Redwood: Geotechnical Drilling This Fall Near the DeMartin Trail

If you're planning to hike or camp around DeMartin, in Redwood National and State Parks, here's something practical worth knowing. CalTrans, the agency that manages California's highways, is currently running geotechnical drilling in the area. These subsurface surveys are part of a larger effort to lay out a new highway route that's more stable and safer than the current one. The work is scheduled for this fall and winter.

So what does that look like on the ground? Expect heavy equipment you can't miss, the drone of machinery, and the distinctive noise of the drills. One thing worth flagging is that these operations can run nonstop, including at night, 24 hours a day at times. Better to know before you pitch your tent, because the deep quiet of the redwood forest may get broken off and on.

The good news is that the park and CalTrans have coordinated to keep the disruption down. The DeMartin Trail and its campground stay open and accessible for the whole length of the project. So you can go ahead with your visit, as long as you're okay sharing the area with the work for a while.

One last suggestion. If you're mainly after silence and immersion, keep this area in mind and check on the drilling progress before you head out. To plan the rest of your trip and scout the other corners of the park that are spared the noise, lean on the Redwood park guide. And if you're thinking about linking several parks along the coast, take a look at our road trip itinerary that runs through this park. It'll help you line up your stops around your priorities. For now, DeMartin is still a solid gateway to the redwoods, drilling or not.