Beranek Redwoods Series: Jedidiah Smith Redwoods

Jedediah Smith and Del Norte Redwoods are situated in Del Norte County. California's northern most coastal county, butting up against the Oregon State Line.

Jerry Beranek gives it to you straight, the largest redwoods in California are found in J.S.R.S.P., directly east of Crescent City. Established in 1929 by Save the Redwoods, and made possible by a donation from Frank Demming Stout, a mid-western timber baron. Starting with 10,000 acres. It’s not much bigger today.

There’s 94 dedicated groves and less than 35 miles of trail skirting the perimeter of this park. The greater part of which is steep forested mountain wilderness. The windward slopes and ridges of Jedediah are coastal habitat– cool and damp. The underbrush is near impenetrable in places.

There’s 7,500 acres of old-growth redwoods in this park, which Jerry calls Forest in the Clouds. Plus there’s additional 30,000 acres of recently acquired second-growth timberlands. Through which the trail system is still being developed.

Following the introduction to this book is a story about Jedediah Strong Smith. He was a real man. Who ventured through this region in 1828. There were no roads at the time, but there was a system of trails established by the indigenous, and it was the lore of the trails, as told by the natives that Smith managed to find his way around. And following him, in the wake of Manifest Destiny, came a storm of settlers.