Our Mission The mission of California State Parks isto provide for the health inspiration andeducation of the people of California by helping to preserve the statersquos extraordinary biological diversity protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Austin Creek State Recreation Area

California State Parks supports equal access Prior to arrival visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (707) 869-2015 If you need this publication in an alternate format contact interpparkscagov

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS PO Box 942896

Sacramento CA 94296-0001 For information call (800) 777-0369

(916) 653-6995 outside the US 711 TTY relay service

wwwparkscagov

SaveTheRedwoodsorgcsp

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

copy 2011 California State Parks (Rev 2017)

The cathedral-like

trees of Armstrong

Redwoods State Natural

Reserve complement

the rolling tree-studded

hills of neighboring

Austin Creek State

Recreation Area

Colonel Armstrong Tree

rmstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and Austin Creek State Recreation Area share a boundary but the parks are quite different from each other Serene 805-acre Armstrong Redwoods mdash shaded by ancient coast redwoods mdash has been a cool summer escape for generations of park visitors Temperatures are moderate with fog year-round The nearly 6000 tree-studded acres of Austin Creek provide a bright sunny place best experienced in spring and fall summer temperatures here can reach 100 degrees

PARK HISTORY

Native People

Before the early 1800s the Kashaya Pomo people lived along the coast and what is now called the Russian River The ocean and the riverrsquos plentiful resources sustained the Kashaya people

With the construction of nearby Fort Ross in 1812 the lives of the Kashaya were abruptly altered Fur trappers from the Russian-American Fur Company arrived at the fort seeking sea otter pelts and a place to grow food for their Alaskan outpost For nearly 30 years the Russians employed numerous Kashaya Pomo people as agricultural laborers mdash many of whom lived around the fort or in nearby villages Some Kashaya women intermarried with the Russian immigrants

Today Kashaya Pomo and other native groups still live in or visit the area to gather leaves roots and other natural ingredients

needed to make some of the worldrsquos finest most sought-after Native American baskets

Colonel James B Armstrong

Ohio native Colonel James B Armstrong was one of the very few 19th-century lumber barons who appreciated both the intrinsic beauty and the commercial uses of the redwood groves

In 1874 Armstrong moved to Sonoma County with his wife and family They built their home in Cloverdale where he invested in orchards and real estate there and in Santa Rosa Working with crop plants Colonel Armstrong became a lifelong friend of agricultural pioneer Luther Burbank

Upon his arrival in Sonoma County Armstrong began to purchase land in the dense redwood forest 25 miles north of Guerneville He saw that thousands of acres of seemingly inexhaustible redwoods were being reduced to clear-cut tree stumps (thus inspiring Guernevillersquos original name

A

Colonel James Armstrongin 1883

Elizabeth Armstrong Jones ca 1900

ldquoStumptownrdquo) To preserve some of his land from this fate he deeded 600 acres of the ancient forest to his daughter Kate with plans for an arboretum and natural park The Armstrong family allowed the public to visit and enjoy the beauty of the peaceful redwoods

Armstrong later bought the Big Bottom Sawmill and cut and processed millions of feet of redwood lumber The redwoods he had deeded to Kate remained intact 400 of those acres eventually became Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve (SNR)

Armstrongrsquos other daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) and her husband Reverend

William Ladd Jones dedicated the Colonel Armstrong Tree This ldquomonarch of the forestrdquo chosen before his death in 1900 commemorates Armstrongrsquos vision of saving ancient redwoods

The State of California acquired the grove in 1934 by 1936 Armstrong Redwoods State Park was open to the public

Armstrong Redwoods became a reserve in 1964 after insight into its ecological importance suggested that this vital resource should be more effectively managed That same year the State began acquiring the land which now comprises Austin Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) to provide camping and recreational facilities and preserve important wildlife corridors Since then Save the Redwoods League has protected nearly 1700 acres in Austin Creek SRA

NATURAL HISTORY

The remaining coast redwoods (Sequoia

sempervirens) the tallest living trees on Earth now grow naturally only along a narrow coastal belt from southern Oregon to central California The wet fog that shrouds this ancient temperate rainforest helps maintain the moist conditions that the trees mdash and the wildlife that depend on them mdash need to exist Today scientists are studying the effects of climate change on redwoods

