A brand-new, 1,300 ft-long boardwalk is now open to the public, heading through California’s Grove of Titans. The new low-impact trail welcomes people to walk around the magnificent, towering redwoods again for the first time in years.

Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Located in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, the three-mile Mill Creek Trail closed in November 2019. This came after social media popularity attracted too many visitors, to the detriment of the park. However, a newly revamped version of the trail was opened in late May. Meanwhile, a new trail has been created to minimize the effects of the public on the ancient redwoods.

Erin Gates, deputy superintendent, RNSP and North Coast Redwoods District, California State Parks made a statement about the new trail. Gates explained that the Grove of Titans is an extraordinary old-growth redwood forest that was suffering significant damage from visitors “walking off-trail.”

This project is really a story about legacy: being mindful of the role we all play in helping to keep our parks thriving.

In order to do so, the elevated boardwalk was installed, with interpretive signage about indigenous history and present-day relationships. The trail also features educational displays about the habitat and safe trail use.

Meanwhile, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Tribal Council said: “We are grateful park visitors will be able to more responsibly visit our ancestral territory and magnificent redwood relatives.”

Environmentally sensitive access to Grove of Titans

According to a joint press release, this was phase one in a multi-year project from California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Redwoods Park Conservancy and the National Park Service. It was created to provide environmentally sensitive access to the Grove of Titans and the adjacent forest. Apparently, the trail upgrade cost around $4 million and plenty of hours of work. Construction crews had to hand-carry almost 128 tons of material and tools to the site.

Jessica Carter, Save the Redwoods League director of parks and public engagement spoke of the new trail. She said that balance is key when planning and building a trail in such a rare and beautiful ecosystem.

“With the realigned trail, new boardwalk and signage, we’re respecting the natural grandeur of this special place while also welcoming all visitors to experience and enjoy Grove of Titans for generations to come.”

Other projects in the region

Other projects are ongoing, aimed at improving the experience for visitors and protecting local habitats. Back in June 2021, Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka opened the gates to the new Redwood SkyWalk. This gives visitors a 100-ft high walkway to explore the forest.

In fact, this quarter-mile stretch of raised platforms is suspended from the trees to ensure negligible impact. Meanwhile, it is also ADA-accessible and is the longest skywalk in the Western US.

Respect the Redwoods

The ancient redwoods form part of a fragile ecosystem, so visitors must, first and foremost, stay on the trails. Those visitors who leave the trail cause the trees’ shallow root systems to become exposed, while other plants are trampled. According to Dana Poblete of Save the Redwoods League:

Everything in a forest is connected. The best practice is to always stay on trails to minimize your impact.

Meanwhile, visitors should only camp in designated spots and not pick any plants. Moreover, people are urged not to interact with the wildlife and to not leave anything behind them when they leave.