Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving old-growth redwoods along the Smith River. It is located along U.S. Route 199 approximately 9 mi east of Crescent City. The park is named after explorer Jedediah Smith, and is one of four parks cooperatively managed as Redwood National and State Parks. The other parks include the Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park. The 10430 acre park was established in 1929 and designated part of the California Coast Ranges International Biosphere Reserve in 1983.

History

The park was named after explorer Jedediah Smith, who was the first American to travel, by land, from the Mississippi River to California in 1826, passing through the area of the future park. The original Tolowa people depended on the resources of the Smith River and the redwood forests. They used the forest for shelter, tools, and cultural practices. Archeological discoveries have found evidence of human occupation dating back over 8,000 years. Descendants of the Tolowa still live in the region and preserve many of their traditions.

Ecology

The park consists of 9500 acre of redwood trees, including several groves of old growth trees. One of the groves, totaling 5000 acre, includes the world's largest (not tallest) coast redwood, which measures 20 ft in diameter and 340 ft tall. The Smith River, which flows through the park, is home to rainbow trout and salmon, black bears, black-tailed deer, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and other mammals. The Smith River is the last major undammed river in California. Within the park, the river is rather undisturbed and holds the state record for the largest steelhead rainbow trout, weighing over 27 lb. The park plays a large role in preserving a spawning and migration route for the fish, which face threats of habitat degradation in other parts of California.

Conservation efforts

In the mid-1900s, Jedediah Smith Redwood Park was part of a larger discussion on preserving California coastal redwoods. During the 1960s, conservationists and policymakers argued over allowing the lumber industry to gain access to the forests. In 1966, President Lyndon B Johnson proposed a Redwood National Park which would include the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park and surrounding land to protect the old growth forests. Notably, the Save-the-Redwoods League advocated for state-level conservation efforts that collaborated with lumber companies rather than federal-level efforts. The Miller Redwood Company was one of many key players who opposed the park’s creation due to the potential loss of jobs. Jedediah Smith Redwood Park played a large role in the redwood conservation movement.

Recreation

The park consists of 18 mi of hiking trails and over 100 campsites. Mill Creek flows through the park and merges with the Smith River near the campground. In the warm season, a seasonal bridge is placed across Mill Creek for easier access to Mill Creek Trail and one end of Hiouchi Trail.