Armstrong Redwoods

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is wine country's great green escape, a grove of old-growth coast redwoods tucked into a canyon just north of Guerneville on the Russian River, about thirty minutes from Healdsburg and Santa Rosa. It is the most accessible ancient redwood forest north of San Francisco and far less crowded than Muir Woods, and it delivers the full cathedral effect within minutes of the parking lot. The reserve protects about 805 acres, and its two famous trees are a short stroll apart. The Parson Jones Tree, the tallest in the grove at more than 310 feet, stands about a tenth of a mile from the entrance; the Colonel Armstrong Tree, estimated to be more than 1,400 years old and named for the lumberman who chose to preserve this grove in the 1870s, is about half a mile in. The Pioneer Nature Trail, a mostly flat loop of about a mile and a half, is wheelchair-accessible, and the Discovery Trail adds braille interpretive panels and a tree-hugging platform. Longer trails climb out of the canyon into the adjoining Austin Creek State Recreation Area for views over the hills, with roughly nine miles of trails in the reserve itself. The park is open from 8am to one hour after sunset, the visitor center and nature store from 11am to 3pm, and there is a modest per-vehicle fee to drive in, or you can park free at the entrance lot and walk in. As of November 2026, all trails are open except the East Ridge Connector, but camping at Austin Creek remains closed after the 2020 Walbridge Fire. Dogs are limited to paved roads and picnic areas.

A forest saved by a lumberman. In the late nineteenth century, Colonel James Armstrong, who had made his fortune in timber, set aside this grove as a natural park, and his daughter and local supporters later campaigned to protect it permanently. The result is a rare surviving stand of old-growth redwoods in a region that was heavily logged, and the trees, many of them well over a thousand years old, create a cool, hushed world of filtered light, ferns and sorrel. In summer, when inland vineyards bake, the grove stays pleasantly cool, which makes it a perfect midday escape.

How to visit. For most visitors, the loop past the Parson Jones and Colonel Armstrong trees on the flat valley floor is the essential walk, and it takes about an hour at a gentle pace. Hikers can climb the East Ridge or Pool Ridge trails for a more strenuous outing with views, but check current trail notices first, since the East Ridge Connector is closed. Pack water and layers, keep to the trails to protect the shallow roots, and remember that drones are not allowed. Weekends in summer and holiday periods are the busiest; mornings are quietest.

Making a day of it. Combine the redwoods with a drive down the Russian River to Jenner, where the river meets the Pacific and the dramatic Sonoma Coast begins, with its headlands, coves and seals hauled out on the beaches. Guerneville itself has casual cafes and river beaches for summer swimming, and the wineries of the Russian River Valley are on the way back to Healdsburg or Santa Rosa. Fire season can bring smoke and closures in late summer and fall, so check the state parks alerts before you go.