Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Encyclopedia
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a California State Park located in Santa Cruz County
, primarily in the area in-between the cities of Santa Cruz
, Felton
, and Scotts Valley
, and the University of California at Santa Cruz
, and it includes an extension in the Fall Creek area.
ecoregion. In the numerous stream canyons live large populations of Coast Redwoods, Coast Douglas firs, California Bay Laurels, tanbark oaks, hazelnut, and Bigleaf Maple
s. The highest points are far enough above sea level to support fairly unique chaparral
communities known as "elfin forests
". The majority of the rest of the park is made up of mixed evergreen populations, including 200 acres (80.9 ha) of old-growth forests composed of Coast Redwoods, Coast Douglas firs, Pacific Madrone
s, live oak
s, and even the occasional Ponderosa Pine
, the latter extremely rare at such low elevations. The old-growth redwoods, amounting to 40 acres (16.2 ha) and usually surrounded by many species of fern and plentiful Redwood Sorrel, are located entirely in the main, original section of the park. Surrounding areas, including the non-contiguous Fall Creek unit, were logged
extensively in the late 1800s for lumber and as fuel for the many lime kilns that used to operate in the area. Logging activities mostly ceased by the 1920s, and the second growth redwoods are now up to several feet in diameter.
, and others with overlook views of the Santa Cruz mountains, with peeks at the Monterey Bay.
The main section of the park is the home to redwoods, Douglas fir, madrone, oak, and a rare feature of the park, a stand of Ponderosa pine.
The park has a newly remodeled visitor center
, which is open year-round to the public, and is staffed by California Parks employees and volunteer docents. Additionally, the Mountain Parks Nature Store is open during most park hours, and there is a direct entrance from the park's main parking lot to the grounds of Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad.
The Redwood Grove comprises old-growth "virgin" redwoods, the oldest trees of which are approximately 1,400-1,800 years old and grow to approximately 300 feet (90 m) tall and over 16 feet (5 m) in diameter. Referred to by locals as "the loop," the grove is primarily a self-guided walk—but on most summer weekends, and many other times year-round, free guided walks led by docents or park employees are available. Featured on the loop are unique old-growth redwoods, including one with albino growth lignotubers and the John C. Fremont tree (a tree hollowed out by fire that was once used as a resort honeymoon room).
In the field next to the park's entrance kiosk, all three known types of redwood trees, the Coast Redwood, the Giant Sequoia, and the Dawn Redwood (the latter two not native to the area) are planted together, providing a unique place to instantly compare and contrast the members of this family of trees.
This park provides a good environment for the study of different habitats. Habitats in this park, often changing back and forth within a few hundred feet of one another, include riparian, sandhill community, mixed evergreen, and redwood forests. Anglers fish for steelhead and salmon during the winter, and there is also a picnic area overlooking the San Lorenzo River.
Besides roads, the park may also be reached by the Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway
, and campsites for tents and RVs are available—just short day hike distances from the main part of the park.
course run by a local school (Nature Academy). Along Fall Creek are the ruins of a 19th-century lime manufacturing operation, including a quarry and lime kilns built by I.X.L. Lime Company (established in 1874).. The lime works were later acquired by industrialist Henry Cowell.
. The Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo
Mexican land grant
to Pierre Sainsevain
was made in 1846. Henry Cowell, purchased 6500 acres (26 km²) of the rancho, including 1600 acres (6 km²) of forest, in 1865 and developed a quarrying and limekiln operation in the vicinity (see Fall Creek extension information above). A significant number of buildings in San Francisco
were built using the redwood and limestone products from this area. In the 1920s, the owners of a large resort adjacent to Henry Cowell's holdings raised support for the County of Santa Cruz
to buy and preserve their pristine redwood lands, an action finally approved of, in large part thanks to the work of California Lieutenant Governor William Jeter, in 1930. Eventually Samuel Cowell, aged 90, last of the Cowell line, donated the rest of what is today the park to the state, but only under the condition that Santa Cruz County also give up its portion of the land (Big Trees Park) to the State
, so that it could all be managed together. Thus, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was officially created on August 18, 1954.
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
, primarily in the area in-between the cities of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, Felton
Felton, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Felton had a population of 4,057. The population density was 891.2 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Felton was 3,691 White, 25 African American, 29 Native American, 69 Asian, 11 Pacific Islander, 60 from other races, and 172 from...
, and Scotts Valley
Scotts Valley, California
Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, about thirty miles south of downtown San Jose and six miles north of Monterey Bay, in the upland slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,580...
, and the University of California at Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
, and it includes an extension in the Fall Creek area.
Geography
The main park covers approximately 1750 acres (7.1 km²), and the separate Fall Creek unit contains an additional 2390 acres (9.7 km²). The park lies within the southern end of the Northern California coastal forestsNorthern California coastal forests
The Northern California coastal forests are a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of coastal Northern California, USA.-Setting:The ecoregion lies close to the Pacific Ocean, and is kept moist by Pacific Ocean storms during the winter months, and by coastal fogs in the summer months...
ecoregion. In the numerous stream canyons live large populations of Coast Redwoods, Coast Douglas firs, California Bay Laurels, tanbark oaks, hazelnut, and Bigleaf Maple
Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum is a large deciduous tree in the genus Acer.It can grow to be up to 35 m tall, but more commonly grows 15 m to 20 m tall. It is native to western North America, mostly near the Pacific coast, from southernmost Alaska to southern California...
s. The highest points are far enough above sea level to support fairly unique chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
communities known as "elfin forests
Elfin forests
Elfin forest is a nickname given to several similar dwarfed plants ecosystems, mainly in coastal Temperate Californian and montane Tropical regions, that are host to communities of dwarfed and tiny plants, insects, and rodents, such as the California Kangaroo Rat.-California:In Northern California,...
