Armstrong Redwoods Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is State Natural Reserve to provide for the health, inspiration and The cathedral-like education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological trees of Armstrong Austin Creek diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities Redwoods State Natural State Recreation Area for high-quality outdoor recreation. Reserve complement the rolling, tree-studded hills of neighboring California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who Austin Creek State need assistance should contact the park at (707) 869-2015. If you need this publication in an Recreation Area. alternate format, contact [email protected]. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.™

SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Austin Creek State Recreation Area 17000 Armstrong Woods Road Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-2015 or (707) 865-2391 District Office

© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) A rmstrong Redwoods State Natural Colonel James B. Armstrong Reserve and Austin Creek State Recreation Ohio native Colonel James B. Armstrong was Area share a boundary, but the parks are quite one of the very few 19th-century lumber different from each other. Serene, 805-acre barons who appreciated both the intrinsic Armstrong Redwoods — shaded by ancient beauty and the commercial uses of the coast redwoods — has been a cool summer redwood groves. escape for generations of park visitors. In 1874 Armstrong moved to Sonoma Temperatures are moderate, with fog year- County with his wife and family. They built round. The nearly 6,000 tree-studded acres their home in Cloverdale, where he invested of Austin Creek provide a bright, sunny place in orchards and real estate there and in Santa best experienced in spring and fall; summer Rosa. Working with crop plants, Colonel temperatures here can reach 100 degrees. Armstrong became a lifelong friend of agricultural pioneer Luther Burbank. PARK HISTORY Upon his arrival in Sonoma County, Native People Armstrong began to purchase land in the Before the early 1800s, the Kashaya Pomo dense redwood forest 2.5 miles north of people lived along the coast and what is Guerneville. He saw that thousands of acres now called the Russian River. The ocean and of seemingly inexhaustible redwoods were the river’s plentiful resources sustained the being reduced to clear-cut tree stumps Kashaya people. (thus inspiring Guerneville’s original name, With the construction of nearby Fort Ross “Stumptown”). To preserve some of his land in 1812, the lives of the Kashaya were abruptly altered. Fur trappers from the Colonel Armstrong Tree Russian-American Fur Company arrived at the fort, seeking sea otter pelts and from this fate, he deeded 600 acres of a place to grow food for their Alaskan the ancient forest to his daughter Kate, outpost. For nearly 30 years, the Russians with plans for an arboretum and natural employed numerous Kashaya Pomo people park. The Armstrong family allowed the as agricultural laborers — many of whom public to visit and enjoy the beauty of the lived around the fort or in nearby villages. peaceful redwoods. Some Kashaya women intermarried with the Armstrong later bought the Big Bottom Russian immigrants. Sawmill and cut and processed millions of Today Kashaya Pomo and other native feet of redwood lumber. The redwoods he groups still live in or visit the area to gather had deeded to Kate remained intact; 400 of leaves, roots and other natural ingredients Colonel James Armstrong Elizabeth Armstrong those acres eventually became Armstrong needed to make some of the world’s finest, in 1883 Jones, ca. 1900 Redwoods State Natural Reserve (SNR). most sought-after Native American baskets. The popular Redwood Forest Theater was built in 1934.

