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Natural Monuments

Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail

Natural Monuments

Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail

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Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail

Name: Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail
Rating: 2

Recommended by 1 hikers

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Location: Mendocino County, California, United States

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Best Hiking Routes to Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail

5.0

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1. Fern Canyon loop via Old Logging Road Trail — Van Damme State Park

6.01km

01:41

120m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail — Van Damme State Park

421m

00:06

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

Alexandra Pavia

September 22, 2023

Explore the Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail, a short 300-yard loop boardwalk at Van Damme's eastern end, just two miles inland from Highway One. Over the course of 300,000 years, the forces of nature, including poor acidic soil and hardpan, have created a miniature wonderland resembling a bonsai forest.

As you stroll along the boardwalk, you'll encounter interpretive panels that reveal the fascinating story behind these diminutive trees. Here, you'll find Bollander pine (exclusive to the pygmy forest), bishop pine, dwarf manzanita, and Mendocino cypress. Trees that would typically grow over 100 feet tall elsewhere are only a few feet tall here, with trunks as thin as a quarter-inch.

The boardwalk hovers just above the forest floor to protect the nutrient-rich lichen. In some spots, you'll be eye-level with these ancient, tiny treetops. Don't miss the chance to explore this living testament to nature's forces!

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Details

Informations

Distance 196 m

Uphill 0 m

Weather

Today

Wednesday 5 November

17°C

11°C

70 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 26.0 km/h

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Mendocino County, California, United States

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Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail

1. Fern Canyon loop via Old Logging Road Trail — Van Damme State Park

2. Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail — Van Damme State Park

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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