VIEW FROM THE TREETOPS: Redwood Sky Walk, Eureka, California

Redwood Sky Walk, Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka, CA

On my visit to Humboldt County in October for the children’s author festival I had the opportunity, along with the other festival authors, for a guided tour of the new sky walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo.  The Redwood Sky Walk in Eureka is the highest skywalk among redwood trees in the world and the longest sky walk in the Western U.S. Just under a quarter mile to the end and back, the Redwood Sky Walk is 100 feet above ground within the city of Eureka's treasured Sequoia Park and Sequoia Park Zoo.

Before I got there I was worried about climbing steps to the walkway but discovered that there are no steps at all! One ascends from ground level on a very long ramp, so gradual that it hardly seemed like we were going uphill.

At the end of the ramp we reached the first tree platform. From there suspended wooden bridges connected a series of further platforms securely attached to sturdy tree trunks. Below us the ground sloped away, increasing our distance from the earth. 

And yet, even though we were high above the ground, the tops of the trees still towered above. A redwood can grow up to 400 feet tall!

The Sky Walk begins at the launch deck and is basically a circle made of two parts: the first part, made of solid wooden bridges (that don’t move when you walk along them and are accessible by wheelchair), ends at a large platform called the accessibility turnaround. At that point you can retrace your steps; or, you can continue around the circle via hanging (wiggly) bridges. 

With a little trepidation, I followed the group across the hanging bridges, clutching the handrails as I moved forward.  After crossing the first one, I felt more confident on the rest.

The thrill of doing the Sky Walk is the view—up at the tree canopy, across to other platforms, down at the ground. Far below we could see people walking and biking along the trails through the forest. Every platform also featured informative signs—about forest wildlife, the history of the park and the redwoods, the life cycle of the trees, the ecosystem of the forest and more. We learned from our guide, the zoo director, that he climbs the trees periodically to check the security of all the cables and make sure everything is safe.

Besides the Sky Walk, the Sequoia Park Zoo also has plenty of other things to see and do. We arrived just as it was time to feed the river otters and we watched them somersault and cavort in the water as they dove after fish. At the end of our visit, after the Sky Walk, we stopped briefly to see the red panda and some of the other animals. Altogether, it was a great day at the zoo!

For information and tickets for the Sequoia Park Zoo and the Redwood Sky Walk go to the zoo website.

EUREKA, CALIFORNIA: The Heart of Humboldt County

Bald Eagle at the Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka, CA. 

Every two years in October, I go to Eureka, California, in Humboldt County, for a children's book author festival. While my focus is work, there is also time to enjoy the beautiful northern California coast, the surrounding hills and forests, and to explore the shops, parks and restaurants of historic Eureka.

Coast near Trinidad, CA, north of Eureka in Humboldt County

Eureka is Humboldt's county seat and has a population of about 27,000. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it was a booming port city, transporting lumber from the surrounding forests all over the world. Many of the downtown buildings date from that time. A number of them are covered with colorful murals painted more recently.

Mural on building in historic downtown Eureka

During my visit I stayed at the historic Eureka Inn, originally built in 1922. (The rooms have recently been renovated.) The walls of the spacious lobby are lined with portraits of some of its famous visitors through the years such as Sir Winston Churchill and past president Ronald Reagan making one feel a part of history. The hotel is a short walk from downtown Eureka, which is filled with restaurants, craft shops, a bookstore, an art and historical museum and more. One of my favorite restaurants is the Waterfront Cafe, featuring fresh seafood caught locally, across the street from the boardwalk by the water.

Boardwalk in Eureka

From the boardwalk one can view the boats moored in Woodley Marina, which include both fishing and pleasure boats as well as commercial vessels.

Woodley Marina, Eureka

Not far from the center of town, in a beautiful redwood grove, is The Sequoia Park Zoo. It has a small but interesting and varied collection of animals, including a rescued bald eagle, red pandas, orangutans, musk oxen, ostriches and much more.

Red Panda, Sequoia Park Zoo

Arcata, California, just north of Eureka, is home to Humboldt State University and a variety of businesses including  Fire and Light Handmade Glass, a company that makes colorful glassware from recycled bottles. I came home with one of their beautiful glass redwood trees, now propped in a window to let the light shine through and remind me of my trip.

I always enjoy my visit to Eureka, discovering something new each time!

Tree from Fire and Light Handmade Glass