Boardwalk construction complete in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Redwood Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service have completed construction on the 1,300-foot-long boardwalk through the Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Access to the Grove of Titans is now open, but limited while construction of the Mill Creek Trail continues.

The full restoration and realignment of the three-mile Mill Creek Trail, which provides access to the Grove of Titans spur trail, is expected to be completed by early summer 2022. The first mile of Mill Creek Trail is open from Howland Hill Road through the Grove of Titans boardwalk, forming an out-and-back trail. The remaining two miles of the Mill Creek Trail from the new boardwalk to the Smith River will remain closed for construction.

Due to the pandemic, road closures, wildfire and labor shortages, the full re-opening of the trail has been delayed.

On Nov. 6, 2019, construction began on a 1,300-foot-long elevated walkway through the Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, part of Redwood National and State Parks in Del Norte County. This work is the first phase of a multi-year, $3.5 million project organized and implemented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Redwood Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service.

The project, first announced in November 2018, was conceived to provide environmentally sensitive access to the Grove of Titans and adjacent forest. Thousands of visitors have been finding their way on “social trails” or unofficial pathways since the location of the grove was first shared online in 1998, which has caused considerable damage over time.

The renovation project establishes official, safe access to the Grove of Titans, provides ecosystem protections for the trees, visitor services and amenities, including new restroom facilities along Howland Hill Road.

For park visitors’ safety, the Mill Creek Trail from the Grove of Titans boardwalk to the Smith River will be fenced off and closed during construction. Any park visitors in violation of the posted closure will be subject to a citation.

In addition to the Grove of Titans boardwalk, and open portion of Mill Creek Trail, park visitors may use the nearby Boy Scout Tree, Nickerson Ranch, Little Bald Hills or Stout Grove trails, which are accessible from Howland Hill Road. As always, please recreate responsibly by following park rules and regulations, including staying on trail, packing out your trash, and keeping your dogs off trails. The redwood forests depend on you to help protect them for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

For information about the Grove of Titans project visit https://www.savetheredwoods.org/project/grove-of-titans/