Major Tree Fall Closes Redwood National and State Park Roadway

Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Major Tree Fall Closes Park Roadway

Four trees, including two very large old-growth coast redwoods over 8 feet in diameter, fell across Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park section of the park on Wednesday morning. Until the trees are removed, approximately eight miles of the parkway is closed to through motor vehicle traffic from just north of the Prairie Creek Visitor Center to the northern junction with Coastal Drive and the northern interchange of U.S. 101. Park maintenance crews estimate this section of the parkway will remain closed at least through the end of October and possibly considerably longer as they work to safely remove the trees and assess and repair road damage. All park trails remain open and Elk Prairie Campground, the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, and Davison Road (to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon) are still accessible by vehicle. The only vehicles on the closed section of the parkway will be occasional park vehicles and heavy equipment.

Do the park officials know (or have any educated guess) on what caused these four tree to fall? High winds? Unstable soil? Another cause?

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