Habitats and Wildlife

The arearsquos distinct habitats shelter a wide range of native wildlifeRedwood mdash Coast redwoods shade forest floor plants such as redwood sorrel trillium calypso orchids and sword and bracken ferns Look for banana slugs myotis bats and black-tailed mule deerMixed Evergreen Douglas-Fir mdash Along ridges and slopes grow a mix of Douglas-fir Pacific madrone tanoak and California bay laurel These trees house northern spotted owls pileated woodpeckers and

tree voles Houndrsquos tongue and common madia make seasonal displays in the sparse understory which is also home to wood rats and alligator lizardsOak Woodland mdash This habitat includes California buckeye manzanita Oregon white oak and California black oak Band-tailed pigeons king snakes and gray foxes

live here Checker lilies may be found among the oaksRiparian mdash Along rivers streams and other waterways wood ferns bracken ferns and maidenhair ferns thrive White and red alder chain fern giant horsetail western azaleas and various mosses shelter California newts Pacific tree frogs American dippers and

belted kingfishers Great blue herons

fish in streams for coho salmon

steelhead or red-legged frogs as river otters play

The popular Redwood Forest Theater was built in 1934

Closed-Cone Cypress mdash Sargentrsquos cypress stands grow on serpentine rock outcropsChaparral mdash Chamise manzanita and sticky monkeyflower make up this habitat Deep in tangles and thorns white-footed mice California quail and other small prey hide from gray foxes Bobcats may be spotted hunting in chaparral and grassland areas bordered by a mixed conifer forestGrasslands mdash Native purple needlegrass and California oatgrass grow wild Soap plant clarkia globe lily and other wildflowers feed and shelter black-tailed jackrabbits Oregon juncos western fence lizards gopher snakes and garter snakes

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Trails mdash Hikers on 20 miles of trails find it necessary to carry plenty of water at Austin Creek where summer temperatures can be extremely warm Equestrians mdash Park trails are open seasonally to horses horse trailers are not allowed beyond the picnic area at Armstrong Redwoods SNR For trail conditions call (707) 869-2015

Bicycles mdash Ride bicycles only on paved and unpaved fire roads not on trails At Austin Creek the paved and unpaved fire roads gain 1000 feet of elevation At Armstrong Redwoods bicyclists must share the flat paved road with hikers horses and vehicles Camping mdash At Austin Creek camping is available year round Some campsites are first-come first-served others can be reserved at wwwhipcampcom Sites have tables and fire rings with nearby flush toilets and drinkable water (but no showers) For questions call Stewards at (707) 869-9177Backcountry (Primitive) Camping mdash The non-reservable Tom King and Mannings Flat hike-in campsites require permits for backcountry camping available when the entry kiosk or volunteer center are open Sites have tables fire rings and nearby pit toilets Water from the year-round stream must be purified before drinking

When camping is allowed register and get a permit for Austin Creek camping at the Armstrong Redwoods SNR entry kiosk If staff is absent contact Stewards at (707) 869-9177 or stewardsstewardscrorgFacilities mdash The reserve has a visitor center outdoor amphitheater picnic facilities and about nine miles of hiking trails The visitor center (nature store) has interpretive displays and sells a variety of educational items

Two picnic areas in the redwoods are frac34 mile from the park entrance Nearby Fife Creek runs swiftly in winter and slows or dries in spring summer and fall A Banana slug Bullfrog Pond

William Ladd Jones dedicated the Colonel Armstrong Tree This ldquomonarch of the forestrdquo chosen before his death in 1900 commemorates Armstrongrsquos vision of saving ancient redwoods

The State of California acquired the grove in 1934 by 1936 Armstrong Redwoods State Park was open to the public

Armstrong Redwoods became a reserve in 1964 after insight into its ecological importance suggested that this vital resource should be more effectively managed That same year the State began acquiring the land which now comprises Austin Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) to provide camping and recreational facilities and preserve important wildlife corridors Since then Save the Redwoods League has protected nearly 1700 acres in Austin Creek SRA

