Tucked inside Del Norte County’s Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a towering grove of ancient coastal redwoods that has come to be known as the Grove of Titans. The stunning grove, home to enormous redwoods and a lush understory populated by ferns, sorrel and the like, remained for thousands of years undisturbed. This changed dramatically over the past two decades when social media and unofficial promotion of the grove’s off-trail location led to a major increase in visitation. With no official trails going directly into the grove or visitor infrastructure of any kind, the overall health of this sacred grove was threatened. Meandering foot traffic and social trails damaged the redwoods’ shallow root system and destroyed delicate understory vegetation.
In 2018, California State Parks, Redwood Parks Conservancy, Save the Redwoods League and the National Park Service unveiled a collaborative plan to safeguard the ancient grove and implement formalized and inspiring visitor access. Over the course of 4 years, an ecologically sensitive elevated walkway and ADA accessible parking and bathrooms were installed, along with interpretive signage developed in collaboration with the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation. In May 2022, the Grove of Titans officially opened to the public.
Prior to the official launch of the new walkway, California State Parks Interpretation & Education Program Manager, Erin Gates, began dreaming of a team of volunteers that would support the long-term care of the grove. “By building this new trail and elevated walkway, we were providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the grove on an official trail system, no longer using the damaging social trails that visitors had used before to gain access to this grove. But, just providing a trail system doesn’t ensure that visitors are going to stay on the trail. I realized that in order to ensure the protection of this grove for decades to come, we needed to have folks out on the trail helping visitors connect with and understand how their actions can leave an impact. We needed volunteers to help tell the story of the grove to visitors, and share how this sacred and delicate place depends on everyone to take care of it, by not going off trail. The Grove of Titans story is a reminder of the legacy that we all have the opportunity to leave behind. We can choose to either leave a legacy that focuses only on our own self interests, or we can choose to leave a legacy that focuses on being mindful of the people, places and things that surround us and that are impacted by our actions. That is a big lesson to share, and who better to help share that lesson than local community members who live near and love these special places,” said Gates. This group of volunteer interpreters and monitors became known as Titaneers.
Inset left: 2023 Titaneer recruits complete their radio training. Inset right: RPC’s Volunteer & Transportation Manager, Autumn Subers, Director of California State Parks, Armando Quintero, and Titaneer #1, Doug Kerr, pictured in the heart of the grove. Photo courtesy of Redwood Parks Conservancy. Background: The majestic Grove of Titans. Photo by Max Forster.
Titaneer recruitment began when Gates led a group of Redwood Parks Conservancy and Save the Redwoods League members for a hike through the grove in the fall of 2021. Her first recruit was retired electrical engineer Doug Kerr of Healdsburg. Absolutely blown away by the beauty and magnitude of the grove, Doug signed up on the spot despite living some 300 miles away from the Grove of Titans. Over the past two years, Doug has traveled to the grove once a month for multi-day Titaneering trips and has been instrumental in growing the program. “It’s a fantastic experience,” Doug says of his time on the trail, noting that the distance is only a minor hurdle.
The average day for a Titaneer begins with recording trail conditions and picking up any errant litter. From there, the day takes shape according to the individual Titaneer’s set of interests. For Maggie Rasmussen of Crescent City, helping guide visitors to park in a way that maximizes the amount of space available on the scenic Howland Hill Road is a priority. She then spends some time greeting and directing visitors at the trailhead before making her way into the grove. “I feel grateful realizing how lucky I am to be able to enjoy this. Humbled. It’s humbling to see these trees,” Maggie says, remarking that she can’t help but take pictures each time she works in the grove. The rest of her day, she says, is spent chatting with visitors and sharing her knowledge and passion for the conservation of the redwood forest. The average shift as a Titaneer ends with Maggie feeling rather hoarse but, ultimately, fulfilled. “So long as I’m here and able to walk the trail, I will be a Titaneer,” she says.
For the Prestons, Titaneering is a family affair. Keith Preston, along with his wife, Kate, and 15 year old daughter, Audrey, are now completing their second season as Titaneers. When asked about their experience thus far, Keith said, “As a family, it’s absolutely wonderful. I don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad day in the Grove of Titans.” The Prestons, who often visited Redwood National & State Parks for camping and recreation, relocated from Sacramento to Crescent City in 2021. “It’s an amazing feeling to live where you want to be rather than just vacationing here,” Keith says. While the family originally became Titaneers as a way to give back to the environment that has given them so much peace and beauty over the years, Keith notes that Titaneering never actually feels like work. “Every day there’s something new,” he adds.
Wolf Qualls is yet another Titaneer that makes a lengthy trek to the grove. Wolf’s commute? A whopping 800 miles from their home in Los Angeles. Inspired by the article Doug wrote about his experience as a Titaneer for Save the Redwoods League, Wolf thought, “If Doug can go that far, so can I.” After a meaningful encounter with the redwoods of Southern Humboldt’s Avenue of the Giants on a road trip in 2018, Wolf says they became keen on returning to the redwoods as often as possible. They officially joined the Titaneers in May of 2023. Their advice for anyone considering becoming a Titaneer? “Do it! It’s one of the most rewarding things I think I’ve ever done,” they said. They enjoy sharing fun facts with visitors and are always sure to have a redwood cone on hand once they reach the heart of the grove. Adding, “People are always so surprised by how small they are!”
A continuous thread in each Titaneer’s story is how, by being out there on the trail and engaging directly with visitors, they are able to inspire new advocates and stewards for these forests. “People think the fight’s over and it’s not,” Wolf says, noting that redwoods are still being logged and second growth forests require protection so they too can become old. “The Ah-Pah Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a great example of what we can do to restore these areas after they’ve been through trauma and logging. Redwoods Rising, too,” they say in reference to the ongoing large-scale project to restore areas in Redwood National & State Parks that were damaged by historical logging.
38,203 visitors experienced the Grove of Titans during the busy summer months of 2023. Over 6,000 people personally interacted with the dedicated team of 35 Titaneers in their 1,026 hours of volunteering. Redwood Parks Conservancy’s Volunteer & Transportation Manager, Autumn Subers, had this to say about the Titaneers, “Their impact cannot be measured in mere hours; it resonates in the joy experienced by those touched by the grove’s beauty and the assurance that our natural heritage is secure. Today, as we celebrate our achievements, we remember that the journey continues. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to face ever-evolving challenges. This is not only a moment of pride; it is a call to action, inspiring others to join our collective endeavor. The Titaneers have proven that everyday individuals can make an extraordinary difference. Through unity, passion, and determination, they have demonstrated that we hold the power to shape our world. Let us be inspired and emboldened by their tireless dedication to the Grove of Titans.”
In addition to the time dedicated by the Titaneers themselves, this program is made possible thanks to generous donations made to Redwood Parks Conservancy. We invite each and every one of you to join us in our mission of fostering understanding, enjoyment and stewardship of the redwoods for generations to come. Help us meet our goal of having two Titaneers on the trail every day during the busy summer months of 2024! Titaneering is very flexible and only requires a commitment of two 4 hours shifts per month. Please consider making a donation or becoming a Titaneer today! Visit redwoodparksconservancy.org/volunteer for more information. Thank you for supporting the redwoods.
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