Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is such a beautiful and peaceful place. We came for a little hike and had a great time exploring the trails and scenery. There are plenty of relaxing spots to stop, hang out, and take in the quiet nature around you. We even spotted some newts along the way, which was such a fun surprise. There was some construction happening during our visit, so it wasn't quite as peaceful as usual, but the workers were extremely friendly and respectful, which definitely made up for it. The trails are well-kept, the air feels so fresh, and the setting is perfect for anyone who loves nature, photos, or just getting away for a bit. Overall, a really lovely experience. Good time all around and we would absolutely come again :) read more

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Everything was beautiful especially the little creek you see once you go down a little.

This was a beautiful place. You drive along a windy steep road, through beautiful forest to get there. There's not a lot of parking, but it looks like there's a place across the street you can park. There are a couple picnic tables by the parking lot and a pit toilet. The trail is a bit steep at first, but it takes you up to this beautiful valley with huge trees with a creek going through it. It was very majestic. read more

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I've hiked a lot of places, but Montgomery Woods has this kind of ancient, mossy magic that hits different. The moment I stepped onto the trail, I felt like I had entered a secret redwood cathedral quiet, cool, and full of wild energy. These trees are seriously old. Like... older than most countries old. And they're still standing tall and majestic like Earth's original guardians. The hike itself is peaceful, not too strenuous, and full of little surprises twisty roots, spring flowers, and that filtered sunlight that makes everything look straight out of a fairy tale. I even spotted a banana slug just vibing in its own little world. Respect. I brought some water, took my time, and just soaked in the stillness. There's something deeply grounding about this place. It makes you want to whisper and walk slower. I didn't expect to get emotional in a forest, but here we are. If you're looking to reconnect with nature, slow your roll, and breathe some real-deal fresh air, Montgomery Woods delivers. Just don't rush it this place deserves your full attention. Five stars from me. Can't wait to come back and bring someone I care about. read more

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Beautiful hike. More rugged (at least in February) than we had anticipated. Some sections of the trail were washed out but we pressed on anyway. First 20 minutes or so is ultra steep. After that it levels out a bit. Trail follows a stream. We got turned around a bit and spent about 2 hours out on the loop. It is absolutely gorgeous out here. You feel completely removed from the world. Would recommend to anyone that wants to get so deep in nature you feel like you're in another world! read more

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Montgomery Woods is one of the most beautiful trails I've been to. The drive into the reserve is pretty windy with some sharp turns but once you're there, it's worth it! This place is truly calming and relaxing, and we went on a good day where we got plenty of sun. It's not a super long trail, maybe about an hour long. It's a bit of an incline when you first start out, and the trail gets easier after. I recommend you bring bug spray and sunscreen! Being out in the woods, we got bit by some big mosquitos. There isn't too many spaces to park since the lot is small and side parking is limited. read more

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Best you'll get in the area - as far as I've found so far. Small parking lot with a little overflow. Easy access. Good spot for wandering.

This place was awesome and even better not many people were here! There isn't much parking but it seems like you can park off the side of the road too. read more

Montgomery Woods State Reserve - Parks Near Me - Ukiah, California

I would have never guessed that such a desolate forest would be hidden amongst the backroads of Ukiah. But, boy was it striking! The road alone is quite an adventure all in itself. Montgomery Woods State Reserve is a beautiful state park located deep within Ukiah off of Orr Springs road and features numerous old growth redwood groves. There is one main hiking trail that runs throughout the forest, but it's so easy to meander on your own accord. The interception of the South Fork Big River and Montgomery Creek are also quite eye catching. The river runs parallel to Orr Springs road and flows throughout the Montgomery Woods. The drive from Ukiah's city center out to the reserve is not for the weak stomached. 13 miles of narrow windy roads will be the only obstacle that will separate you from this beauty. Be prepared to have both hands on the wheel as you descend down this road filled with twists and turns. You'll first pass by Orr Hot Springs Resort to your right. Shortly thereafter, you'll begin to see hundreds of beautiful Redwood trees lining the road before you. This will be the telltale sign indicating that you have arrived at your destination. The reserve is pretty much void of your typical big brown and green state and national park road signs. There's a small gate where the hiking trail begins, but I didn't see many signs around. There's also a restroom near the start of the trail, but I never saw it and probably passed it on the drive down. It was pretty deserted when I stopped by other than the few cars passing by on the road. There was tons of street parking available as this reserve doesn't have a dedicated parking lot. What was most intriguing were the amount of fallen Redwoods that were sprawled out throughout the trail. You could literally hop on top of them and just walk around aimlessly in pure enjoyment. The air was so fresh and the sounds of the river running through the forest was just so angelic. And those Redwoods! They were just simply amazing. At one point, this reserve once housed the tallest Redwood tree in the world! That was, of course, before the discovery of even taller trees located in Humboldt Redwoods and Redwood National and State Parks. Even still, the height of these old growth trees is truly amazing. Since I was short on time, I didn't get to complete the entire hiking trail. However, I do plan to return again to do so in the future. But even without the hiking trail, this is the perfect place to wander around and explore at your own pace. Get lost in the woods and become one with nature. This is definitely one of the most peaceful and far less traveled Redwood Parks that I've ever visited. I would highly recommend a visit if you're fascinated with old growth Redwoods. read more

