Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve is nestled just north of Leggett along legendary Highway 101 in Mendocino County. The reserve offers a whisper-soft retreat. It leads into towering coast redwoods and tranquil river corridors. Visitors can also experience the echoes of an early 20th-century retreat once known as Lane’s Redwood Flat.
What Makes This Park Unique
This serene 689-acre reserve protects the magnificent Frank and Bess Smithe Grove. It was one of the first private redwood groves rescued under state protection in the 1960s. Here, ancient redwoods soar alongside Douglas-fir, madrone, ponderosa pine. Oak and willow join them in a rich mosaic of forest. This forest curls around the South Fork Eel River. A 60-foot waterfall and native understory plants add to the park’s timeless solitude and botanical depth.
Top Activities and Amenities
Hiking Trails & River Access
The reserve is still unspoiled. It offers informal walking routes through the redwood grove. You can walk down to the South Fork Eel River for refreshing swims. You may also enjoy peaceful bank-side reflection. Expect forest floor paths lined with ferns and dappled sunlight, full of the misty calm you visit for.
Picnic Areas & Scenic Rest Stops
A simple picnic area tucked into the grove invites lingering among redwood giants. Benches and tables offer quiet restful points beneath cathedral-like canopies that evoke instant grounding.
Wildlife Viewing & Nature’s Quiet Orchestra
The river corridor plays host to songbirds, tree-dwelling fauna, and seasonal visitors. Listen carefully: thawing streams hum with creek flow. Birds call from high branches. Distant mist drifts through trunks. This is the balm of northern California redwoods.
Interpretive Context & History
There is no visitor center or organized programs in place. However, interpretive signage nearby provides insights. This signage hints at the grove’s resort-era past, conservation origin story, and the ecological tapestry thriving behind the scenes.
Practical Visitor Tips
- There’s no developed parking lot—pullouts along Highway 101 are minimal. Watch your surroundings when parking, and stay visible.
- No restrooms, potable water, or camping facilities. Come prepared, and practice pack-in, pack-out ethics.
- Dogs are allowed on leash—but keep them close to protect wildlife and forest integrity.
- Weather is changeable and often cool in the redwoods—wear layered clothing suitable for humidity, rain, or sudden breezes.
- Stay on informal paths to avoid trampling sensitive forest floor and understory plants.
- Fishing or swimming in the South Fork Eel River is popular—but use caution, wear sturdy footwear, and respect current conditions.
Local insight: Visit early on a misty morning. Fog curls through the redwood shafts. The 60-foot falls roars in a mysterious hush. In spring, the understory blooms quietly with native ferns and mosses. This is the best time to witness the forest’s lush tones. Stay until dusk to feel the forest exhale in twilight, and leave carrying a hush in your mind that only old redwoods can give.