NATURAL HISTORY

The remaining coast redwoods (Sequoia

sempervirens) the tallest living trees on Earth now grow naturally only along a narrow coastal belt from southern Oregon to central California The wet fog that shrouds this ancient temperate rainforest helps maintain the moist conditions that the trees mdash and the wildlife that depend on them mdash need to exist Today scientists are studying the effects of climate change on redwoods

Habitats and Wildlife

The arearsquos distinct habitats shelter a wide range of native wildlifeRedwood mdash Coast redwoods shade forest floor plants such as redwood sorrel trillium calypso orchids and sword and bracken ferns Look for banana slugs myotis bats and black-tailed mule deerMixed Evergreen Douglas-Fir mdash Along ridges and slopes grow a mix of Douglas-fir Pacific madrone tanoak and California bay laurel These trees house northern spotted owls pileated woodpeckers and

tree voles Houndrsquos tongue and common madia make seasonal displays in the sparse understory which is also home to wood rats and alligator lizardsOak Woodland mdash This habitat includes California buckeye manzanita Oregon white oak and California black oak Band-tailed pigeons king snakes and gray foxes

live here Checker lilies may be found among the oaksRiparian mdash Along rivers streams and other waterways wood ferns bracken ferns and maidenhair ferns thrive White and red alder chain fern giant horsetail western azaleas and various mosses shelter California newts Pacific tree frogs American dippers and

belted kingfishers Great blue herons

fish in streams for coho salmon

steelhead or red-legged frogs as river otters play

The popular Redwood Forest Theater was built in 1934

Closed-Cone Cypress mdash Sargentrsquos cypress stands grow on serpentine rock outcropsChaparral mdash Chamise manzanita and sticky monkeyflower make up this habitat Deep in tangles and thorns white-footed mice California quail and other small prey hide from gray foxes Bobcats may be spotted hunting in chaparral and grassland areas bordered by a mixed conifer forestGrasslands mdash Native purple needlegrass and California oatgrass grow wild Soap plant clarkia globe lily and other wildflowers feed and shelter black-tailed jackrabbits Oregon juncos western fence lizards gopher snakes and garter snakes

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Trails mdash Hikers on 20 miles of trails find it necessary to carry plenty of water at Austin Creek where summer temperatures can be extremely warm Equestrians mdash Park trails are open seasonally to horses horse trailers are not allowed beyond the picnic area at Armstrong Redwoods SNR For trail conditions call (707) 869-2015

Bicycles mdash Ride bicycles only on paved and unpaved fire roads not on trails At Austin Creek the paved and unpaved fire roads gain 1000 feet of elevation At Armstrong Redwoods bicyclists must share the flat paved road with hikers horses and vehicles Camping mdash At Austin Creek camping is available year round Some campsites are first-come first-served others can be reserved at wwwhipcampcom Sites have tables and fire rings with nearby flush toilets and drinkable water (but no showers) For questions call Stewards at (707) 869-9177Backcountry (Primitive) Camping mdash The non-reservable Tom King and Mannings Flat hike-in campsites require permits for backcountry camping available when the entry kiosk or volunteer center are open Sites have tables fire rings and nearby pit toilets Water from the year-round stream must be purified before drinking

When camping is allowed register and get a permit for Austin Creek camping at the Armstrong Redwoods SNR entry kiosk If staff is absent contact Stewards at (707) 869-9177 or stewardsstewardscrorgFacilities mdash The reserve has a visitor center outdoor amphitheater picnic facilities and about nine miles of hiking trails The visitor center (nature store) has interpretive displays and sells a variety of educational items

Two picnic areas in the redwoods are frac34 mile from the park entrance Nearby Fife Creek runs swiftly in winter and slows or dries in spring summer and fall A Banana slug Bullfrog Pond

