About Roy's Redwoods
Long loved by the San Geronimo Valley community, Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserve offers visitors an immersive experience in an old-growth redwood grove. Thanks to the diligent efforts of conscientious community members, Roy’s Redwoods was protected from development, and later purchased by the Marin County Open Space District in 1978, becoming the first public preserve in the valley.
Over time, the lack of a formal trail system had impacted the valley floor, causing trampling of understory vegetation, soil compaction, and erosion along creek channels. The natural hydrologic processes of the alluvial flood plain and ultimately the resilience of the redwood forest were compromised. This prompted a One Tam effort to restore the grove, and thereby protect the redwoods and the many special status species that live among them, such as the Northern Spotted Owl (listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act).
Restoration
In 2024, the One Tam partners - including Marin County Parks and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy - completed a restoration project to help Roy's Redwoods thrive. The community was involved at each step of the eight-year process from conception to construction. The project goals that emerged in that process included environmental restoration plus improving visitor experience, especially providing more inclusive access for visitors of all abilities to enjoy the preserve.
To establish restoration goals, we needed to better understand what makes Roy’s Redwoods special to the community, and the environmental challenges facing the preserve. We completed a comprehensive analysis of the site, including:
- Talking with community members.
- Gathering expert knowledge of the site’s history and ecosystem.
- Conducting a hydrologic assessment.
- Conducting vegetation and wildlife assessments.
- Completing a thorough review of existing literature and data on the site.
- Hosting community science events to document the biodiversity of the preserve.
During the conceptual design phase, the team developed a project to enhance the preserve's health while improving visitor experience. We explored opportunities to slow, spread, and sink water to improve forest health, and to guide visitors through an immersive and accessible experience of the redwoods. This project took shape with the collaborative input of restoration planners, environmental scientists, landscape architects, trail construction experts, community members, and agencies with environmental regulatory authority. Construction was implemented in 2023-24.
Now, an improved trail network provides a variety of experiences in exploring the old-growth forest, while allowing the creek floodplain to return to a more natural condition. This restoration will have immediate benefits to the forest understory habitat, water quality, and climate resilience of this special ecosystem.
Initial funding for this project was provided through Measure A.
What's Next
With trail construction and creek restoration complete, the focus will be on restoring the forest understory. Look for opportunities to get involved in stewardship, such as planting native plants, and other programs at our calendar.
Learn More
- Get a new trail map and learn more about Roy's Redwoods.
- Learn more about the restoration project.
- View planning and design documents in the resources below.
This project was made possible through grants from the California State Parks Regional Park Program, the Wildlife Conservation Board Streamflow Enhancement Program, and Marin County Parks Measure A.