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This is an absolute astonishing hike! I felt like I was hiking in a rain forest In some foreign country. Of course we came for the redwoods and were a little thrown off when we saw the parking lot. I guess I expected it to be big and packed but it was the complete opposite, which was actually a pleasant surprise. Besides my family of 5 there were only about 3 other cars. Be patient, It's about a 1 mile hike in before you start seeing all of the huge redwoods. The hike itself isn't tough, my little guy (8 years old) got through about 5 miles easily. There is so much to see. Keep an eye out for the cool newts. Don't touch them though, they are toxic. They're actually hard to see since they blend in with their habitat. What an amazing adventure! I can do this hike a million times and still see something new every time. read more

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Just a very beautiful place to talk a walk and give your brain a rest. It's just one of earths gem's.

This redwood reserve is free, so awesome. The biggest downside is that the reserve is kinda in the middle of nowhere. The drive from Ukiah and the coast is really pretty but regardless its a TREK. Driving from Ukiah the road is also very narrow and often you have to pull over and let other people going the other way over. There are also hidden sharp turns so just beware. Especially, with the heavy fog that can be in the area. There is also limited parking in the reserve. There is a nearby off turn where people park but even then it can be hard to find parking. At the front of the reserve is a deck with picnic table which is shaded by beautiful redwoods. There is a clear path that goes uphill towards a loop that isn't too strenuous. Along the path, there are down horizontal trees, perfect for pictures and picnic tables if needed. At the bottom of the path, there is a nice stream. There is also a giant redwood that was the tallest tree in the world from 2000-2006 when another redwood in CA was found to be taller. I would recommend bringing bug spray and water. It can get really hot especially the uphill portion. If you are driving by its a wonderful stop. read more

Even if you've been to old growth redwood groves before, Montgomery Woods will make you stop, stare, and take notice. Unlike some locations where redwood groves tend to congregate around a constant water source, like a creek or river, here the redwoods are thriving in a flat, sandy area deep in the forest where only intermittent water flows in winter, leaving just a few small pools that support newt and frog populations year-round. Because the flat tends to get uniformly wet during heavy rains, conifers that don't like to get their roots so damp cannot compete with the redwoods, so they pretty much rule the roost, alongside their typical fern friends who create a lovely understory of lush green even in late summer. There is only one marked loop trail in the reserve, although the flat itself invites you to wander, clambering onto fallen trunks for picture-taking and perhaps a yoga pose or two. In winter, rubber boots or sturdy waterproof hikers may be advisable (if the road here is even open), but in drier months simple sandals or light trail running shoes will do. Plan about an hour for the trail, and budget some extra time for aimless wandering. There is very little fire damage to many of the trees, whose trunks stretch hundreds of feet into the sky. The reserve isn't a camping area and so it remains very primitive in feel and look, with minimal signs and modestly maintained wooden walkways and bridges. There is no fee to visit, but the parking area can fill up, so be prepared to park on the side of the road and walk a few hundred feet to the trailhead if necessary. To find such a beautiful grove of coastal redwoods as far South as Mendocino County (as compared to Del Norte and Humboldt Counties) is a beautiful thing. It is pristine, pin drop quiet, and lush with enough light shining through during midday to render the trees elegant and cathedrallike in stature. It also makes the grove 10 degrees cooler (give or take) from nearby areas, so if it's 90 in Anderson Valley or at Orr Hot Springs, chances are it will be a pleasant 75 or so here. Not that those other places lack charm or distractions. It's just that if you are anywhere near to the Montgomery Grove, you really ought to carve out some time for wandering. read more

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What a gem in the middle of nowhere! Never a crowd, and the beauty of the place can't be described. We live nearby by, well at least on the same road. My son calls the Montgomery Groove his church. It's where he goes to think things out. When friends and family visit and as why we live so far away. We take them there and that questions just melts away with their O'my's!!! Just remember only day visitors, no dogs are allowed and pack whatever you take in out with you. read more

