Page 704 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

702  C ALIFORNIA

Northern California Carson Mansion, home of
the millionaire lumber baron
Rugged and sparsely populated, Northern California has a William Carson, and now a
diverse landscape of dense forests, volcanic mountains, and private club. Its Gothic design
arid plains. It also has the world’s largest concentration of giant is enhanced by its redwood
redwood trees, now protected by national parks. Scenic routes construction, painted to
resemble stone.
in the parks offer visitors a chance to view their awesome
beauty. To experience the full immensity of the trees, however,
it is best to walk around in these majestic groves. l Redwood
National Park
Arcata to Crescent City is 78 miles
(125km). US Hwy 101 is the quickest
route. n 1111 Second St, Crescent
City, (707) 465-7306. ∑ nps.gov
Some of the largest original
redwood forests in the world
are preserved in this national
park. Stretching along the
coastline, the 58,000-acre
(23,500-ha) park includes many
smaller state parks and can be
explored along a day-long
drive. A two-day trip, however,
allows time to walk away from
the roads and experience the
Avenue of the Giants in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park tranquillity of the stately
j Humboldt k Eureka groves, or spot one of the
world’s last remaining herds
Redwoods State * 27,600. ~ @ n 1034 2nd St, of Roosevelt elk.
Park (800) 346-3482. ∑ redwoods.info The park’s headquarters are
in Crescent City, a few miles
US Hwy 101. @ Garberville. Visitor Founded by gold miners in north of which lies the 9,200-
Center: Weott. Tel (707) 946-2263. 1850, Eureka was named after acre (3,720-ha) Jedediah Smith
Open Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm; Nov–Mar: the state’s ancient Greek motto, Redwoods State Park, with
10am–4pm. Closed Thanksg., Dec 25. meaning “I have found it.” Today, the most awe-inspiring
∑ humboldtredwoods.org
it is the northern coast’s largest coastal redwoods. Named after
This park has the world’s industrial center, with extensive the fur trapper Jedediah Smith,
tallest redwood trees and the logging and fishing operations the first white man who walked
most extensive primeval surrounding the state-protected across the US, it has excellent
redwood groves. The tallest natural harbor. Its Old Town’s campground facilities. South
individual specimen, the 364-ft many restored 19th-century from Crescent City, the Trees of
(110-m) Dyersville Giant, was buildings are now fashionable Mystery grove features unusual-
blown over by a storm in cafés, bars, and restaurants. looking fiberglass statues of
1991. Now seen lying on its Eureka also houses the 1885 the mythical lumberjack Paul
side, its size appears even
more astounding. Redwoods & the Lumber Industry
The serpentine 33-mile (53-km)
Avenue of the Giants runs The tallest tree on earth, the coniferous coastal redwood (Sequoia
through the 52,000-acre sempervirens) is unique to the northwest
(21,053-ha) park. The visitor coast. It can live for 2,000 years and reach
center is halfway along the road. 350 ft (105 m), with roots that grow up
To the north is the town of to 200 ft (60 m) horizontally but only
Scotia, built in 1887 to house 4–6 ft (1–2 m) deep. Its fast growth and
the workers of the Pacific resistance to disease makes it ideal for
commercial use. By the 1920s, however,
Lumber Company’s massive logging had destroyed 90 percent of the
redwood mill. Scotia is the only groves. The Save the Redwoods League
complete lumber community was formed, buying land now under state
still in existence in California. park protection. Lumber firms still own
Its small museum traces the some groves, and their future remains a
history of the town, and of the major environmental issue, both locally
lumber industry, and offers self- and nationally. Redwood lumber
guided tours.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp710–12 and pp713–15

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm