Richardson Grove - California State Parks

Richardson
Grove
State Park
Our Mission
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by
helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary
biological diversity, protecting its most
valued natural and cultural resources, and
creating opportunities for high-quality
outdoor recreation.
T he groves were
God’s first temples.
-William Cullen Bryant
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(707) 247-3318. This publication is available in
alternate formats by contacting:
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P. O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
Discover the many states of California. TM
Richardson Grove State Park
1600 U.S. Highway 101
Garberville, CA 95542
(707) 247-3318
Marbled murrelet photo
courtesy of Rich MacIntosh
© 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2009) Printed on Recycled Paper

R hfjgjohsekgk;
ichardson Grove State
Park—a traditional
destination of countless
vacationing families since the
early 1920s—is one of
California’s premier state
parks. Deep in the majestic
redwood forests of southern
Humboldt County, “The
Grove” started in 1922 with
120 acres. It now encompasses
more than 2,000 acres.
Located about 200 miles north
of San Francisco and seven
miles south of Garberville,
the park is bisected by
Highway 101 and the Eel
River's south fork.
PARK History
Native People
The first known inhabitants of this region,
the Wailaki people, used the area as a
seasonal encampment for hunting, fishing
and food gathering. These expert hunters
trained dogs to drive game into the river
so that it could be more easily caught.
Both men and women made beautiful
baskets.
The Grove Preserved
The first settler recorded in the area,
Kentuckian Ruben Reed, arrived here in
the late 1860s. By the early 1900s,
Canadian immigrant Henry Devoy had
purchased Reed's land. Devoy then leased
the redwood grove to a man named Edwin
Freeman, who built a store, a dining room
and fifteen cabins at the site
of today’s visitor center.
In 1922 the Save-the-
Redwoods League,
concerned about potential
destruction of the trees by
highway construction and
logging, persuaded the
State to acquire 120 acres of
the redwood grove. Between
1922 and 1935, Freeman,
who had been instrumental
in naming the park after
former California governor
Friend W. Richardson,
Eel River Canyon
operated the new park as a
concession. Today's visitor
center was built in 1931 by
the Civilian Conservation
Corps, who later constructed
the campgrounds, picnic
facilities, trails, water
systems and restrooms.
Unfortunately, most of the
CCC-built facilities were
damaged or destroyed
when the south fork of the
Eel River overflowed in the
floods of 1955 and 1964.
Only the original visitor
center remains.
Natural history
Plants
The most notable natural
feature of Richardson Grove
is the old-growth redwood
forest, which thrives in
the area’s mild climate.
Many of the trees in
the grove are more
than 1,000 years old
and over 300 feet tall.
Strolling among these Coast redwood
towering redwood giants is
branch
an unforgettable experience.
Redwood sorrel, ferns and mosses take
advantage of the deep shade in the heart
of the forest. Younger redwoods,
Douglas-fir, California laurel, various oaks
and madrones compete for sunlight and
moisture outside the established groves.
Lower growth includes huckleberry,
manzanita, coyote brush, Douglas iris,
calypso orchids,
redwood violets and
poison oak.
Wildlife
The Eel River is named
for the Pacific lamprey
that once lived here.
During fall and winter,
salmon and steelhead
inhabit the river. Blacktailed
deer, raccoons,
gray foxes, black bears,
mountain lions and river
otters thrive in the park.
Eagles, owls and
hawks soar the skies,
hunting for small game.
A wide variety of native
birds includes great
Giant redwood tree