Closed-Cone Cypress mdash Sargentrsquos cypress stands grow on serpentine rock outcropsChaparral mdash Chamise manzanita and sticky monkeyflower make up this habitat Deep in tangles and thorns white-footed mice California quail and other small prey hide from gray foxes Bobcats may be spotted hunting in chaparral and grassland areas bordered by a mixed conifer forestGrasslands mdash Native purple needlegrass and California oatgrass grow wild Soap plant clarkia globe lily and other wildflowers feed and shelter black-tailed jackrabbits Oregon juncos western fence lizards gopher snakes and garter snakes

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Trails mdash Hikers on 20 miles of trails find it necessary to carry plenty of water at Austin Creek where summer temperatures can be extremely warm Equestrians mdash Park trails are open seasonally to horses horse trailers are not allowed beyond the picnic area at Armstrong Redwoods SNR For trail conditions call (707) 869-2015

Bicycles mdash Ride bicycles only on paved and unpaved fire roads not on trails At Austin Creek the paved and unpaved fire roads gain 1000 feet of elevation At Armstrong Redwoods bicyclists must share the flat paved road with hikers horses and vehicles Camping mdash At Austin Creek camping is available year round Some campsites are first-come first-served others can be reserved at wwwhipcampcom Sites have tables and fire rings with nearby flush toilets and drinkable water (but no showers) For questions call Stewards at (707) 869-9177Backcountry (Primitive) Camping mdash The non-reservable Tom King and Mannings Flat hike-in campsites require permits for backcountry camping available when the entry kiosk or volunteer center are open Sites have tables fire rings and nearby pit toilets Water from the year-round stream must be purified before drinking

When camping is allowed register and get a permit for Austin Creek camping at the Armstrong Redwoods SNR entry kiosk If staff is absent contact Stewards at (707) 869-9177 or stewardsstewardscrorgFacilities mdash The reserve has a visitor center outdoor amphitheater picnic facilities and about nine miles of hiking trails The visitor center (nature store) has interpretive displays and sells a variety of educational items

Two picnic areas in the redwoods are frac34 mile from the park entrance Nearby Fife Creek runs swiftly in winter and slows or dries in spring summer and fall A Banana slug Bullfrog Pond

seasonal waterfall is close by Amenities include picnic tables barbecue grills and pit and restrooms For group picnic area reservations call (707) 865-2394

Annual Events mdash Armstrong is home to many annual events The Old Grove Festival takes place in September For an event calendar visit wwwparkscagov

ACCESSIBLE FEATURES

Armstrong Redwoods

Picnic Area mdash Accessible picnic sites are near the trailhead at Pool Ridge TrailParking mdash Routes of travel from parking area to accessible sites are paved but help may be needed with slopesExhibits Programs mdash The visitor center is accessible wheelchair users may need help with ramp and path slopesTrails mdash The accessible Discovery Armstrong and Pioneer Nature Trails through the redwoods are self-guided

Austin Creek

Currently there are no accessible features at this park Accessibility is continually improving For updates visit httpaccessparkscagov

Pond Farm PotteryShortly after World War II internationally known ceramic artist Marguerite Wildenhain accepted an invitation from Gordon and Jane Herr to move to their art colony (now part of Austin Creek SRA) Wildenhain lived worked and taught at Pond Farm until her death in 1985 In 2014 Pond Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places

Bullfrog Pond Campground

NEARBY STATE PARKSbull Fort Ross State Historic Park

19005 Highway 1 Jenner CA 95450 (707) 847-3286

bull Sonoma Coast State Park 3095 Highway 1 Bodega Bay CA 94923 (707) 875-3483 or (707) 865-2391

PLEASE REMEMBERbull All park features are protected by law and

may not be disturbed in any way bull Stay on designated trails Off-trail walking

and riding cause soil erosion damage redwood root systems and expose visitors to ticks snakes and poison oak

bull Vehicles are permitted only on paved roads When meeting oncoming traffic in Austin Creek SRA vehicles traveling downhill must yield to uphill traffic

bull Vehicles more than 20 feet long or towing trailers may not use the narrow steep park road up to Bullfrog Campground

bull Except for service animals dogs are permitted only on paved roads in both parks Dogs must be on leash

bull Hunting and the possession of weapons are prohibited anywhere in the parks

bull Fishing is available only in Bullfrog Pond Allstreams are closed to fishing to protect vital spawning habitat

