11/07/2022

October 28, 2022 Part 1 Stout Grove

We were told that we should not miss the Stout Grove Trail so that was our first stop today.

Stout Grove is the world’s most scenic stand of redwoods. It’s not all that large, and it doesn’t have the biggest trees, but for sheer photogenic beauty nothing beats this extraordinary grove on a sunny afternoon.

Located on a small floodplain at the confluence of two rivers, Stout Grove is a quintessential alluvial-flat grove, with an otherworldly, cathedral-like majesty. There are quite a few good-sized trees here, although the Stout Tree with its distinctively rippled bark dwarfs all the others. The trees are all redwoods, with no understory of tanoak or other small trees to obscure the views. The redwoods are densely packed, especially at the west end of the grove. A perfect, plush, lawn-like layer of ferns and redwood sorrel carpets the ground.”

The road to the trail:

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (3)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (9a)

What a beautiful place – Majestic!

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (16)

Burls:

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (18)

It was so so quiet as we walked thru the trees.  I felt like I was in church – I guess I was!

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (28)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (29)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (30)

The redwoods do not have deep roots.  They are very shallow but expand outward:

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (75)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (38)

2022-10-28 B Stout Grove JSRSP (16)

Andy would love to cut this up for firewood – LOL!

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (45)

Roots and Burls:

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (47)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (54)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (66)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (70)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (77)

2022-10-28 B Stout Grove JSRSP (13)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (82)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (97)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (105)

2022-10-28 A Stout Grove JSRSP (118)

What a magical place!  There are truly no words to describe it and I am so glad we went.

Our day continued in Part 2 so stay tuned and enjoy today.

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2 comments:

Pat said...

Great pictures 😍 awesome 😎👍

Diane said...

Thank you!