ARMSTRONG WOODS STATE PARKS

ARMSTRONG WOODS STATE PARKS IS IN GUERNEVILLE AND IT CONSISTED OF SOME OF THE MOST DENSE VEGETATION IN THE WORLD BEFORE THE LOGGING INDUSTRY CAME INTO THIS AREA IN THE 1800'S. IT HAS A NUMBER OF NICE TRAILS THAT I HAVE HIKED BOTH ABOVE THE CANYON AND IN THE CANYON. SOME OF THE REDWOOD TREES ARE OVER 300 YEARS OLD AND HAVE SURVIVED FIRES. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE TO LOOK UP UPON. THE WOODS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE A PLACE TO FEEL COOL FOR MANY SUMMER VACATIONERS AS WELL AS FOLKS COMING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO ENJOY A PEACEFUL HIKE OR A PICNIC DURING THE HOT SEASON. THEIR ARE TRAILS ABOVE THE CANYON FOR BOTH HIKERS AND HORSEBACK RIDING. MY SON'S SIXTH GRADE CLASS HAD A FIELD TRIP THERE AND UNFORTUNATELY THE TEACHER TOOK US OUT TO THE HOTTEST TRAIL - A STEEP FIRE TRAIL WHICH BURNT SOME OF THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS OUT. OH WELL SUCH IS LIFE. WE ALSO WENT ON ANOTHER SCHOOL HIKE THROUGH THE BOTTOM CANYON WHICH WAS MUCH MORE DELIGHTFUL FOR YOUNGSTERS.

WHAT MAKES THIS PARK SPECIAL IS THAT IT IS ALONG THE RUSSIAN RIVER AND IN THE PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE COOL BREEZES FILTER IN DURING EVEN THE HOT SUMMERS. I HAVE HIKED HERE DURING THE WINTER AND HAVE LED COACHING RETREATS HERE AS IT IS A VERY SACRED PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SEEM TO RELAX ONCE HERE.

I HAVE CAMPED AT THE UPPER FROG POND DURING MY PARK SURVEY THERE. I DID NOT FIND ANY HISTORIC OR PREHISTORIC SITES THERE. HOWEVER, BACK IN THE 80'S THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE EVEN HIKING THROUGH THE PARK.