Montgomery Woods State Reserve - half the fun is getting there! The drive up 101 is nice, but turning off at Ukiah to Orr Springs Road is a special little drive back into the hinterlands of California. There was very little traffic on that road, so driving it was like taking a scenic drive as it meanders west through the hills to the park. What is good about this park is it's remote location, the exceptional trees and the easy walk through this creekbed of giants. The park is advertised to have old growth trees which made me think it had not been logged; but I saw plenty signs of logging activity done in the days when the loggers built platforms to take down the big trees. The ones that were spared the saw were the deformed trees with burn-outs in the trunks. These are the biggest and most magnificent trees. The reason these trees were spared is because of the danger in cutting a tree that is not symmetrical at the base. There are lots of songbirds that we heard, but could not see in the forest. Their songs were impressive. The big trees created acoustics that gave the melodies a magical quality. The trail sign shows a .6 miles in a loop to the Montgomery Grove, but what we experienced was a trail that went back considerably longer - and eventually petered out into rabbit trails that went over logs and up the creek. As can be seen from my Runkeeper stats, we could have gone on more, but the walking became difficult. We didn't want to climb under logs on our bellies and make 6 foot jumps from fallen trees to see how far we could go. You should bring some bug repellant and water as a minimum - and lunch would be a good idea too. There are no stores nearby to buy food. There are two picnic tables and one bathroom. read more

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Very beautiful! Easy hike but lots to see and enjoy. Last about an hour and a half. Beautiful big trees and stream. read more

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Redwoods are so beautiful. Our car was the only one in the small parking lot, so we had the woods to ourselves. The path is easy to follow, and it was appropriate for a two and five year old (i.e. I was able to carry the toddler without struggling up too many hills). We walked, stopped in awe, checking in with our senses: so quiet we could hear bugs, the smell of the trees, clean air, enormous redwoods hundreds of years old, peace. There are trees on their sides that make good spots for picnics and tables near the parking lot. Notes: The drive is worth it, but it is a long and remote drive with windy roads. Carry in, carry out! No dogs allowed. Bathroom is not included in this star rating. Plan accordingly. read more

Don't go during the month of July 2021! The only road from Ukiah is closed during the day except for a 30 minute period at noon. No indicator that the road is closed until you are about 5 miles from the park. read more

Awesome majestic trees! Short hike beautiful nature experience. Glad we brought bug sprays, and covered up. You'll need it walking through the woods. There is 1 toilet at the start of the parking area. Bring wet wipes, there is no sink to wash your hands. read more

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Pretty and off the beaten path. For me I'd consider it a a short hike and the first little bit is up hill. If it's been wet there are some parts that are hard to get to. Beautiful area though! Fun to explore the all the little areas. read more

This place is so beautiful I instantly developed 'tourettes syndrome' because of the amazing beauty. My wife told me to shut my pie hole but I could not. What would you say when standing next to several trees as tall as 36 stories? I thought of the f-word and the combo, m-f. This old growth is breath taking and mind altering. It's worth the drive to escape the metropolitan way of life, away from cell phones and computers. Be one with nature. Pack up a nice peanut butter sandwich and go for it After a brief little hiking climb you'll be ready easy loop trail that takes about an hour and half OR more assuming you are dumbfounded by trees taller then the Ms. Liberty herself. Its' a must stop between Mendocino and highway 101. I swear to goodness that I'll be stopping here or Hendy Woods every time I go to Mendocino - and I do often to visit my dad. If you stop at the fruit stand on 128, see the giant old growth off in a distance. Amazing! Location/Directions Located about 15 miles east of the town of Comptche, or it can also be reached by traveling 13 miles west from Ukiah past Orr's Mineral Hot Springs resort. read more

Montgomery Woods State Reserve - from wikipedia - Parks Near Me - Ukiah, California

This is one of my favorite places to view redwoods because of the quality of the never-been-logged redwoods and because it is fairly remote (i.e., not crowded so one can truly enjoy the experience.) I first visited this reserve about 5 or 6 years ago while visiting Mendocino. My husband had read about the size of the old-growth redwoods and that it was a good place to go (especially since I was originally from back east and he wanted to show me some better examples of redwoods than those that I had seen so far.) I can remember going back to Georgia and showing people all of my pictures. Many were highly impressed. Even though I moved to CA and have seen thousands of redwoods since that visit, I thoroughly enjoyed my recent visit back to Montgomery Woods on Memorial Day, 2010. Although it was a holiday, there still were not a lot of people. It was a bit wetter than I remembered from before and I was glad that I was prepared for the mosquitos. (We had gone in July before so I suspect that is why I do not remember it being so wet.) I read a posting at the reserve today that the state park system is planning on adding an information kiosk, better signage, and higher-quality bathrooms and picnic areas. While I know that this is probably needed, I hope that this does not become another Muir Woods. Anyway, I love this place and highly recommend that others visit. This is the real deal so please take care of it. Some informative sites: http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Montgomery/Montgomery.html http://www.mendocinofun.com/montgomery/ read more

