Save the Redwoods League

05/22/2026

🌲 Ever wondered what Northern California looks like when the hills turn radiant green and wildflowers carpet the coast? Step into Cotoni-Coast Dairies, part of the California Coastal National Monument, just north of Santa Cruz, and you’ll see for yourself.

Nine miles of new trails wind through coastal bluffs, chaparral, open grasslands, and shaded redwood groves. Trails range from easy to moderately strenuous, perfect for hikers, cyclists (class 1 e-bikes allowed), and on-leash dogs on select paths. Along the way, you’ll hear surf crashing, spot banana slugs (Santa Cruz’s unofficial mascot!), and breathe in the briny sea air mixed with sage.

Whether you’re chasing sweeping ocean vistas, hidden forest streams, or quiet benches overlooking redwoods, Cotoni-Coast Dairies blends natural beauty, history, and adventure. Designated a national monument in 2017 with support from Save the Redwoods League, the landscape reflects years of collaborative stewardship to protect this special place and open it to the public.

More than a hike. It’s a chance to experience the ancestral homeland of the Cotoni People, preserved for everyone to enjoy. Winter, spring, or summer, every step feels like discovery.

05/20/2026

🔥 Why would anyone fight to put fire back in the forest?

Because, as Harold Biswell recognized, fire isn’t just destruction—it’s renewal. In the mid-20th century, California’s forests were overgrown, wildfire-prone, and choked with dead vegetation. Biswell faced ridicule and professional setbacks at UC Berkeley, earning nicknames like “Burn ‘Em Up Biswell.”

But he persisted, showing that carefully controlled burns could restore giant sequoia and redwood forests, improve wildlife habitat, and make forests safer. While Biswell helped advance prescribed fire in modern forestry, Indigenous Tribes across California had practiced cultural burning for millennia, using fire to care for the land long before these methods were accepted by Western science.

Later, partnerships with California State Parks brought prescribed fire techniques to parks across the state. Today, “good fire” is a key tool in keeping forests healthy, and Biswell’s work helped reintroduce practices that continue to guide wildfire resilience across California. 🌲https://savetr.org/49G70M8

05/19/2026

redwoods make their own fog 🌁💅

05/16/2026

The redwood forest’s magic isn’t just in the towering trees. 🌿

Look a little closer and you’ll find a hidden world beneath the canopy: delicate bonnet mushrooms after winter rain, heart-shaped redwood sorrel, coral fungi, fairy slipper orchids, tiny snails, salamanders, and even gatherings of ladybugs called a “loveliness.”

Sometimes the forest asks us to slow down enough to notice the small things. ✨

What’s your favorite small thing you’ve spotted in nature?

05/13/2026

Need a reset? The redwoods are calling.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, the forest is a reminder to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the natural world. Research shows that spending time in nature can reduce stress, lower anxiety, and improve overall well-being. And who doesn’t need that right now?

Redwood forests even release aromatic compounds called terpenes that help promote calm when we breathe them in. Add in fresh air, movement, birdsong, and the quiet beauty of spring wildflowers, and the forest becomes a powerful place to recharge.

Whether it’s a short walk or a full day beneath the trees, your favorite redwood park is waiting.

05/09/2026

For many Oakland students, a trip to the redwoods is more than a field trip. It is a first step toward feeling at home in nature.

This month, Oakland Goes Outdoors celebrated its 1,000th trip connecting Oakland students to outdoor experiences across the region, including redwood parks supported through its partnership with Save the Redwoods League.

From hiking among towering trees to hands-on learning, these experiences spark curiosity, build confidence, and create lasting memories.

Here’s to the next generation of redwood explorers and many more trips to come!

05/07/2026

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who made Take Me to the Trees such a meaningful evening, including our attendees, sponsors, event committee, speakers, and partners.

On Saturday, our redwood community gathered at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco for Take Me to the Trees, a night inspired by the collective, enduring power of the redwoods. As dusk descended on the canopy, forest lovers came together in colorful style to celebrate what is possible when we show up for the places and people we love.

From cocktail hour in the grove to an artful dinner under the night sky, from an energetic live auction to a groovy silent disco, this sold-out event brought new and old friends together in a magical way. Yes, there was a magician.

Together, we raised $1 million to continue reviving the redwood range. Our community’s generosity powers our work to protect redwood lands, restore forests, and ensure equitable access for everyone.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor and matching gift donor, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, for your continued partnership in protecting these ancient forests for generations to come.

If you could not join us this year, we hope you will be part of the magic next time. We look forward to welcoming you under the canopy in 2027 🌲

Photos by Drew Altizer

05/05/2026

Ever wonder what it’s like to be two Humboldt’s flying squirrels (Glaucomys oregonensis) moving together through the canopy—gliding up to 300 feet at a time as they leap between towering redwoods under the cover of night?

These nocturnal forest dwellers sail silently through the trees, nesting high in soft, lichen-lined cavities and living on a diet of fungi and tree sap, with the occasional insect or bird egg.

Graceful in the air but a little clumsy once they touch down, they spend their lives stitched into the night sky of the redwood forest.

05/01/2026

Water is what connects the redwoods.

From the tallest trees to the smallest species, every part of this ecosystem depends on healthy rivers, streams, and coastal waters.

Our 2027 Save the Redwoods League calendar is dedicated to these waterways—and we’re bringing back our annual Calendar Vote to choose the cover.

This year’s nominees:
🌊 Kern River
🌲 Sonoma Coast Redwoods
🦎 Rough-Skinned Newt
🌊 Klamath River

Each image reflects the interconnected water systems of the redwood range, from inland rivers to coastal forests and ocean-fed streams.

👉 Cast your vote: https://savetr.org/4wivKUy-ig

04/28/2026

we could replace “touch grass” with “stand quietly among redwoods and reconsider your entire life”

04/28/2026