk. But the best way to experience the grandeur of the forest is to find a quiet spot and simply stand next to them.

Looking up at the towering jewels of the green cathedrals

Stories of the redwoods have been passed down for generations. The trees' existence, with their foliage, bark, aroma, and the feeling from the people describe as holy. Even the leaves on the ground emit a pleasant aroma like a holy incense. Mother Nature has been creating these trees for thousands of years. People look for unique trees, they find trees and they want to see them. The trees have a significant influence on people, and this place is a sanctuary. The only way to truly understand the majesty of the redwoods and their impact on you is to walk in their midst and breath in the scent of the forest.