The Lost Coast of California boasts one of the most unspoiled natural coastlines in the United States. This area, which covers Humboldt and Mendocino counties, including the King Range, is largely untouched by human intervention. In fact, it was depopulated in the 1930s because constructing a state highway or county roads there would have been too expensive due to the steepness and geotechnical challenges of the coastal mountains. Hence, it is named the “Lost Coast.” Nowadays, it is the most undeveloped and remote part of the California coast, offering stunning natural scenery.

Deep in this pristine wilderness, within the Shady Dell forest of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, stands a small but peculiar grove of impressively reiterated old-growth redwoods. These trees are shaped like candelabras, with numerous trunks that reach skyward like massive candle holders. Redwoods typically grow straight up, but the unique shape of these trees is the result of stressors such as strong winds and salty air, which caused them to sprout branches near the ground. As conditions improved, these branches grew straight up, transforming into secondary trunks.

The grove contains smaller redwood trees, but the larger ones are abundant and untouched by logging. It is believed that these twisted trees survived because they would not make good lumber. Locals refer to this medieval forest as the “Enchanted Forest,” which is significant for forest science. Director of Science, Emily Burns, PhD, explains that the gnarly branches and unique shapes of the trees provide essential habitats for wildlife, and their development holds valuable insights into how the environment shapes redwood forests. There is much to learn from these trees.

Credit: Redwood Hikes
Aside from the distinctive-looking coast redwoods that resemble candelabras, Shady Dell boasts a varied ecosystem that is home to various plants and animals like salmon, black bears, Roosevelt elk, and mountain lions. The area also boasts a unique type of flower known as “mycotrophs,” which rely on fungi rather than sunlight for sustenance.