Armstrong’s other daughter Elizabeth NATURAL HISTORY Mixed Evergreen/Douglas-Fir — Along ridges (Lizzie) and her husband, Reverend William The remaining coast redwoods (Sequoia and slopes grow a mix of Douglas-fir, Pacific Ladd Jones, dedicated the Colonel Armstrong sempervirens), the tallest living trees on madrone, tanoak, and California bay laurel. Tree. This “monarch of the forest,” chosen Earth, now grow naturally only along a narrow These trees house northern spotted owls, before his death in 1900, commemorates coastal belt from southern Oregon to central pileated woodpeckers, and tree voles. Armstrong’s vision of saving ancient redwoods. California. The wet fog that shrouds this Hound’s tongue and common madia make The State of California acquired the grove in ancient, temperate rainforest helps maintain seasonal displays in the sparse understory, 1934; by 1936 Armstrong Redwoods State Park the moist conditions that the trees — and which is also home to wood rats and was open to the public. the wildlife that depend on them — need alligator lizards. Armstrong Redwoods became a reserve to exist. Today, scientists are studying the Oak Woodland — This habitat includes in 1964, after insight into its ecological effects of climate change on redwoods. California buckeye, manzanita, Oregon white importance suggested that this vital resource Habitats and Wildlife oak, and California black oak. Band-tailed should be more effectively managed. That The area’s distinct habitats shelter a wide pigeons, king snakes, and gray foxes live here. same year, the State began acquiring the range of native wildlife. Checker lilies may be found among the oaks. land which now comprises Austin Creek State Redwood — Coast redwoods shade forest Riparian — Along rivers, streams and other Recreation Area (SRA) to provide camping floor plants such as redwood sorrel, trillium, waterways, wood ferns, bracken ferns, and and recreational facilities and preserve calypso orchids, and sword and bracken ferns. maidenhair ferns thrive. White and red alder, important wildlife corridors. Look for banana slugs, myotis bats, and black- chain fern, giant horsetail, western azaleas, tailed mule deer. and various mosses shelter California newts, Pacific tree frogs, American dippers, and belted kingfishers. Great blue herons fish in and unpaved fire roads gain 1,000 feet of streams for coho and steelhead salmon or elevation. At Armstrong Redwoods, bicyclists red-legged frogs as river otters play. must share the flat, paved road with hikers, Closed-Cone Cypress — Sargent’s cypress horses, and vehicles. stands grow on serpentine rock outcrops. Camping — At Austin Creek, camping is Chaparral — Chamise, manzanita, and sticky available year round. Some campsites monkeyflower make up this habitat. Deep are first-come, first-served; others can be in tangles and thorns, white-footed mice, reserved at www.hipcamp.com. Sites have California quail, and other small prey hide tables and fire rings with nearby flush toilets from gray foxes. Bobcats may be spotted and drinkable water (but no showers). For hunting in chaparral and grassland areas, questions, call Stewards at (707) 869-9177. bordered by a mixed conifer forest. Backcountry (Primitive) Camping — The non- Grasslands — Native purple needlegrass and reservable Tom King and Mannings Flat hike- Bullfrog Pond Campground California oatgrass grow wild. Soap plant, in campsites require permits for backcountry clarkia, globe lily, and other wildflowers feed camping, available when the entry kiosk or When camping is allowed, register and and shelter black-tailed jackrabbits, Oregon volunteer center are open. Sites have tables, get a permit for Austin Creek camping at the juncos, western fence lizards, gopher snakes, fire rings, and nearby pit toilets. Water from Armstrong Redwoods SNR entry kiosk. If staff and garter snakes. the year-round stream must be purified is absent, contact Stewards at (707) 869-9177 before drinking. or [email protected]. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Trails — Hikers on 20 miles of hiking trails find it necessary to carry plenty of water at Austin Pond Farm Pottery Creek, where summer temperatures can be Shortly after World War extremely warm. II, internationally known Equestrians — Park trails are open seasonally ceramic artist Marguerite to horses; horse trailers are not allowed Wildenhain accepted an beyond the picnic area at Armstrong invitation from Gordon Redwoods SNR. For trail conditions, call and Jane Herr to move (707) 869-2015. to their art colony (now Bicycles — Ride part of Austin Creek bicycles only SRA). Wildenhain lived, on paved and worked, and taught at unpaved fire Pond Farm until her roads, not death in 1985. In 2014, on trails. At Pond Farm was added to Austin Creek, the National Register of Banana slug the paved Historic Places. ACCESSIBLE FEATURES • Hunting and the possession of weapons are Armstrong Redwoods prohibited anywhere in the parks. Picnic Area — Accessible picnic sites are near • Fishing is available only in Bullfrog Pond. the trailhead at Pool Ridge Trail. All streams are closed to fishing to protect Parking — Routes of travel from parking area vital spawning habitat. to accessible sites are paved, but help may be needed with slopes. NEARBY STATE PARKS Exhibits/Programs — The visitor center is • Fort Ross State Historic Park accessible; wheelchair users may need help 19005 Highway 1 with ramp and path slopes. Jenner, CA 95450 (707) 847-3286 Trails — The accessible Discovery, Armstrong • Sonoma Coast State Park and Pioneer Nature Trails through the 3095 Highway 1 redwoods are self-guided. Bodega Bay, CA 94923 (707) 875-3483 or (707) 865-2391 Austin Creek Currently there are no accessible features at this park. Accessibility is continually improving. For updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. Bullfrog Pond PLEASE REMEMBER • All park features are protected by law and Facilities — The reserve has a visitor center, may not be disturbed in any way. outdoor amphitheater, picnic facilities, and • Stay on designated trails. Off-trail walking about nine miles of hiking trails. The visitor and riding cause soil erosion, damage center (nature store) has interpretive displays redwood root systems, and expose visitors and sells a variety of educational items. to ticks, snakes. and poison oak. Two picnic areas in the redwoods are ¾ mile • Vehicles are permitted only on paved from the park entrance. Nearby Fife Creek runs roads. When meeting oncoming traffic swiftly in winter and slows or dries in spring, in Austin Creek SRA, vehicles traveling summer, and fall. A seasonal waterfall is close Austin Creek SRA is currently operated by downhill must yield to uphill traffic. by. Amenities include picnic tables, barbecue Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. • Vehicles more than 20 feet long or towing grills and pit, and restrooms. For group picnic Both state parks receive support trailers may not use the narrow, steep park area reservations, call (707) 865-2394. through this nonprofit organization. road up to Bullfrog Campground. Annual Events — Armstrong is home to many For more information, contact: • Except for service animals, dogs are annual events. The Old Grove Festival takes Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods permitted only on paved roads in both place in September. For an event calendar, P.O. Box 2, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 parks. Dogs must be on leash. visit www.parks.ca.gov. (707) 869-9177 • www.stewardscr.org Riggs Rocky Mountain 1719ft 800 524m Fire

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© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) / Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA