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Grove of Old Trees

Our 48-acre sanctuary is a hidden gem in the hills west of Occidental. The Grove is a healthy, old-growth stand of Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

Enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the trees on easy trails, some suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Footsteps are muffled by trails of soft bed of needles and wood chips, and voices are stilled in the presence of the forest’s majestic, awe-inspiring beauty.

Grove of Old Trees is the only privately owned preserve in Sonoma County that is publicly accessible and free to all.

Covid-19 safety procedures and protocols: The Grove is currently open to the public. You must wear a mask at all times in the Grove when passing or interacting with someone who is not in your household. Please practice at least six-feet of social distancing with non-household members. No professional group photography shoots, no group events, or professional dog-walking allowed. Thank you for joining in the collective spirit of public health safety for all!

Find Grove of Old Trees:
17599 Fitzpatrick Ln, Occidental, CA 95465

How to Get Involved

You are warmly invited to join LandPaths at Grove of Old Trees.

• Explore the Grove on your own. Open to the public for walking and picnicking 7 days a week, year-round, dawn to dusk. Free w/ parking adjacent to the preserve.
• Participate in a stewardship workday where you’ll help clear and maintain trails, remove invasive species, and other tasks.
• Attend the yearly Friends of the Grove potluck.

History

The Grove of Old Trees is located on the original homeland of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok people. For years, the Grove of Old Trees was owned by two families, the Colemans and the Van Alstynes. The families operated sawmills in the area, but reserved the redwoods in the Grove as a family gathering place.

Unfortunately, in the 1990s the grand redwoods were slated to be cut down as part of a Timber Harvest Plan. You can actually see blue stripes painted on certain trees that were in line to be harvested.

A group of county residents known as Friends of the Grove launched the long campaign to protect the remnant stands of redwoods. Thanks to the tireless work of neighbors and environmental activists, the blue stripes are a reminder of a fate averted.

LandPaths former board member Caryl Hart was also instrumental in the final successful push to save the Grove of Old Trees.

In 2000, LandPaths purchased Grove of Old Trees with the assistance of Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, Save The Redwoods League, California Coastal Conservancy, and private individuals. Today, Sonoma Ag + Open Space holds a Forever Wild conservation easement on the property, which mandates a zero take of the trees.

The property will stand forever as a publicly accessible forest preserve, a place for research, respite, and environmental education. We cherish this living remnant of the redwood forests that once covered much of the Northern California coast.