Introduction:

Important note: As of August 2020, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is closed to the public until further notice.

The Walbridge Fire (LNU Complex Fire) damaged portions of the park, impacting trails, fencing, signage and vegetation.

Check here for up-to date status:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

What? : Armstrong Redwoods features a small but attractive old-growth redwood grove, some are 100 years old and 310 feet in height. The park is in a canyon just north of the Russian River and the town of Guerneville.

Where? : The Sonoma County reserve is located just north of Guerneville (hwy 116 on the Russian River).

Google Map Link

Due note 1: There is a $10.00 charges per vehicle to enter the park, you can park near the entrance parking lot and walk in for free (the main Redwood grove is just at the entrance) or drive and park inside the park.

Due note 2: In summer, the weather can be variable. Morning cool the air and fog can blanket the grove while afternoon temperatures can be warm, although the grove is always shaded by the trees.

Due note 3: The park is quite popular because of the popularity of the nearby Russian River area, especially during summertime).

My thoughts: When visiting the area of the Russian River and you want to have some nature hikes; this is just the place for that. This park is an excellent place to see the majestic Redwood trees. You can have a short 2-hour visit with an easy hike or much longer day hikes.

The visit:

The Grove is a living reminder of the magnificent primeval redwood forest that covered much of this area before logging operations began during the 19th century. Armstrong Redwoods preserves stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood.

The ancient coast redwood is the tallest living thing on our planet!

These remarkable trees can live to 1,000 years old, grow to a diameter of 12-16 feet, and stand 250 feet tall. Some trees survive to over 2,000 years and tower above 350 feet.

The Colonel Armstrong Tree is the oldest tree in the grove, estimated to be over 1,400 years old. It is named after a lumberman who chose to preserve this portion of the park in the 1870s. This magnificent tree is located within an easy half-mile walk from the park entrance. The Parson Jones Tree is the tallest tree in the grove, measuring more than 310 feet in height.

Hikes:

Pioneer Nature Trail (1.5 mile):

This trail is a mile and a half long and is a round-trip loop, it is mostly flat and level.

Discovery/Pioneer highly recommended loop passes through most of the park’s old growth grove, the rest of the park is only secondary-growth trees and is less “impressive”.

East Ridge Trail (2 miles trail):

From the external parking lot take the 1.2 miles East Ridge Trail, it will take you to the picnic area, from there you can connect to the Pioneer Nature Trail, hike through the grove and go back to the parking lot.

Pool Ridge Trail (2.4 miles):

From the external parking lot take the Discovery Trail (going left) and see the Colonel Armstrong tree. From here take the Pool Ridge trail that is going into the canyon. At some point the trail will start to climb the ridge on your left until it will get to a trail junction at ridge top.

At this point you can turn left and keep climbing the ridge, this will be additional 3 mile to you hike, or as what we did take the trail to your right, this 0.5 mile trail will take you back to the valley below, from there take the Pioneer Nature Trail back to the parking lot.

Right north of the state park there is another park: Austin Creek State Recreation Area. The road to this park is the same road that enter Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=452

www:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

Map:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/450/files/ArmstrongRedwoods_2010.pdf

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22565

Pictures:

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Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Important note: As of August 2020, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is closed to the public until further notice.

The Walbridge Fire (LNU Complex Fire) damaged portions of the park, impacting trails, fencing, signage and vegetation.

Check here for up-to date status:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

What? : Armstrong Redwoods features a small but attractive old-growth redwood grove, some are 100 years old and 310 feet in height. The park is in a canyon just north of the Russian River and the town of Guerneville.

Where? : The Sonoma County reserve is located just north of Guerneville (hwy 116 on the Russian River).

Google Map Link

Due note 1: There is a $10.00 charges per vehicle to enter the park, you can park near the entrance parking lot and walk in for free (the main Redwood grove is just at the entrance) or drive and park inside the park.

Due note 2: In summer, the weather can be variable. Morning cool the air and fog can blanket the grove while afternoon temperatures can be warm, although the grove is always shaded by the trees.

Due note 3: The park is quite popular because of the popularity of the nearby Russian River area, especially during summertime).

My thoughts: When visiting the area of the Russian River and you want to have some nature hikes; this is just the place for that. This park is an excellent place to see the majestic Redwood trees. You can have a short 2-hour visit with an easy hike or much longer day hikes.

The visit:

The Grove is a living reminder of the magnificent primeval redwood forest that covered much of this area before logging operations began during the 19th century. Armstrong Redwoods preserves stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood.

The ancient coast redwood is the tallest living thing on our planet!

These remarkable trees can live to 1,000 years old, grow to a diameter of 12-16 feet, and stand 250 feet tall. Some trees survive to over 2,000 years and tower above 350 feet.

Hikes:

Pioneer Nature Trail (1.5 mile):

This trail is a mile and a half long and is a round-trip loop, it is mostly flat and level.

Discovery/Pioneer highly recommended loop passes through most of the park’s old growth grove, the rest of the park is only secondary-growth trees and is less “impressive”.

East Ridge Trail (2 miles trail):

From the external parking lot take the 1.2 miles East Ridge Trail, it will take you to the picnic area, from there you can connect to the Pioneer Nature Trail, hike through the grove and go back to the parking lot.

Pool Ridge Trail (2.4 miles):

From the external parking lot take the Discovery Trail (going left) and see the Colonel Armstrong tree. From here take the Pool Ridge trail that is going into the canyon. At some point the trail will start to climb the ridge on your left until it will get to a trail junction at ridge top.

At this point you can turn left and keep climbing the ridge, this will be additional 3 mile to you hike, or as what we did take the trail to your right, this 0.5 mile trail will take you back to the valley below, from there take the Pioneer Nature Trail back to the parking lot.

Right north of the state park there is another park: Austin Creek State Recreation Area. The road to this park is the same road that enter Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=452

www:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

Map:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/450/files/ArmstrongRedwoods_2010.pdf

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22565

Pictures:

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