There are places that make you feel small in the very best way, and the Redwood forests of California are among them.
On Tuesday, we were fortunate to hear Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP give a Zoom presentation on his beloved state of California. He grew up in Northern California and has now lived in Southern California for many years. His love for the state was evident, yet his appreciation was balanced by an honest understanding of the challenges California faces. Our Zoom assignment is to write about something Thomas mentioned during his presentation.
I have been to and through California many times over the years. The daughter of my aunt and uncle (who raised my brother and me) lived in Palo Alto, 35 miles south of San Francisco. We often drove there from the Columbia Gorge in northern Oregon for holidays. I distinctly remember thinking how strange it felt to experience warm weather at Christmas time. One memory that stands out above all others, however, is driving through the Redwood forests of Northern California for the first time. The sheer size of those trees is almost impossible to describe unless you have seen them with your own eyes and stood among them.
Walking among these ancient giants feels like stepping into a living cathedral, one built not by human hands but by time itself.
These forests are home to the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), the tallest trees on Earth. The tallest known tree in the world is a coast redwood measuring 380.8 feet, last measured in 2019. It is located within Redwood National Park, though its exact location is kept secret to protect it from damage caused by tourism.
What makes these trees even more remarkable is their age. Many redwoods are between 500 and 2,000 years old, meaning some were already standing long before the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. They have endured centuries of storms, floods, and fires with amazing resilience.
The Redwood forest thrives in a narrow strip along Northern California’s coast, where cool temperatures and frequent fog create ideal conditions. Much of this landscape is protected within Redwood National and State Parks, which stretch from near Crescent City south toward Orick, just inland from Highway 101. The fog that drifts in from the Pacific Ocean provides essential moisture during dry summer months. This allows these massive trees to grow taller rather than wider.
Each year, more than 1.5 million visitors pass through this park. Despite the number of visitors, the redwoods retain a sense of quiet reverence. You tend to speak more softly, walk more slowly, and let worries slip away.
Further south and east is the Sequoia National Park, another amazing forest.
Fun Fact:
The terms “redwood” and “sequoia” are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. Both belong to the same plant family. Coast redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, while Giant Sequoias are the largest by volume. All Giant Sequoias are redwoods, but not all redwoods are Giant Sequoias. Other types, such as Dawn Redwoods, also exist.
Redwood National Park is located along California’s northern coast and is home to the world’s tallest trees. Sequoia National Park, on the other hand, lies inland (south and to the east) in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The Sequoia National Park is home to the General Sherman Sequoia tree which is the largest tree in the world by volume (not height). How amazing is it that California has the tallest and largest trees (by volume) in the world?
Both offer awe-inspiring reminders of nature’s patience, power, and permanence. They are not just something to see. You must experience them.
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