Rockefeller Forest

When you come to stay at the Best Western Country Inn of Fortuna, California, plan on taking this Rockefeller Forest day trip to see some breathtaking redwood trees and the Eel River. Ask at the desk where to get the best picnic lunch to take along. Taking the Rockefeller Forest Scenic Drive is a day trip you will remember for a long, long time.

Rockefeller Forest

Envision standing in the middle of a serene landscape, looking up to the sky and seeing a giant tree that is 66-times as tall as an average man. It’s hard to imagine a tree that big. But it is.

Mammoth-sized redwood trees abound in the forests found in Humboldt County. Some of the tallest trees in the world are part of the amazing 10,000-acre Rockefeller Forest.

While hiking in Rockefeller Forest, enjoy the lush and diverse greenery lining the clearly defined trails and the wildlife scurrying about the forest floor, flying about you or preening themselves in the branches of the forest canopy.

Inside the heart of the California State Park’s Rockefeller Forest you will find some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world—the oldest recorded tree in Rockefeller Forest is 2200 years old!

The Rockefeller Forest has never been commercially harvested. What you see as you meander through the shade of the massive old-growth Redwood and Sequoia trees is the same as it has been for hundreds of years.

First discovered in 1850 by L.K. Wood, the Rockefeller Forest was purchased in 1921 from Pacific Lumber Company and made part of the Save-the-Redwoods League’s preserved forest.

There are countless acres of preserved splendor waiting for you to explore. How will you decide which trail is the best path for your Redwood forest adventure? The first step is getting to the Rockefeller Forest. Begin by heading south on Highway 101 from the Best Western Country Inn Fortuna. Follow the highway for about 30 minutes until you reach the exit that reads “Rockefeller Forest/Honeydew,” and then turn right. Follow the road until you reach the Rockefeller Forest Visitors Center. There you will find information on which forest trails will be best match your interests and hiking experience level.

No matter what section of the Rockefeller Forest you decide to explore, you are sure to leave with lasting memories of the rare beauty found only in Humboldt County.

Fees: Free

TOP