Quiet stroll among the redwoods

Felton

The old-growth giants at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park are easy to find: Head to the visitor center and follow the flat loop, which is less than a mile. The largest coastal redwood in this 40-acre grove is about 1,500 years old and 277 feet tall. You’ll also find the Fremont Tree, a large hollowed-out redwood you can stand inside. The park is named for the businessman who once owned this forest and used the redwoods to fuel lime kilns. Info: lat.ms/henrycowell

Woodside

The coastal redwoods in Wunderlich Park in Woodside aren’t old growth, but they are dense and provide a cool refuge on a warm day. At the nearby Folger Stable, you can see the big trees during a horseback trail ride ($60 for an hour) in a mixed forest dominated by redwoods. The ranch once belonged to the Folger family of Folgers coffee fame. If you’re on foot, head out on the easy Redwood Trail for a quiet stroll among the trees. Info: lat.ms/wunderlichpark

Philo

The most impressive redwoods at Hendy Woods State Park southeast of Mendocino are at Big Hendy, an 80-acre grove with a thick undergrowth of ferns and redwood sorrel. A .6-mile wheelchair-accessible Discovery Trail also runs through the grove. Hikers can take a 1.6-mile loop to marvel at the trees and then head off on the Hermit Hut Trail. You’ll find a downed redwood that once housed a Russian immigrant known as the Hendy Hermit. Info: lat.ms/hendywoods park

Gualala

At Gualala Point Regional Park on Highway 1 north of the community of Sea Ranch, you can camp under coastal redwoods for $32-$35 a night. Walk-in and drive-in sites are along the Gualala River. You’re within spitting distance of the ocean; with luck, you may see whales before you bed down among the big trees. Info: lat.ms/gualalapark