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54-490: Humboldt Redwoods State Park is a state park of California , United States, containing Rockefeller Forest , the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of coast redwoods . It is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Eureka, California , near Weott in southern Humboldt County , within Northern California , named after the great German nineteenth-century scientist, Alexander von Humboldt . The park

108-516: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of

162-585: A boundary between tribes, although this claim is only "probable". In 1928, the Benbow Dam was built across the South Fork near Benbow, California , which led to the creation of a slackwater pool, Benbow Lake, and the creation of the Benbow State Recreation Area . During the rainy season, the floodgates of the dam were removed. The lake existed during the summer, when lower flows are impounded behind

216-572: A few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska, the largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about

270-506: A large area of the basin. The South Fork is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River from the confluence of Section Four Creek to the mouth. The South Fork Eel River begins near Iron Mountain in western Mendocino County , at an elevation of 2,500 feet (760 m). Its headwaters are near that of the Ten Mile River to the south. Dropping off the high plateau where it begins, the South Fork winds north and bends southwest through

324-669: A political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium,

378-683: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use

432-532: A rugged, narrow gorge in a generally northwest direction for about 20 miles (32 km). After passing through the Benbow Dam, which is non-functional during the winter months, the South Fork Eel receives another tributary called Redwood Creek on the left bank, as it bends north and then west around the community of Redway, California , which is located on a plateau east of the river. The river then passes through another rugged canyon, flowing northeast, then passes

486-434: A steep and narrow canyon. Longvale, California is a few miles to the east of the headwaters, while Laytonville, California is closer, only about 1-mile (1.6 km) to the north. It is not long after its headwaters that Branscomb Road drops into the South Fork Eel's canyon from the north, paralleling the river. Almost 1-mile (1.6 km) past this point, it receives its first significant tributary , Section Four Creek, on

540-540: A variety of wildlife such as black-tailed deer, California ground squirrels, gray foxes, and raccoons. The Avenue of the Giants is a 32 miles (51 km) drive through Humboldt Redwoods State Park with eight stops along an auto tour of park highlights. The park has over 100 miles (160 km) of hiking trails. There is also horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and swimming in the South Fork Eel River . The park

594-413: Is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with

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648-439: Is about 21 miles (34 km) long, despite the name. After the confluence with Tenmile Creek, the South Fork flows generally north, turning west where it receives another major tributary, 11-mile (18 km) Rattlesnake Creek, also on the right. This point is significant because it is where it begins to parallel U.S. Highway 101 and California State Route 271 (Redwood Highway and Old Redwood Highway). Both roads come in from

702-575: Is created by the San Andreas Fault , and comprises most of California's Coast Range . The steep terrain in the South Fork Eel's watershed is the result of continuous uplift along the San Andreas Fault, and coinciding with the erosion caused by the river and its tributaries, steep canyons and ridges, many with slopes of over 50 percent, were formed. Of note is that the downstream reach of the river "may be uplifting as much as ten times faster than

756-456: Is prone to fire hazards, and camping is permitted in specified areas. Almost 250 sites are available for use, including an equestrian camp. Nearby Burlington , serves as a main camping spot, alongside Albee . [REDACTED] Media related to Humboldt Redwoods State Park at Wikimedia Commons State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as

810-646: Is used for recreation and provides groundwater recharge and industrial, agricultural and municipal water supply for residents. The largest tributary of the South Fork is the East Branch South Fork Eel River , which is approximately 25 miles (40 km) long. Tenmile Creek, at 21 miles (34 km) long, is the second largest tributary. Other major tributaries include Cedar Creek , at 7 mi (11 km) long; Bull Creek at 14 mi (23 km) long; and Hollow Tree Creek at 15 mi (24 km) long. There are many streams with repeating names in

864-525: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . South Fork Eel River The Kai Pomo , a branch of the Pomo people , once lived in the upper portion of the watershed. Before industrial development in the 1800s, many native tribes relied on the river's abundant runs of salmon and steelhead . In the 1920s, a private company built the Benbow Dam, blocking fish migration to

