Hidden Life in a Rain Forest
Towering redwood trees are so awe inspiring that most visitors to the North Coast look up so much, they miss the hidden life in a rain forest.
Humboldt County color spotter Max Forster explored Redwood National and State Parks (Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Prairie Creek and Redwood National Park) and shares this report:
“Bigleaf maple are well past peak, but you can still find individual trees, usually those that are more shaded by redwoods, displaying peak fall foliage.
“Vine leaf maple are peaking now, along with smaller understory hardwood trees and shrubs of the forest. Very young alder trees seem particularly showy to me this year.
“While the bay laurel trees aren’t showing fall foliage, recent rains have turned up their fragrance to 100. Their smell is as incredible as I can remember, absolutely luxuriant.
“Vine maple in the redwood parks generally turn similar golden hues as the bigleaf, but you can find reds at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
“Roosevelt elk bulls have collected their harems and can generally be found around Humboldt Lagoons State Park (Dry Lagoon/Little Red Schoolhouse area), Elk Prairie at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and the prairies of Del Norte County near Crescent Beach.
“Mushrooms are currently out in abundance and their displays are giving the fall foliage some competition for what should demand one’s attention.
“It’s about to rain in redwood country for a week straight and conditions will be changing rapidly in the coming days, so a visit for fall foliage should be done as soon as possible.
“Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park is at peak and well worth the drive. One can also find great displays of color from old growth poison oak vines that have climbed the redwood trunks for decades. Some of the best spots for poison oak will be along northern sections of the Avenue of the Giants and along Mattole Road between Highway 101 and the Rockefeller Forest parking lot.”
In an email conversation with Max today, he mentioned how the Covid-19 pandemic drove crowds to lightly populated Humboldt County. His comments were similar to what I’ve heard from local contacts in the Eastern Sierra, Northern Sierra, South Lake Tahoe and elsewhere where inexperienced outdoor travelers overwhelmed small rural communities and acted unthinkingly, treating fragile places roughly, leaving behind trash and acting as if they didn’t need to act prudently just because they were in the outdoors.
It was terrifying, upsetting and overwhelming to small communities where medical facilities were limited, food services and visitor support were stretched thin and locals were at risk from contact with others from outside their area.
I truly believe that fall color spotters are more sensitive and caring than those described, and we can help by traveling lightly and being mindful of what the Eastern Sierra calls using “mountain manners.”
Always leave a place cleaner than you found it by carrying disposable gloves and a trash bag to pick up trash (even if it’s not yours) and deposit them in the nearest receptacle. Please be respectful of local communities and cultures; this applies not just when you travel abroad, but works anywhere. Finally, support rural economies. Let’s make sure the courtesies they provide to visitors are more than given back.
- Redwood National and State Parks, Humboldt County (1,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
