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MICROSOFT NEWS Travel News 15 APRIL 1999 CALIFORNIA DEBUTS REDWOOD RESERVE Todd Dayton, MSN Sidewalk San Francisco Looking for virgin territory to explore this summer? An ancient stand of coast redwoods in northern California, accessible only on foot over rugged terrain, is one of the newest additions to the nation's public lands. Spanning 7,400 acres in Humboldt County, the Headwaters Forest Reserve became public property on 1 March when the Bureau of Land Management and the state bought the land from private owners. DAY HIKE AMONG THE GIANTS At the heart of the reserve is a 3,000-acre grove of coast redwoods, some more than 1,000 years old and 300 feet tall. The reserve is located about 30 miles south of Eureka, California (about 250 miles north of San Francisco). An access road brings you to the trailhead, essentially an abandoned logging road that winds 5 miles though second- and third-growth forest and clearcuts÷a stark reminder that not all of the venerable trees escaped the saw. Much of the trail is extremely steep and demanding. Rangers recommend that hikers allow 7?9 hours for the 10-mile roundtrip, and that they carry plenty of food and water. THE FOREST PRIMEVAL To view the giant trees, follow the trail to its end at a massive hillside clearcut. A hundred yards away is the park's namesake, the Headwaters Grove, standing massive and nearly impenetrable, and towering over the skeletal remains of the forest that once surrounded it. Park officials plan to meet this fall to discuss the possibility of cutting trails through that part of the forest. For now, hikers can explore about a quarter mile into the grove before difficult topography and extremely dense woods make it unwise to venture much deeper. In keeping with the park's "reserve" status, large portions of the area will likely remain without trails in order to maintain undisturbed habitat for the forest's endangered residents, including the marbled murrelet (a species of seabird) and spawning coho salmon. IF YOU GO The reserve is zoned for day use and is open only to foot traffic÷that means no mountain bikes, horses, or camping. To get to the reserve, take Elk River Road from Hwy. 101, just south of Eureka. Follow the road 6 miles until it ends at the old logging road (basically, the trailhead). By midsummer, park officials expect to complete a permanent access point 30 miles south of Eureka, near Fortuna, California. For maps and other information, call, write, or visit the Bureau of Land Management field office at 1695 Heindon Rd., Arcata, CA 95521-4573; Tel.+1 (707) 825-2300. |
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