Has Anyone Ever Said You Look Like ...

Redwoods hike in Armstrong Redwoods State Park in Russian Rive wine country

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Much of this area burned during the August 2020 Walbridge Fire, and while the park recently re-opened the valley floor, the two main trails of East Ridge and Pool Ridge remain closed, as does the entire Austin Creek area.

If Muir Woods has a doppelganger, it’s Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve near Sonoma County’s Russian River. This 805-acre park is home to some seriously old (1,400 years!) and seriously tall (310 feet!) redwoods. Thanks to the forethought of Colonel James Armstrong back in the late 1800s, these majestic beauties were saved from the clear-cutting of the time. Explore the park high and low on a 5.5-mile hike that climbs over 1,000 feet. The East Ridge Trail leaves straight from the entrance station and doesn’t waste any time climbing above Fife Creek and the old-growth redwoods.

Your destination is the Gilliam Creek Trailhead. Here you can loop back down to Fife Creek and save the best part for last: the marquee redwoods on the Pioneer Trail (usually less crowded late in the day). The Colonel Armstrong Tree and Parson Jones Tree are tall and handsome … just don’t call them Muir!

armstrong4-image-jpeg

BONUS BEERS: Cool your heels on the patio overlooking the Russian River at Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville. It’s not just about beers like Donkey Punch Bolsch, a thirst-quenching hopped up lager; they also have a menu of burgers, salads, sliders, and sandwiches.

478328_318438048211923_1921129054_o-1-image-jpeg

From the visitor center take the East Ridge Trail all the way to Gilliam Creek Trailhead. Come back down Pool Ridge Trail making sure to veer onto the Pioneer Nature Trail to finish your hike through the tallest redwoods in the park. No dogs at Armstrong Redwood State Natural Reserve. There is a $10 parking fee ($9 for seniors). Stumptown Brewery's patio is dog-friendly! 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View