How to connect your heart to the Redwoods in Oregon

I’ve wandered the beautiful Pacific Northwest my entire life, growing in my ability to close out the noise of our modern society. It isn’t always easy, with the realities of life screaming from what seems like every direction. Still, I keep going to find the quiet — forests are a great place to start. Oregon and Washington State are both chock-full of trees, indeed, but some places are more magical than others.

I’ll share with you my own stories of discovery in hopes you’ll embark on your own personalized journey to the mystical quiet of a forest. I recently landed in a land with these qualities that still, a month later, inspire love in my heart — my journey to the Redwoods in Oregon.

I’ve found that National Forests only charge for parking when they have upkeep, and since this isn’t an example of upkeep parking passes aren’t required. By the way, America the Beautiful Passes (National Park 12 month passes) are valid for places in National Forests that do require fees for parking. And, another housekeeping item for those with furry friends: most National Forests (like this one) allow pets on leashes, while National Parks (ie Redwood National Park) typically don’t allow animals past ten feet of a roadway.

I move anything that could be visible from outside the vehicle just as a precaution and get my gear together. There are breaks of the sun so while I wear my waterproof jacket I decide not to put on my rainpants (I always have them just in case). The trailhead sign reveals two options to experience this magical place:

• Oregon Redwoods Interpretive Trail (#1106) — 3/4-mile loop through a protected botanical area.
• Oregon Redwoods Trail (#1107) — an additional 1.2 miles of steeper terrain.

The sun is already heavy at 3 pm this December afternoon, so I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to enjoy the trails.

The benefit of winter light, especially in the last hours of the day, is the gentle buttery glow that seems to spread over the forest like frosting on a cookie. I wander through thickets of wild rhododendron that must be stunning in the spring flowering season. Sword ferns pop up to say hello. Mushrooms seemed sprinkled in every direction — assorted varieties clinging to any willing surface. The smell of damp, rich earth enters my nose and expands through my body, pumping up my energy.

Near where the trail parts (to form the loop), the magnificent beings rise up into a flowing canopy of vibrant green. Coast redwoods, at 373 feet, are the tallest trees in the world — even taller than the giant Sequoia. I almost fall backward following the giant tree trunks towards the sky. I meet up with a massive coast redwood about ten feet in diameter. From the trail, I’m able to touch the thick chunks of protective bark. My new friend has seen it all over the years — rain, snow, extreme heat, forest fires, windstorms, woodpeckers, bears, indigenous people (who use the wood to make plank houses and dugout canoes), and logging of neighbors.

The trail meanders through a mix of old and young trees, and at the trail sign, I opt to venture onto the longer, steeper trail. This area feels more wild and untouched, with salal, wild huckleberry, and twisty rhododendron weaving into the patchwork of moss dangling from tanoak branches. All this underworld forms a foundation for the giants to thrive high above.

While the path is well maintained and generally smooth, the grade changes require sturdy shoes and a general good mobility and fitness level to navigate the additional 1.2 miles. I find more giant redwoods dramatically hanging on the side of steep banks above a babbling brook, and the trek back up the hill to the parking area gets my heart racing. What a great introduction to the Southern Oregon Coast and the Redwoods of Oregon.

Nature’s goodness gets going quickly, and once I’m past the muddy dirt roadway (wear sturdy shoes) a wonderland for the senses appears. Heavy moss clutches to dormant maple trees, forming neon green stick figures playing together above a fiercely rushing creek. Smells of crisp air mixed with decaying leaves remind me of nature’s cycle of life. Even though this might be considered the dead of winter, the little world ahead of me feels very much alive.

From the footbridge, all the elements of nature are present. Frosty cold creates fire in my nostrils. Air flows through the needles of giant coast redwoods towering above. Water rushes beneath my feet. The smell of rich earth surrounds me on all sides.

My exploration of the Southern Oregon Coast is made much brighter with these two nature-steeped experiences and I’m grateful for the time with such majestic giants. Redwoods capture the imagination of people from all over the world, usually as “The California Redwoods”, and for good reason. I appreciate that while the redwoods in Oregon are not the largest, the forest ecosystems offer such quiet granduer. Fewer people visit here, allowing the spirit enough space to quickly connect. Especially because both trails are conveniently located near the Oregon Coast Highway (101).