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We couldn't have wished for a prettier day. And being Father's Day, John got to choose what he wanted to do today. I'm so glad he didn't opt to wash cars! One of his favorite things. A hike in Montgomery Woods was his idea & I loved it. We still have so much to explore in this area. What a treat! I even elected to make a picnic lunch, so with with tuna sandwiches & nectarines packed, no sweatshirts needed, we heading a couple miles north of us to Orr springs road, a very windy, country 2 lane [but paved!] . It's about 15 miles away and was a great drive through those mysterious large hills to the west of us-- we just never new what was over in that direction. The entry to the Woods isn't marked, no sign, zip. We drove by of course, then realized the dirt parking area on the left of the road was it. Back we go. The lot had just a few cars at 1130am... grabbed the back pack & hat and off we went. It's true what's been written... the 1st part is all uphill for just a while... with my wonkie knees even, it wasn't so bad. And well worth it. Once you get into the flat Redwood forest area, it is cool, green and lush. When you do break out into the sun, it had that wonderful warm, piney smell I love so much. The path takes a nice loop around several big groves. It's a couple miles of easy going hiking. I especially loved the areas along the small creek. There were some wooden bridges, a few cut out redwood logs as steps, and some wonderful wooden walkways [ like around Jewel lake in Tilden Park in Berkeley]. John's a real hiker/ walker and I'm not so much, but it was pleasant for both of us. We did work up an appetite for lunch and back towards the entry are a few scattered picnic tables. So the food & rest felt good, but the pesky mosquitos finally got to us. Now we're eager to explore somemore... I'd love to head towards Benbow. Maybe stay in the Inn rather than camp, which I did last 20 yrs ago up there. read more

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Such a magical place! I've been to Ukiah many times and just now found out about this place. A local told me about Montgomery Woods and I'm so happy to know this place exists. When turning onto Orr Springs from N. State street it'll be a 30 minute drive. I don't get car sick, but can imagine some can on this winding road. The drive there felt like forever, but coming back was fast. When I arrived I was disappointed to see a "No dogs" sign. I wasn't about to turn back around and go home. As I was getting ready to begin my adventure I seen numerous people with their dogs, so don't worry about the sign. Great place to relax and get away from the heat. Redwoods everywhere. Nature at it's finest. I would recommend spending a couple hours here and bringing a packed lunch. Can't wait to come back :) read more

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Beautiful, well demarcated shaded and easy 2-3 mi hike around gorgeous redwoods, ferns and clover beds. Parking is a bit tight and my kid got carsick driving the windy road to get here. But once we arrived she was fine. Bathrooms at the foot of the trail. Relatively flat after initial uphill - easy enough for me to do carrying my kid on my back. read more

Montgomery Woods State Reserve - Redwoods! - Parks Near Me - Ukiah, California

Went hiking here in August with our nephew. Not only was the area very clean, the other people on the trail were really respectful of masks and distancing. We are looking forward to hiking here again!! read more

I have no words that can explain this hiking trail experience other than WOW! Awesome vibe! I felt like I was In a dream. It's worth the trip. read more

Montgomery Woods State Reserve - I brought my iPhone to take photos of the area.What I should've brought was a better camera to get better Pixelating quality. - Parks Near Me - Ukiah, California

It was just as beautiful as the pictures make it look. It is a nice hick and wonderful opertunities for pictures. Once you get to the end of the trail you come upon this massive flat area full of tree which really just makes you feel like your in another world. I loved the park, but I probably won't ever go back because of the drive. I do think it is one thing that you should do atleast once. read more

Montgomery Woods State Reserve - Me and my friends on our trip to the Reserve - Parks Near Me - Ukiah, California

This is a beautiful place, but not really a "hike". It's more like a nice little walk. Montgomery Woods is an absolute gem and a gorgeous place to see giant redwoods. It is however, actually a pretty tiny park, as parks go. If you are yearning to spend the day hiking in the woods, this isn't the place. There's really only one, albeit beautiful, trail. It also says no dogs, which seems dumb. (People bring dogs anyway, thank goodness). But all the no dog signs are a bummer. read more