918-538: The Pacific Coast , with its north-south extent marked by Weott and Laytonville, California (about 144 miles (232 km) and 193 miles (311 km) north of San Francisco , respectively. The highest point in the watershed is Iron Peak, at 4,491 feet (1,369 m), and the mouth of the river is at roughly 100 feet (30 m). Due to its rugged and remote location, the watershed is thinly populated. Although U.S. Highway 101 and California State Route 271 follow

972-540: The Save the Redwoods League , and began working to preserve redwood forests in the region, including the area that became Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The Garden Club of America , through its Redwood Grove Committee, raised half of the funds needed to buy the 2,552 acre Canoe Creek Grove which became part of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Sarah Gildersleeve Fife was instrumental in the activities of this committee. Many of

1026-675: The Eel River watershed was inhabited by Pomo Indians and Athapascan peoples. The "extreme headwaters" of the South Fork of the Eel River, as well as the East Fork of the South Fork of the Eel River, were inhabited by the Kai Pomo , whose territory stretched westward to the Eel River mainstem and west and north to the boundary with the Athapascan. The lower section of the South Fork Eel was also said to be

1080-450: The Giants) on the right bank. U.S. 101 then crosses the South Fork, paralleling CA-254. The village of Myers Flat is located on a low slice of terrain north of the river. The South Fork, nearing its mouth, passes Burlington on the right bank, and Weott, California , also on the right bank. Several hundred yards upstream from its confluence, it receives its last major tributary, Bull Creek, on

1134-486: The South Fork or its major tributaries, there are many on smaller side streams, especially after heavy rainfall. One of the highest waterfalls is Grizzly Creek Falls, which spills over a rocky cliff for nearly 1,000 feet (300 m) above the Tenmile Creek valley. The steep terrain also causes the river to fall at steep inclines, creating a series of rapids . The river's rapids are well known for rafting. On average,

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1188-529: The South Fork's watershed. Afterwards, it receives its first significant tributary, Tenmile Creek, on the right bank. Tenmile Creek begins in another section of the Coast Range, separated from the South Fork Eel River by two sub-ranges. The creek begins in the easternmost of these two sub-ranges. It then flows west, cutting a water gap through the western subrange, and spills into the South Fork. The creek

1242-568: The South Fork, fed by several smaller creeks. The South Fork then turns west again, flowing through the Standish Hickey State Recreational Area . It then meanders north into Richardson Grove State Park on an increasingly wide valley floor, receiving Red Mountain Creek on the right bank. The river then reaches Benbow Lake, which is inside the Benbow State Recreation Area and next to the town of Benbow, California . Benbow Lake

1296-480: The area were the Sinkyone . In the 1850s white settlers began felling the redwoods, seeking to clear the land for homes and pasture. About 20 years later the timber industry moved into the region, and railways and roads were routed through the area for accessibility to the trees. In 1918 after realizing how much of the old-growth forests closer to San Francisco had been harvested, Boone and Crockett Club members formed

1350-606: The coast redwoods ( Sequoia sempervirens ) grow to over 300 feet (91 m) in height. The forests on alluvial plains are almost pure redwood forest, but the forests on the slopes also contain Douglas-fir . Over 100 of the 137 known trees over 350 feet (110 m) tall—all coast redwoods—occur in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It is home to the 4th-tallest measured living redwood, the Stratosphere Giant , which

1404-731: The country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in the United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with

1458-474: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are

1512-455: The east and at this point are on the river's right bank. The river turns northwest, receiving Big Dann Creek and another large 9-mile (14 km) tributary, Cedar Creek , on the right bank. Cedar Creek flows west and turns south-southwest, flowing also in a steep, undeveloped gorge. Shortly past Cedar Creek, the South Fork Eel meets another large tributary, Hollow Tree Creek. Hollow Tree Creek flows east, turns north, then turns east again to meet

1566-540: The entire Bull Creek watershed and the Rockefeller Forest. Only 5% of old coastal redwood forests remain. Nearby U.S. Route 101 , which generally follows the Eel River and its South Fork in this part of the North Coast, offers easy access to the park and nearby towns with connections to the scenic highway, Avenue of the Giants , also mostly located within or near park boundaries. The original inhabitants of

