Myth or fact:
The roots of Redwood trees go as far under the ground as they are tall🍂
Have you ever driven down a road so incredible that you had to pull over every few minutes? A windy back road with trees so breathtaking you can’t help but stop at every pullover your van will fit in.
It took me over 8 hours to drive 11 miles. I stopped and stared. I hiked. I ran around like a little kid. I sat under them, on top of them, and even inside of them.
Experiencing the redwoods have been on my bucket list for years now and they exceeded any and all expectations I had.
These monstrous trees have been around for awhile, dating back to more than 240 million years ago. With some growing as tall as 380 feet, with a diameter of 8-20 feet, and bark that can be 2 feet thick.. they are some of the largest and oldest trees in the world.
With most of them living over 1000 years, Redwoods have learned to adapt to earthquakes, floods, and even falling over. Redwood trees are very resilient against fire, wood rot, fungus, diseases, and insects. No known insect can destroy a redwood. 🕷🦗🌳
Unfortunately, our Redwood trees are limited to 3 distinct regions. Giant Sequoias grow in the Sierra Nevada at elevation 5-8,000 feet. The Coast Redwoods grow on the west coast from Southern Oregon to Central California, in a narrow strip. The Dawn Redwoods grow in China in a natural range about 232 square feet. 🌍
So where can you see the Redwood trees? Visit the USA wrote an article that includes 8 places in California and on the west coast to see the Redwoods. https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/8-amazing-places-see-redwoods-california
Since my baby Bell is not much of a park dog (she doesn’t do well on a leash and she barks at EVERYBODY)… we had to find some Redwood trees that weren’t in a national or state park. I had been camping in the area, so while I was out and about, I asked some locals for advice! Someone recommended a road called Avenue of the Giants. It was an 11 mile detour off of Hwy 101, and it was worth every single added hour It took.
Imagine a little two lane road, surrounded by trees so magical only your imagination could dream them up.
Bella and I spent all day exploring, and I feel like we just barely grazed the surface of what I want to experience within these forests. Being towered over by something so massive, so prehistoric, is an incredibly humbling experience. Seeing these trees, standing among these giants, is something everyone should experience if given the opportunity!
Although the Redwoods are extremely tough, and impressively fire resistant, they did still suffer some damage this August in the California wildfires. The fires near Santa Cruz ravaged Big Basin State Park. Big Basin is California’s oldest state park and home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. Burnings actually benefit the trees in some cases, and there are sometimes even intentional prescribed burnings!
Even with the resilience of these beauties, humans are still making It hard for them to survive and thrive. Due to additional stressors, like climate change and human encroachment, only about 4% of the states original redwood stands remain.
Wondering how to help the Redwood trees survive even longer? One option is donating to Redwood Forest Foundation! Their mission is to protest and restore forest lands and other resources in the Redwood Region for the long term benefit of the communities there. Redwoods Forest Foundation
Myth or fact:
Myth! Even with the massive size of the Redwood trees, their roots only extend about 5-6 feet underground. They support their size by extending outward, sometimes 100 feet away from the trunk. Now you know 🍁🍂🌳🌍😉👍
