Editor’s Note: This is a part of Marin County Supervisor Mary Sackett’s newsletter:
Dear Neighbors,
As Chair of the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA), I had the extraordinary opportunity to join a diverse and dedicated team for five days in the Eel River Canyon – the most remote and challenging stretch of the Great Redwood Trail to restore.
Our group included GRTA and State Coastal Conservancy staff, a Wailaki tribal representative, a railroad historian, a bridge and tunnel engineer, trail builders, state and federal land stewards, and even Don Beers, the renowned author on trail and road design for California State Parks. Together, we hiked over railroad bridges, explored collapsed tunnels, and camped beside the Eel River.
Around the campfire, we shared powerful conversations about restoring salmon habitat, preserving cultural resources and native plants, and creating meaningful economic opportunities for the Wailaki people and the communities of Alder Point and Dos Rios. The experience, from kayaking Class IV rapids to witnessing the resilience of the landscape, deepened my understanding of both the challenges and the promise this restoration project holds.
The vision for the Great Redwood Trail is bold: a 307-mile continuous pathway connecting Humboldt Bay to San Francisco Bay, linking people, communities, and cultures, and offering a world-class experience for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers. Closer to home, you can now see the Great Redwood Trail signs appearing along the SMART pathways right here in Marin County.
[…] Story continues […]