Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Redwood grove at Montgomery Woods
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 Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
Location in California
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mendocino County, California |
| Nearest city | Comptche, California |
| Area | 1,323 acres (535 ha) |
| Established | 1945 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is a special park in Mendocino County, California. It covers about 1,323 acres (535 hectares) of beautiful land. This reserve is famous for its amazing old-growth Coast Redwood trees. These giant trees are some of the tallest living things on Earth! The park is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Discover Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
Montgomery Woods is located in the Coastal Range of California. It protects a unique type of forest. Here, you can find ancient groves of Coast Redwood trees. These trees are also known as Sequoia sempervirens. Unlike most other redwood parks, these trees grow in an "upland riparian meadow habitat." This means they are found in higher areas near streams, not just on flat river plains.
The reserve is at the very beginning of Montgomery Creek. This creek flows into the Big River, which then reaches the Pacific Ocean. It's a vital natural area that helps protect these incredible forests. The park started in 1945 with a small donation of 9 acres (3.6 hectares) from Robert Orr. Since 1947, the Save the Redwoods League has helped add more land, donating 765 acres (310 hectares).
Your Adventure on the Trails
Getting to Montgomery Woods is an adventure itself! You can reach it from Orr Springs Road. It's about 13 miles (21 km) west of Ukiah, California or 15 miles (24 km) east of Comptche, California.
Once you arrive, a moderately steep trail leads uphill. This path follows Montgomery Creek for about three-quarters of a mile. When you reach the main grove, the trail becomes a winding three-mile (5 km) loop. You'll notice many boardwalks along the way. These are important because they protect the delicate forest floor from being stepped on.
The Tallest Trees
Between 1996 and 2000, a tree in Montgomery Woods was known as the world's tallest! This tree was called the Mendocino Tree. It was later surpassed by even taller trees found in Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park.
The Mendocino Tree is just one of many very tall trees in this grove. Park rangers never specifically marked it. This was done to protect the tree from too many visitors. Earlier famous "tallest trees" often got damaged because so many tourists wanted to see them up close.