1620-475: The headwaters area". In much of the middle and lower course of the South Fork Eel, the riverbed is mostly bare gravel, with sparse vegetation, and without a floodplain . The riverbed lies in a downcut channel, with its walls formed by bedrock with scattering of rocks. Bedrock river terraces surround the river, forming the "only level land in an otherwise rugged terrain of narrow ridges and steep [v]alleys". Prior to white settlement of Central California, much of

1674-464: The left bank. Although it is not a large creek, only about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long, it denotes the start of the National Wild and Scenic River section of the South Fork. The river meanders swiftly west and turns west-northwest, passing Branscomb, California . Near the city, it receives Rock Creek on the right and Redwood Creek on the left. These two stream names are a common occurrence throughout

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1728-434: The left bank. Bull Creek, whose watershed is entirely contained inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park , begins south of Grasshopper Mountain and flows northwest, then makes a great bend to the west and joins the South Fork. Its length is roughly 8 miles (13 km). After receiving Bull Creek, the South Fork Eel curves halfway around 325-foot (99 m) high Duckett Bluff, and receives its last named tributary, Cabin Creek, on

1782-524: The left bank. Meandering through a downcut channel between U.S. 101 and SR 254 (right bank) and California State Route 211 , it then crosses under the former two highways, spreads wider, and flows into the Eel River. The South Fork Eel River drains a long, narrow and mountainous watershed of 689 square miles (1,780 km )–or almost 20 percent of the 3,684-square-mile (9,540 km ) Eel River drainage basin. The watershed includes parts of Humboldt and Mendocino Counties and runs generally parallel to

1836-484: The local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to

1890-419: The location closest to the mouth, the annual mean was 1,833 cubic feet per second (51.9 m /s) between 1940 and 2012; The highest recorded peak was 199,000 cubic feet per second (5,600 m /s) on 22 December 1964, with a minimum of 10 cubic feet per second (0.28 m /s) on 30 August 1964. For Garberville, a stream gauge was only operated from 1912–1913, and again in 1940. The annual mean recorded here

1944-488: The location furthest upstream, the annual mean was 173 cubic feet per second (4.9 m /s) between 1946 and 1970. The highest flow recorded was 20,100 cubic feet per second (570 m /s) on 22 December 1955, while the lowest was 0.86 cubic feet per second (0.024 m /s) on 27 July 1977. The watershed is underlain by the Franciscan Assemblage , which consists of soft soil and rock in this region. The formation

1998-712: The river for over 70 percent of its length, there are few communities in the steep and narrow, forested canyon of the South Fork. Towns along the river include Branscomb , Underwood Park, Leggett , Piercy , Andersonia , Benbow , Garberville , Redway , Phillipsville , Miranda , Myers Flat , and Weott . The South Fork also has a number of protected areas along its course. These include Admiral Standley State Park , Standish Hickey State Recreation Area , Smithe Redwoods State Reserve , Richardson Grove State Park , South Fork Eel River Wilderness , Benbow State Recreation Area , and Humboldt Redwoods State Park . The river

2052-420: The river into a generally brownish or tannish color. The South Fork is an important Northern California habitat for anadromous fish (see section below ) and sediment has severely degraded conditions for these fish as well as other aquatic life forms. The rugged topography of the South Fork Eel River watershed also produces an amount of waterfalls from tributary streams. Although there are no large waterfalls on

2106-453: The river's discharge in its middle section can range from 2,000 cu ft/s (57 m /s) to 55 cu ft/s (1.6 m /s). In the lower section near the mouth, the river generally ranges from 5,500 cu ft/s (160 m /s) to 60 cu ft/s (1.7 m /s). The United States Geological Survey operates or operated four stream gauges on the South Fork, at Miranda, Garberville, Leggett, and Branscomb. For Miranda,

2160-469: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by

2214-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park

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2268-605: The structure for recreation. The stagnant water in the lake was heated by the sun to a higher temperature than normal and severely hurt salmon and steelhead runs, as well as other aquatic and migratory life downstream. Since 2009 the dam was no longer erected. Benbow Dam was finally removed from 2016-2017 on the South Fork of the Eel River. Dam decommissioning will start to occur on the Klamath River in 2022 pending Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) approval. The 12,915-acre (52.27 km ) South Fork Eel River Wilderness

