Collected Research and Field Guides for Redwood National and State Parks in California

Ancient coast redwood forests in a temperate rainforest preserve

Redwood National and State Parks

The Redwood National and State Parks represent one of the most significant conservation achievements in American history, protecting what remains of the ancient coast redwood forests that once blanketed the northern California coastline. The combined park system encompasses four distinct protected areas that work together as a unified management unit, preserving not only the iconic redwood trees but also the broader ecological community that depends on this temperate rainforest environment. The parks stretch from the Oregon border southward along a dramatic coastline characterized by sea stacks, rocky cliffs, and remote beach access points, inland to the foothills of the California Coast Ranges. The significance of this protected area extends beyond its ecological value; it represents a reconciliation between decades of intensive logging and the recognition that these ancient forests constitute a irreplaceable natural heritage. The parks receive approximately 458,000 visitors annually who come to experience the profound scale and otherworldly beauty of the redwood forests, where trees towering hundreds of feet create cathedral-like forest interiors that have inspired awe for millennia.