Montgomery Woods State Reserve

A gorgeous place to explore, Montgomery Woods State Reserve has two species of redwoods as you meander through its trail. The first such species is the Sierra Redwood, also known as the Big Tree and the other species is the Coast Redwood, one of the tallest trees in the world. 

The trees grow on a specific area starting in the coast of California going well into Oregon. The reserve is far from the coastal fog bank, making them look quite dry in the summer. Silent, peaceful and rich in solitude, the reserve is the home of lofty giants that are marvels of the modern world.

The two-mile-long loop trail is an adventure, and although it can be challenging at first, it is a rewarding tour which pet parents can take with their leashed furbabies because pooches are welcome in the property. The sanctuary started as a nine-acre donation by Robert Orr during the 1940s, and today it has been enlarged to almost 3,000 acres by donations and purchases from Save the Redwoods League. 

The trail takes an hour or two to hike, and the finish has about a 200-foot elevation gain. It can get flooded or muddy during wet weather though. If you have the time on a pleasant day, you can hike the entire two trails to see the lush fern forest, the creek, and the many groves of the magnificent redwood.

Although a reasonably isolated place that is located inland near Comptche and Ukiah, the state reserve is often visited by a lot of people and it is normal to see four to six cars every hour. There is a little seven-car parking lot nearby, but it is usually full on the weekends. 

When this happens, you can easily park in the dirt pullout across the street. The best time to visit the Montgomery Woods State Reserve is during late afternoons when the summer sunshine touches the valley floor which gives the forest a more beautiful and softer light.