Juvenile marbled murrelet
blue herons, osprey, belted kingfishers,
acorn woodpeckers and the endangered
marbled murrelet.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Camping
Richardson Grove's three campgrounds—
Huckleberry, Madrone and Oak
Flat—have a total of 170 family
campsites. Each site has a fire
ring, picnic table and food
lockers, and restrooms with coinoperated
hot showers are
nearby. Sites can accommodate
trailers up to 24 feet and motor
homes up to 30 feet. One site is
reserved for hikers and
bicyclists. Oak Flat Campground,
on the east side of the river, is
open only during the summer,
when a seasonal bridge allows
access across the river. The yearround
group camp, near the
river among giant redwoods, can
accommodate up to 40 people
and 11 cars.
Picnicking/Day Use
The picnic area, along the Eel River under
redwoods, maples and oaks, is popular
with swimmers in summer, and for those
fishing for salmon and steelhead during
winter. The "Racetrack," a short, accessible
trail with interpretive displays, is nearby,
and several longer hiking trails range from
gentle to strenuous.
Visitor Center
The visitor center has wildlife exhibits,
displays on the park's natural history and
a gift shop.
Programs
Check the park calendar for scheduled
programs and activities. Summer evening
campfires and guided nature walks are
offered to all visitors. For youngsters, the
park holds Junior
Ranger, Litter Getter
and Children in
Nature programs.
Racetrack trail
Accessible
Features
The visitor center,
three campsites in
Madrone
campground, the
Group Camp, the
Racetrack trail and
the picnic area are all
accessible. Call the
park for specific
details or visit http://
access.parks.ca.gov.
Please Remember
• No diving or jumping into the river.
• No lifeguards are on duty; children
should be supervised at all times.
• Fires are permitted only in fire rings
provided.
• All park features are protected by law
and must not be disturbed.
• Bicycles and motorized bikes are not
allowed on the trails.
• Do not feed wild animals.
• Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer
than six feet, and must be kept in your
tent or motor vehicle at night. They are
not allowed on hiking trails.
Nearby State Parks
• Benbow Lake State Recreation Area,
5 miles north on Benbow Drive
(707) 923-3238
• Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, 43 miles
west on Briceland-Thorne Road
(707) 986-7711
• Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area,
17 miles south on Highway 101
(707) 925-6482
This park receives support in part
from a nonprofit organization.
For more information contact:
Richardson Grove Interpretive
Association, 1600 US Hwy. 101,
Garberville, CA 95542.
(707) 247-3378

Trail
1000
0
North
Creek
Durphy
Tan Oak Springs Trail
1000
Laurel
Huckleberry
Campground
Durphy Creek
500
N
Woodland
2.1 mi
Trail
(loop)
1.6 mi
Campsites
1-21
Trail
Creek
Creek
101
Park
Entrance
Campsites
22-36
Campsites
37-75
500
Madrone
Campground
1.9 mi
Woodland
1000 Feet
0 100 200 300 Meters
to
Benbow
Trail
Point
Lookout
Trail
1.7 mi
Seasonal
Swimming
Hole
Seasonal
Bridge
Swim
Beach
Dawn P
Redwoods
Group Campground
P
(loop)
Visitor Center
Racetrack Trail
500
Lookout
Point
to Piercy
101
South
101
Fork Eel
Richardson Grove
State Park
Trail
Day
Use
Area
Toumey
1.9 mi
Campsites
165-169
Hartsook
Kauffman
Springs
River
Summer
Bridge
500
Campsites
141-164
Creek
1000
Panorama
Point
Oak Flat
Campground
Campsites
76-140
Toumey
Fire Road
Settlers Trail
to
French’s Camp
Big
Spring
(loop)
Legend
0.7 mi
Settlers
1000
Creek
R I C H A R D S O N
G R O V E
S TAT E P A R K
Paved road
1000
Unpaved road
Trail
Durphy
0
0.5 1 Mi
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 Km
Accessible Feature
Campfire Center
Campground
Firewood Sales
Gate
Humboldt
Bay
Pacific Ocean
Rio
Dell
101
101
211
Humboldt
Redwoods
SP
Punta
Gorda
Benbow Lake SRA
South
Sinkyone
Wilderness
SP
Eel
Fork
Eel
1
P
to Crescent City
Eureka
Fortuna
Piercy
Park
Entrance
Creek
Durphy Creek Trail 2.1 mi
Tan Oak Springs Trail
1.9 mi
Hartsook
Willow
Creek
River
Creek
Six
Rivers
NF
River
Group Campground
Hike/Bike Campground
Parking
Picnic Area
Ranger Station
Restroom
Shower
Swimming
Viewpoint
36
Myers Flat
101
Six
Rivers
NF
© 2009 California State Parks
Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA
South
Fork
Shasta-Trinity
NF
299
3
Weaverville
Hayfork
101
Eel
area shown in
enlargement
3
River
to
Redding
36
Shasta-Trinity
NF
Garberville
Benbow
Richardson Grove SP
0 10 20 Mi
0 10 20 30 Km
Standish-Hickey SRA
Leggett
Mendocino
NF
101
to San Francisco