California’s diverse landscapes hold a mesmerizing collection of natural wonders, but did you know about the candelabra redwoods?
These magnificent redwood trees are famous for their unique tangled forms. Classic redwood trees shoot straight up in one massive trunk, but the candelabra redwoods sport huge branches that shoot out horizontally and then curve upward parallel to the main trunk, creating an unmistakable candelabra shape.
This remarkable phenomenon is found only on a remote section of California’s Lost Coast, which is a 75-mile stretch of the state’s most isolated and wild coastline.
Visiting the candelabra redwoods
Centuries of harsh coastal winds formed the candelabra redwoods, causing the trees to fracture and regrow into twisted, multi-trunked shapes.
In fact, the trees’ deformities actually allowed them to survive logging, and they’re still standing thanks to the region’s microclimate and the efforts of the Save the Redwoods League.
These days, the Save the Redwoods League still manages the Shady Dell forest, which is home to the candelabra redwoods. The trees are viewable via the 2.3-mile Peter Douglas Trail, which was added as an extension of the Lost Coast Trail in 2016. Visitors can see the trees via a viewing platform.
Most people see the redwoods while hiking the Lost Coast Trail, but you can also reach the Peter Douglas Trailhead via a bumpy road that’s only accessible with a 4×4 vehicle.
Hiking the Lost Coast Trail
The Lost Coast is a 75-mile stretch of wild coastline situated between Rockport and Ferndale in Northern California. Due to the area’s complex terrain, it has remained almost completely untouched by human development, and you can only reach it via a few remote roads.
The best way to appreciate it is by taking on the 25-mile Lost Coast Trail, which is frequented by dedicated hikers and backpackers. The route is not for the faint of heart, traversing a range of landscapes including black sand beaches, coastal redwood forests, bluff-top prairies, and mountains. But if you rise to the challenge, you’re in for a treat that not many people get to see with their own eyes.