The redwood grove itself is impressive. I'm not sure how big it is because we didn't really spend a lot of time there. We kept thinking about the mountain lions we'd seen a couple of days before. It's a .3 mile hike, pretty much all uphill, from the little parking lot to the monster trees (300+ feet tall) in the grove. I had also read the review from a yelper who got lymes disease from a tick and as I was walking, I tried to remember whether that happened at this very place. So between the threat of ticks and the threat of mountain lions, this Midwesterner didn't enjoy his stay as much as, say the local couple who we met walking in shorts with their dog. Side note: There was an old hippie in the parking lot complaining about that couple having a dog as it was against the rules. Personally, I just didn't want the dog to get eaten. On the other hand, if you can provide the lion with a dog treat (pun intended), your safety will probably be secured. read more

A hidden treasure away from the madness and crowd. This place is a real treat for nature lovers. The trees are so tall that you can't even see the tip of the trees. The best thing, nature in its purest form, and an undiscovered beauty. You would not find many people here, maybe just a handful of them! Highly recommended! The drive up to the reserve is full of turns and twists, be careful of that. Took 1 star away because the restroom was full of filth. read more

The place is magical! 1 star less because of the gazillion bugs that welcomed us. Note to self: Apply bug repellant lotion/spray when going in the woods. read more

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This is one of my favorite spots in Northern California - the area is chock full of redwoods and it's just peaceful and beautiful. There are many fairly easy/short trails and you can bring a blanket to throw down for a picnic and spend all afternoon just gazing up at the amazing trees. Highly recommended - even for a quick walk! read more

I used to go out here a lot in high school. It's peaceful and tourists still don't really know it exists. The tree tops touch the sky and block out the sun in many places. It could be 100 degress out in Ukiah, but is much much cooler here and it isn't very far away. It is pretty hidden and worth the drive to find. There are ferns everywhere and I used to find banana slugs and other interesteing bugs and such. It's one of my favorite quiet places. read more

we drove and drove to find the tallest tree ever. We were unsuccessful. When we arrived at a work in progress, we were advised that the tallest tree ever was hit by lightening and the top fell off. A construction crew had made a deck out of it (pointed to newly constructed, red-painted deck). err, ah, hmm. yeah , uh oK, thanks. uhn, huh. We could go and look at the grove. Being a bit queasy from the twisty road, we scuttled back into the car. Highlight of the trip: a group of teenagers in a jeep passed us on the single lane road, They flipped us the finger for a good 3 minutes as we stared at them with our mouths agape the whole time. It took 48 hours before we were able to laugh about it, but heck its pretty funny, that teenager smiling, looking at us from the back of a jeep flipping us the bird for three minutes. Heck, I'm laughing now. read more

My wife took me here on my last birthday, and I have to say, it's just as awesome as I remember 10 years ago when we were just high schoolers looking for a place to be alone. There are some parts with obvious fire damage, but it's still very beautiful and quiet. I'll have to come back again some day If you are looking for a place to romance your sweetie and exercise your dog (on leash), it's not a bad spot! read more

Some of the largest redwoods on Earth, and barely any other humans to spoil the experience. Incredibly easy hike, more of a stroll, and the awe will start almost immediately. There is so much privacy we stumbled upon some people fucking in the creek. Probably not a regular occurrence, but a worthwhile consideration if you have some time. read more

This is a long drive from the Bay Area but still well worth the trip. I loved the beauty of the forest, and the moss and clover covered forest floor made this a great place to hike for a couple hours. My favorite locations were the wood covered walkway and the bridge in the middle. As others mentioned, the mosquitos are prevalent so come prepared or be eaten! I was glad that no-one in our car was prone to motion sickness because the 7 mile curvy road would be miserable! There is a restroom in the parking area however it was disgusting and I would only recommend using it if you can't wait. Also, the trash cans were overflowing. Since this is a state park, I wish it would have been more adequately maintained. read more

Well maintained, uncrowded, this is a reverential and blissful way to get close to the tallest beings in the universe. The long winding drive from Mendocino left me car sick on the way back, but that's my own failing. If you like gorgeous drives, then this should be a wonderful excursion. read more

Gorgeous, absolutely beautiful! Would have loved a little more signage indicating how long the trail was and at what point we were at. It was hard to tell how much longer the hike would go. For my fellow Yelpers FYI it look us about 1 1/2 hours to do the loop but we took our time and took a bunch of photos. Sure wish the trees were so burnt at the base but still gorgeous! read more