This 4,711-acre preserve contains towering old-growth and second-growth redwood groves along Purisima Creek. Ferns, sorrel, and moss blanket the forest floor creating rich green compositions. The creek provides foreground elements and reflections beneath the dense canopy.
Photography Guide
Best Time
morning
Crowds
Quiet
Shot Types
widedetaillandscape
Best Seasons
springwinter
Practical Tips
The Whittemore Gulch entrance on Higgins Canyon Road offers the most direct route to the redwood groves. Overcast days provide the best even lighting under the canopy.
Is it a good day to go?
7-day outlook
Mild, dry days with light winds are the most comfortable for a visit.
Forecast by Open-Meteo. Verdicts weigh the forecast against the conditions that suit this spot.
Gallery
A narrow dirt trail winds through a dense redwood forest, with towering trunks rising on both sides and ferns covering the steep, mossy hillside. A lone hiker in a blue jacket walks through soft morning light under the dark green canopy. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A narrow dirt trail curves through a dense redwood forest, with tall straight trunks rising into a dim green canopy. Ferns and moss line the sloping ground beside the path, and soft morning light filters through the trees. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0Tall redwood trunks rise around a shaded creek crossing, with ferns and mossy undergrowth filling the forest floor. Sunlight filters through the canopy in small bright patches, highlighting a fallen log beside the dark water. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A narrow dirt trail winds through a lush redwood forest, with mossy ferns and dense undergrowth crowding the path on both sides. Soft morning light filters through the canopy, brightening the layered greens and bare branches overhead. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A dirt trail curves through a dense redwood forest, with tall trunks rising into a shaded canopy and soft morning light filtering in from the left. Ferns, moss, and a steep earthen bank line the path, giving the scene a cool, moody green feel. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A narrow creek runs through a shaded redwood forest, with dark tree trunks arching over the water and bright green reflections shimmering in the pools. Ferns and leafy understory plants crowd the banks, giving the scene a lush, moody feel. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0Tall redwood trunks rise through a dense forest slope, with morning light filtering in from the right and picking out patches of ferns and mossy groundcover. The scene feels cool and moody, with layered trees fading into the shaded background. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A wooded trail curves through a dense forest of tall redwoods and mixed deciduous trees, with bright morning light filtering through the canopy. Ferns and mossy understory line the path, and the scene has a lush, slightly moody green-and-gold feel. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A wooden footbridge and trail edge frame a narrow creek in a lush redwood forest, with tall moss-covered trunks rising into a dim morning canopy. Ferns, leafy understory plants, and scattered fallen leaves create a dense green foreground around the shaded water. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0Tall redwood and evergreen treetops rise into a clear pale-blue morning sky, with sunlight catching the upper branches. Dense dark-green understory fills the lower frame, creating a layered forest canopy. Photo: Oleg Alexandrov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
