Richardson Grove State Park

Story

Richardson Grove State Park is located at the southernmost border of Humboldt County, 75mi south of Eureka, California, United States, and 200mi north of San Francisco. The year-round park, which has approximately 2000acre, straddles US 101, causing the narrowest point of its entire distance. Said to have the 9th largest tree of all remaining Coast Redwoods, it is known for swimming on the South Fork of the Eel River and day use in addition to 159 campsites.The park is named after Friend Richardson, the 25th Governor of California between 1923 and 1927.Current issue: road widening for commerce vs. preservationThe first road through Richardson Grove, eventually to become US 101, was constructed in approximately 1915 and first surfaced, most likely with gravel and oil, in 1927. A proposed project to adjust the alignment of Route 101 both inside and outside park boundaries to accommodate industry standard-sized trucks in compliance with the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) has been in development by Cal Trans (Caltrans). STAA-compliant vehicles are currently prohibited north of Leggett, California on Route 101 through Richardson Grove State Park. The feasibility of constructing a four-lane bypass of Richardson Grove State Park was analyzed in 2001, but deemed infeasible.