2322-425: The towns of Phillipsville and Miranda which are to the east of the river. West of Miranda, the river receives another medium-sized tributary, Salmon Creek, from the left bank. The South Fork then flows north to a point where it turns sharply around a ridge and flows due south, then turns back north again. At this point, it is paralleled by Highway 101 on the left bank and by California State Route 254 (Avenue of

2376-403: The watershed, including Low Gap Creek, Redwood Creek, Rock Creek, and Red Mountain Creek. Historic logging activity in the South Fork watershed has stripped steep hillsides bare of vegetation, resulting in chronic erosion problems. Historically, South Fork Eel River water had an unusual translucent blue-green hue for most of the year. Increased turbidity levels caused by erosion has transformed

2430-429: Was 1,747 cubic feet per second (49.5 m /s). Peak discharges of 64,700 cubic feet per second (1,830 m /s) were recorded in both 1912 and 1913, while for 1940, the peak was 55,600 cubic feet per second (1,570 m /s). The Leggett stream gauge began operating in 1965 and is still in use. An average discharge of 774 cubic feet per second (21.9 m /s) was recorded here from 1966–2010. The highest flow recorded

2484-529: Was 113.4 metres (372 ft) high when it fell in March 1991. It was estimated to be 1,600 years old. The Dyerville Giant can be seen on Founders Grove Nature Trail, which honors the creators of Save the Redwoods League. Also in this grove is Founders Tree, which is 346 feet (105 m) tall with circumference of 40 feet (12 m). There is also an albino redwood referred to as the Christmas Tree. The park has

2538-414: Was 20,000 while coho averaged 16,000 at Benbow Dam in the 1930s. Since then, the population has steadily declined, with a current population of roughly 1,000. The reason for the decline is the high amount of silt carried into the river by logging activity and road construction. The silt has filled stream pools and caused higher turbidity, which has harmed fish. The South Fork is said to be the last habitat in

2592-401: Was 72,700 cubic feet per second (2,060 m /s) on 4 January 1966. A higher peak flow of 78,700 cubic feet per second (2,230 m /s), on 22 December 1964, before the stream gauge was in place, was determined using flood stage height data and floodmark measurements. The minimum discharge recorded by this gauge was 7.3 cubic feet per second (0.21 m /s) on 4 August 1977. For Branscomb,

2646-496: Was a seasonal reservoir , formed by a dam at its western end. The dam was only raised in the summer, and only when water flow is sufficient for impoundment. Since about 2009, the lake no longer gets built, which is good for the ecology of the river. At Benbow Lake the South Fork meets its largest tributary, the East Branch South Fork Eel River . The East Branch, formed by the confluence of two small creeks, Cruso Cabin and Elkhorn Creeks, south of Bell Springs Mountain , flows through

2700-585: Was designated in 2006, stretching along portions of the South Fork Eel and extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. The wilderness area borders that of the King Range Wilderness , which is said to be the "longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the United States outside of Alaska". The river provides wildlife habitat for preservation of rare and endangered species including cold freshwater habitat for fish migration and spawning. The South Fork Eel

2754-753: Was established by the Save the Redwoods League in 1921 largely from lands purchased from the Pacific Lumber Company . Beginning with the dedication of the Raynal Bolling Memorial Grove, it has grown to become the third-largest park in the California State Park system, now containing 51,651 acres (20,902 ha) through acquisitions and gifts to the state. It is part of the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion and has 23,600 acres (96 km) of old-growth forests . 17,000 acres (69 km) are old-growth redwoods, comprising

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2808-468: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like

2862-458: Was historically rich in salmon and other species of anadromous fish, and has been known as the "most productive sub-basin for anadromous fish". The main anadromous fishes in the South Fork are chinook salmon , coho salmon and steelhead , and it is said that "the South Fork Eel River once supported about half of the total coho run for the State of California". Historically, the population of chinook

2916-573: Was measured at 112.94 metres (370.5 ft) in 2004. Stratosphere Giant was the tallest known living redwood until the discovery of three taller trees in Redwood National Park ; the tallest, Hyperion , measuring 115.55 metres (379.1 ft) in September 2006. Before the discovery of Hyperion, the tallest redwood ever measured was the Dyerville Giant, also in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It

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