The Holter Ridge Trail, accessible from Bald Hills Road within Redwood National and State Parks, will be closed to hike and bike access from July through the end of September. Two major restoration projects are underway in the area. Both projects require the use of heavy equipment along the roadway, including rock and log trucks, making the trail unsafe for public use.
Access to three miles of the Lost Man Creek Trail off of Highway 101 north of Orick, CA will remain open to both hikers and bikers though occasional work vehicles may be encountered along this trail as well. Posted signs will alert visitors to the section of trail closed to the public.
Redwood National and State Parks' watershed restoration program has successfully removed more than 200 miles of old logging roads and skid trails within the park since 1978. Approximately six miles of the Holter Ridge trail will be stabilized during this project to minimize the effects of erosion and to provide visitor and administrative access to the area.
Along the Holter Ridge Trail, sections of dense second-growth forest are being thinned in order to accelerate the return of old-growth characteristics. These areas were logged prior to the establishment of Redwood National Park in 1968. The Parks' Second-Growth Forest Restoration Plan, approved in March of 2009, requires the extraction of trees in areas along ridgelines, such as Holter Ridge Trail, to minimize the accumulation of downed wood on the forest floor. Mechanized equipment and log trucks are entering and exiting along the trail, creating hazardous conditions for hikers and bikers.
Both projects are funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Questions regarding the parks' Watershed Restoration Program may be directed to Neal Youngblood, Geologist, at 707-465-7746. Questions on Second-Growth Management projects may be directed to Jason Teraoka, Forester, at 707-465-7783.
You can view, download, and/or print this News Release (PDF, 29 KB)
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
