Redwoods Restoration

Preserving a redwood forest and improving visitor access.

UPDATED: NOVEMBER 23, 2024

Loop and Boardwalk Trails Open

Work has been completed on the new Loop Trail and Boardwalk Trail. This area of Roy's Redwoods is now open to the public. Review the updated preserve map for more details. Monitoring of native plant restoration in the redwood understory will continue for years to come.

UPDATED: AUGUST 1, 2024

Trail Closures for Construction

Construction work resumed on July 1, 2024 on the Roy’s Redwoods Restoration Project. The entire Meadow Trail, and north of Loop Trail, is closed 24/7 while work is taking place. Adjacent areas, including social trails, will also be closed. Heavy equipment is in the area. For your safety, respect all closure signs.

UPDATED: JULY 1, 2023

Restoration Work Begins

The east end of Meadow Trail, and adjacent areas, including social trails, will be closed in Roy's Redwoods 24/7 during the first phase of construction, which will be taking place through fall 2023. The Fairy Tree will be accessible Friday to Sunday via the west end of Meadow Trail. Visitors should proceed with caution, respect closure signs, and be aware of heavy equipment in the area.

UPDATED: JUNE 13, 2023

Approved by Open Space District Board

On June 13, 2023, the Marin Open Space District Board approved moving forward with the Roy's Redwoods Restoration. Work will begin in August 2023 and continue until rainy season arrives in fall. Parks staff will begin to re-align trails outside the forest floodplain, decompact soils, and decommission undesignated trails. They will also begin carefully replanting sword ferns, the graceful, evergreen fronds that thrive in shady redwood habitat.

Work will resume in August of 2024. The goal is to complete construction and re-open the area to visitors in fall of that year. During this second phase of work, a large part of the preserve will be closed to the public. After the trails are open, planting and stewardship of the forest will continue for many years.

UPDATED: JUNE 2, 2023

Environmental Review Public Comment Period

The environmental review public comment period for the Roy's Redwoods restoration project took place February 6, 8:30 a.m. to March 10, 2023, 5:00 p.m.

The Marin County Open Space District will present the environmental document for certification by its Board of Directors at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 13, 2023. Should the Board of Directors certify the environmental document, it would consider approval of the proposed project at the same meeting.

The responses to comments document is available to review in advance of the Board of Directors meeting. See the Environmental Review tab for the link.

UPDATED: MARCH 31, 2020

Final Schematic Design

RDG Planning & Design provided the final schematic design for the Roy's Redwoods restoration project. The next step is environmental review, expected to begin in February 2023.

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

Restoration Concepts

Community members met the design team and provided feedback on the initial concepts for Roy's Redwoods restoration.

The open community meeting took place at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. As a member of the One Tam collaborative, Marin County Parks is exploring concepts that will:

  • Restore the hydrologic function of the alluvial valley;
  • Improve redwood forest and wetland habitats;
  • Guide visitors through an immersive and accessible experience of the redwoods.

Project Description

In the heart of San Geronimo Valley, Roy's Redwoods Preserve has a vital old-growth redwood forest habitat and offers visitors a unique immersive experience of these incredible trees. To better understand what makes Roy’s Redwoods special to the community, and the environmental challenges facing the preserve, Marin County Parks partnered with One Tam to complete a comprehensive analysis of the site. This included:

  • Talking with San Geronimo Valley community members
  • Gathering expert knowledge of the site’s history and ecosystem
  • A hydrologic assessment
  • Vegetation and wildlife assessments
  • Thorough review of existing literature and data on the site
  • Citizen science events to document the biodiversity of the preserve