O Mammutbaum, o Mammutbaum! How towering are your branches. The giant redwoods are truly majestic trees, and the Redwood National and State Parks in California are a superb location to admire the sheer size and beauty of these ancient evergreens. As referenced in other reviews, this World Heritage Site consists of Redwood National Park, as well as Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek state parks. A drive along the California coast on Route 101 between Eureka and Crescent City will take one right through the heart of these protected groves; it is an extremely memorable experience.

I visited this World Heritage Site driving north from the San Francisco Bay area in July 2017, and along the coast there are ample opportunities to visit other non-World Heritage Site state parks protecting redwoods. On the way, I took a detour through Humboldt Redwoods State Park to drive the Avenue of the Giants, which includes a tree with a house built into it, as well as (on private property) a drive-through tree. Leaving the spectacle behind, I was treated to a superb collection of old-growth forest when I arrived at Redwood National and State Parks. The trees in the parks are some of the oldest and largest in the world; a tree named Hyperion in Redwood National Park is currently the world's tallest, at almost 116 meters. The average age for these trees is between 500 and 700 years old, although some in the park are over 1000 years old. Conservation groups in the early to mid-20th century successfully saved many of these forests that make up the current parks from prolific logging on the Pacific coast.

The California coast is spectacular, but the cold water currents offshore create a constant fog in the summer. This fog not only keeps the climate moist and conducive for growth for the redwoods, but it also creates an otherworldly atmosphere when wandering the many trails through the parks. As others have mentioned, the Lady Bird Johnson trail is one of the best places to experience the misty mystery of the parks, with hollowed habitats inviting exploration and giant ferns evoking a primeval landscape. Fallen tree trunks are fertile ground for new growth, and along the paths you may find the oozing, bright yellow banana slug (namesake of the athletic teams from the University of California, Santa Cruz). The parks are full of wildlife, and in tranquil sections you may encounter the large Roosevelt elk (do not approach). As of March 2022, the Northern California Condor Restoration Program began reintroducing the critically endangered species to Redwood National and State Parks; I visited five years too early to see the California condor back in the wild at the parks, but the reintroduction will hopefully mean future visitors can spot these rare raptors.

It is hard to put into words the sheer joy that can be found from exploring the old-growth forests of Redwood National and State Parks, but, if in California, I highly recommend taking the time for the detour from the urban jungle to a more sedate and serene wonderland in the north.

Logistics: Redwood National and State Parks are most easily traversed by private transportation. The closest major airports to the parks are in San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon, although there are smaller regional airports near the parks in Eureka and Crescent City, California.