Austin Creek SRA is currently operated by Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Both state parks

receive support through this nonprofit organization

For more information contactStewards of the Coast

and RedwoodsPO Box 2 Duncans Mills CA 95430

(707) 869-9177 wwwstewardscrorg

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Hu

lber

t

Cre

ek

Gray Creek

Pool Ridge Trail

Pool Ridge Trail

East

R

idge

Tra

il

D E V I L rsquo S B A C K B O N E

seedetail mapright

East

Riggs

SelfRegistration

Vista PointDay Use

Parking Area

B U L L F R O G P O N DC A M P G R O U N D

FireR

oad

Fire RoadRidge

BullfrogPond

see detailmap above

right

copy 2011 California State Parks (Rev 2017)

Visitor Center

MaintenanceArea

Pioneer Nature Trail

Pool RidgeTrail

Kiosk

Pioneer Nature Trail

Armstr

ong N a ture

Trai

l

Redwood Forest Theate r Road

04

12

04

01

04

02

01

01 02

03

02

0202

02

VolunteerOffice

Armstrong

Woods Road

Parson JonesTree

Waterfall

East

Ri

dge

Tra

il

to East Ridge Trail

Pool Ridge Trail

MarconiConferenceCenter SHP

Fife

Cre

ek

Fife

Creek

Fife

Cre

ek

Black Rock Creek

Eas

t A

ustin

Cre

ek

East

Austin Creek

Gill

iam

C

reek

Gilliam Creek

Gilliam Creek

East Austin Creek

East Au

stin Creek

Gray Creek

Gray Creek

Thompson Creek

Schoolhouse Creek

BL

UE

GR

O

US E R I D G E

M O R R I S O N R I DG

E

MA R B L E M I N E R I D G E

RedwoodForestTheater Visitor

Center

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Mannings FlatCampsite II

Mannings FlatCampsite I

Tom KingCampsite

0 3

Ea

st Ridge Fire

Road

McCray

Ridge

Fire

Road

09

McCrayMountain1919ft585m

FoxMountain1358ft414m

Pool RidgeTrailhead

Gilliam CreekTrailhead

SchoolhouseFlat Day Use

PondFarmPottery

Day Use

RockyMountain1719ft524m

T H O M P S O N R I D G E

BlackRock1312ft400m

25 miles

QueensPeak

1916ft584m

06

14

12

02

03

07

05

02

04

02

Loop

Trail

East Ridge

Trail

TrailPool Ridge

Gilliam Creek Trail

Gilliam Creek Trail

Gilli

am C

reek Trail

East Austin Creek Fire Road

Fox MountainFire Road

Fox Mountain

Fire

Road

McM

ahon

Fire R

d

Armstrong W

oods Rd

Armstrong Woods R

d

East Austin Creek

East Austin Creek Fire Road

Rigg

s Fire

Road

Fire Road

P R I VAT E

P R O P E R T Y

P R I VAT E

P R O P E R T Y

P R I VAT E

P R O P E R T Y

P R I VAT E

P R O P E R T Y

P R I VAT E

P R O P E R T Y

AU S T I N C R E E K

S TAT E

R E C R E AT I O N

A R E A

A R M S T R O N GR E D W O O D S

S TAT E

R E S E RV EN AT U R A L

P R I VAT E

P R O P E R T Y

A C S R A

to Guerneville

Hwy 116

to East AustinCreek FireRoad

LegendPaved Road

Unpaved Road

Trail Hiking Only

Trail Hiking and Horse

Intermittent Stream

Parking

Picnic Area

Ranger Station

Restrooms

Campsite Numbers1-24

Trailhead

Campground

Group Picnic Area

Viewpoint

Locked Gate

Accessible Feature

Accessible Trail

Primitive Campsite

Horse Staging Area

Campfire Center

Camp Host 4

05 Mileage Markers

Waterfall

08 12 16 Kilometers

025 05 075 1 Mile

04

0

0

Austin CreekState Recreation Area

Armstrong RedwoodsState Natural Reserve