Return to Big Hendy at Hendy Woods State Park

On our recent camping trip to Hendy Woods State Park, my family and I wrapped up our trip by taking a short 0.6-mile walk through the small grove of the impressive old-growth redwoods called Big Hendy. This was a return visit for me, and a first for both my husband and my daughter. 

The last time I went to this grove I was with my mom on our mother-daughter art expedition across northwest California. It was really cool to come back here with my daughter after having been here first with my mom.

​When my mom and I went last time, we wandered through the forest in the afternoon, getting lost in the various loops (see here for a write up of Upper Loop). My lighting wasn't great then because I was fighting against the angle of the sun. On this trip, we stuck to the shorter loop for my young daughter, but I had better light in the early morning light. We were the first ones there at 9:00 am, and we saw deer both at the river and in the redwoods. It was such a delight!

I hope to come camping here again with my family as my daughter gets older. I look forward to taking her deeper into this grove and spending a little more time exploring the Navarro River. Interestingly, the river was quite full when I came here in early June of 2016, but it was almost empty in early August in 2020. It definitely looks fun to have a day on the river, floating down in an inner tube or just lounging along the shore. Although there is so much to do in the Anderson Valley, it is also a pleasure to stay in the park itself!