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julia
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I was just wondering if the armstrong redwoods state reserve was a good place to see thes oh so famous redwoods.. and is it a safe place to hike alone.. coming from where i come from i am not used to the animals here and got a little spooked on my last hike.. so any suggestions would be great!
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Julia
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Total Posts: 2 | Joined Aug. 2007 | Posted on: 11:20 am on Aug. 1, 2007 | IP
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FastHiker
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I had to look Armstrong up on the Internet to find out where it was. I had never heard of it. Sorry to say, I don’t go hiking that far north. I stick to the state parks that are in the south bay. Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a great park but it’s probably further than you would want to drive.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 6:40 am on Aug. 2, 2007 | IP
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1000Pks
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My initial impression was that there are better places to see Redwoods. We did a good hike decades ago, but I'd say go to another State Park, like Muir Woods or further north as along Highway 1. Big Basin is nice, too, and places near Big Sur are pretty dramatic. If you can make it to the far North Coast, there's the Avenue of the Giants and various parks.
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Total Posts: 56 | Joined Mar. 2004 | Posted on: 11:46 am on Aug. 2, 2007 | IP
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4wheelbob
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Julia, Armstrong Redwoods is OK, but as my two other compadres have noted there are better examples. Muir Woods would be my first choice if you just wish to see the trees. If you want to hike, Big Basin and Portola Redwoods have some fine trails on which you could probably spend days should you desire.
Being spooked by animals or people isn't as uncommon as some might have you believe. Find a group or take a couple of good friends along until you get find your comfort level. If you're in the East Bay and don't mind going slow, look me up! I bet there are several around these parts who'd offer likewise.
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4wheelbob
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Total Posts: 67 | Joined July 2006 | Posted on: 7:07 am on Aug. 3, 2007 | IP
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julia
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thank you for all your help.. honestly.. i have to look up all these^places because i come from eastern Canada and have no idea where i am i am staying in the petaluma sebastapol area..and am hoping not to have to go too far.. do you all know of any groups around here?
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Julia
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Total Posts: 2 | Joined Aug. 2007 | Posted on: 8:00 am on Aug. 3, 2007 | IP
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4wheelbob
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Julia, if you're visiting check with your local (Sonoma County?) chapter of the Sierra Club. They schedule hikes of all shapes and sizes, at least down my way in Alameda County.
Muir Woods would be closest for you, outside of Armstrong Redwoods. It's busy, but if you want a getaway hike you can take the Dipsea Trail all the way out to Stinson Beach. A nice hike I haven't done since I was still walking.
Another alternative (and my favorite, since I pick up my 24 year old daughter in Rohnert Park and keep going north), is to take a long day or a weekend and head up 101 to the Avenue of the Giants. Here are your very best, first rate, suoper colossal examples of Coastal Redwoods. Stop by the visitor's center at eithe rRichardson Grove State Park or my favorite, Humboldt Redwoods SP on old 101. It's well worth the drive, and i do it in a day from 100 miles farther south of your location. But that's the ticket for take - your - breath - away huge coastal Redwoods. Drive through the Chandelier Tree....that's one you won't forget - for a small fee, of course!
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4wheelbob
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Total Posts: 67 | Joined July 2006 | Posted on: 8:33 am on Aug. 3, 2007 | IP
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NorthBayHikesPaul
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Yes, if you live in Sonoma County Armstrong Woods is a good place to see redwoods. You can park free in the lot just outside the park, though it does fill up. Here's a map:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22565
The map shows the location of the largest trees, which are named. It's more of a walk than a hike, the big trees are quite close to the road and ranger station. It's quite safe, on weekends there will be lots of other people you can tag along with.
I belong to NorthBayHikes.com, a Santa Rosa-based hiking club, our links page lists other Sonoma County hiking groups too.
Quote: from julia on 8:00 am on Aug. 3, 2007
thank you for all your help.. honestly.. i have to look up all these^places because i come from eastern Canada and have no idea where i am i am staying in the petaluma sebastapol area..and am hoping not to have to go too far.. do you all know of any groups around here?
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Total Posts: 32 | Joined Aug. 2007 | Posted on: 10:36 am on Aug. 24, 2007 | IP
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Ben Pease
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Hopefully you've found your redwoods, but here are some others nearby:
a. Samuel P. Taylor State Park (on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. between San Rafael and Olema) which has excellent mostly first-growth redwoods (the bike path along the old RR grade is easy walking but a little distancing from the forest floor).
b. There's a neat little incidental grove of redwoods at Roy's Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Sir Francis Drake Blvd. at Nicasio Valley Road) that offers a rare view of freestanding redwoods overlooking a meadow (former horse stables); wonderful to see the branch structure and free-standing trees from afar.
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Ben Pease
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Total Posts: 4 | Joined Aug. 2005 | Posted on: 7:42 pm on Nov. 13, 2007 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
I want to see the redwoods..
