Adventure 008, Hike 010 - Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 10 – Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  May 31, 2012

Location: Redwood National Park, Orrick

Hike Info:

Trail: Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail

Distance: 2.2 miles

Duration: 2:40

Elevation Rise: 469'

Description:
A friend of ours recommended that we do this hike. She felt that it was an easy, short hike which my parents would do well on. Well, it turned out to be a bit longer than what we thought it would be. But, except for the ramp up to the bridge over the road, the trail was gentle rolling slopes.

This grove's name and the trail, go back to the inauguration of Redwood National Park. Lady Bird Johnson, the first lady from 1963-1968, was instrumental in the Beautify America campaign. Redwood National Park was one of the results of this campaign. When the park became a reality under Richard Nixon, Mrs. Johnson was honored as the result of her work. The inauguration ceremony was held in this grove with Lady Bird Johnson attending.



The nation park trail description says it well: Situated around the dedication site of Redwood National Park, this moderate walk winds through stands of old-growth redwood, Douglas-fir, and tan oak. A brochure at the trail head corresponds to marked posts along the trail and guides you along this historically significant route. In spring, rhododendrons and azaleas abound, and during the autumn months, vine and big-leaf maple reveal their bold colors.



We walk at a slow pace, less than a mile per hour. But being with my parents in a redwood forest—priceless. We read about the natural and human history of this forest and why it is important to protect them. About half way around the loop, we come to the inauguration site and stop and ponder upon a conveniently placed bench. You can almost hear some modern day politician saying, Beauty like this does not grow on trees, it takes money to make it so. But it does grow on trees. As Annie Dillard in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek says beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there. We were there and we enjoyed it.



After a two hour or more walk, we get back to the car and have lunch, and relishing the beauty what we have seen.


Two descriptions of the trail gives a good review of them. First, the Redwood Hikes web site by David Bassell has some supperb photos of the area. The other is the Humboldt County, California Redwood Coast site.