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New California redwood park larger than Muir Woods created on Sonoma Coast
In the largest deal to protect old-growth redwood trees anywhere in California in 20 years, a Bay Area environmental group has purchased a remote 730-acre ancient forest on the Sonoma Coast for a new public park west of Santa Rosa. Not only is it larger than Muir Woods, the property boasts more old-growth redwoods, 319 trees taller than 250 feet, including many that are taller than the 305-foot-high Statue of Liberty, and dating back more than 1,000 years.
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The property was the largest unprotected old-growth redwood forest left in private ownership in the United States. It is known now as the Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve, after a 96-year-old logger who owned the land but refused for generations to cut down the massive, primeval trees.
Richardson died in 2016. The $18.1 million deal with Save the Redwoods League is set to be announced Tuesday. The new park will be operated by the league and open to hikers for free in about three years, after the organization finishes environmental surveys of the property and builds hiking trails.