". The majority of the rest of the park is made up of mixed evergreen populations, including 200 acres (80.9 ha) of old-growth forests composed of Coast Redwoods, Coast Douglas firs, Pacific Madrone
Pacific Madrone
Arbutus menziesii, commonly known as the Pacific Madrone, is a species of Arbutus found on the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to California...
s, live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
s, and even the occasional Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, the latter extremely rare at such low elevations. The old-growth redwoods, amounting to 40 acres (16.2 ha) and usually surrounded by many species of fern and plentiful Redwood Sorrel, are located entirely in the main, original section of the park. Surrounding areas, including the non-contiguous Fall Creek unit, were logged
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
extensively in the late 1800s for lumber and as fuel for the many lime kilns that used to operate in the area. Logging activities mostly ceased by the 1920s, and the second growth redwoods are now up to several feet in diameter.
Features
Both portions of the park have much to offer vacationing families or nature enthusiasts. Hiking, biking, fishing, camping, RVing, birdwatching, dog-friendly trails, shopping at the Mountain Parks Nature Store, and horseback riding await visitors to this park. Check the official website for more information.Main park
There are over 15 miles (24 km) of hiking trails here, some of which lead to small, isolated sandy beaches on the San Lorenzo RiverSan Lorenzo River
The San Lorenzo River drains a large watershed in Santa Cruz County, California. The headwaters originate in the Santa Cruz Mountains at an elevation of , and the river flows through the San Lorenzo Valley before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Monterey Bay...
, and others with overlook views of the Santa Cruz mountains, with peeks at the Monterey Bay.
The main section of the park is the home to redwoods, Douglas fir, madrone, oak, and a rare feature of the park, a stand of Ponderosa pine.
The park has a newly remodeled visitor center
Visitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
, which is open year-round to the public, and is staffed by California Parks employees and volunteer docents. Additionally, the Mountain Parks Nature Store is open during most park hours, and there is a direct entrance from the park's main parking lot to the grounds of Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad.
The Redwood Grove comprises old-growth "virgin" redwoods, the oldest trees of which are approximately 1,400-1,800 years old and grow to approximately 300 feet (90 m) tall and over 16 feet (5 m) in diameter. Referred to by locals as "the loop," the grove is primarily a self-guided walk—but on most summer weekends, and many other times year-round, free guided walks led by docents or park employees are available. Featured on the loop are unique old-growth redwoods, including one with albino growth lignotubers and the John C. Fremont tree (a tree hollowed out by fire that was once used as a resort honeymoon room).
In the field next to the park's entrance kiosk, all three known types of redwood trees, the Coast Redwood, the Giant Sequoia, and the Dawn Redwood (the latter two not native to the area) are planted together, providing a unique place to instantly compare and contrast the members of this family of trees.
This park provides a good environment for the study of different habitats. Habitats in this park, often changing back and forth within a few hundred feet of one another, include riparian, sandhill community, mixed evergreen, and redwood forests. Anglers fish for steelhead and salmon during the winter, and there is also a picnic area overlooking the San Lorenzo River.
Besides roads, the park may also be reached by the Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway
Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway
The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway is a freight and heritage railroad in Northern California.It uses diesel locomotives to haul excursion trains over an route between Olympia, California and an interchange with the Union Pacific Railroad at the Santa Cruz Wye, though the line is now...
, and campsites for tents and RVs are available—just short day hike distances from the main part of the park.
Fall Creek extension
The extension of the park contains over 20 miles (30 km) of hiking trails, mostly along the creeks that flow year-round and make beautiful mini waterfalls during the rainy season (November-March). There is also an 18-hole Disc GolfDisc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
course run by a local school (Nature Academy). Along Fall Creek are the ruins of a 19th-century lime manufacturing operation, including a quarry and lime kilns built by I.X.L. Lime Company (established in 1874).. The lime works were later acquired by industrialist Henry Cowell.
History
The area that is now Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was once inhabited by OhloneOhlone
The Ohlone people, also known as the Costanoan, are a Native American people of the central California coast. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived in the late 18th century, the Ohlone inhabited the area along the coast from San Francisco Bay through Monterey Bay to the lower Salinas Valley...
. The Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo
Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo
Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena, and confirmed in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico, to Pedro Sainsevain. The name means "valley on a corner on the San Lorenzo River"...
Mexican land grant
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
to Pierre Sainsevain
Pierre Sainsevain
Pierre "Don Pedro" Sainsevain was a French settler in California during the Mexican era. Sainsevain was the recipient of a Mexican land grant, and built a lumber mill and a flour mill...
was made in 1846. Henry Cowell, purchased 6500 acres (26 km²) of the rancho, including 1600 acres (6 km²) of forest, in 1865 and developed a quarrying and limekiln operation in the vicinity (see Fall Creek extension information above). A significant number of buildings in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
were built using the redwood and limestone products from this area. In the 1920s, the owners of a large resort adjacent to Henry Cowell's holdings raised support for the County of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
to buy and preserve their pristine redwood lands, an action finally approved of, in large part thanks to the work of California Lieutenant Governor William Jeter, in 1930. Eventually Samuel Cowell, aged 90, last of the Cowell line, donated the rest of what is today the park to the state, but only under the condition that Santa Cruz County also give up its portion of the land (Big Trees Park) to the State
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, so that it could all be managed together. Thus, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was officially created on August 18, 1954.