Tea Grove Women’s Federation, known as the Women’s Forest by locals living in the area, was founded in the early 1930s by members of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. Located on the banks of the South Fork of the Eel River, it is literally in the center of the Redwood Empire. It is less than a mile south of the world-famous Founder’s Tree on the old 101 Freeway, now called Avenue of the Giants, and about six miles north of the picturesque town of Myers Flat, where the author lived as a child.
The entrance to the park is at a sharp bend in the road and is easy to miss. Traveling south on the Avenue of the Giants, the entrance to the grove is approximately one mile south of the Founder’s Tree. It will be the first detour to the right after passing under the main road. The road to the Woman’s Grove, which is about 1/8 mile long, is extremely narrow and not ideal for large trucks. If you have a large RV, it would be wise to send someone up ahead to make sure the single lane road is clear before entering the grove.
Once there, you will find that the Women’s Grove is one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth, it is difficult to describe the tranquility of the place.
In addition to its magnificent redwoods, the grove has two main characteristics. The grove’s picnic tables have been made from giant redwood logs 30 to 40 feet long. These solid wood tables are unique to Women’s Grove and you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in Humboldt County.
The second feature is even more exclusive. In 1933, world-famous Bay Area architect Julia Morgan of Hearst Castle fame designed a four-sided covered outdoor fireplace for the grove. This magnificent structure survives today much like it was when it was first built, although its redwood plank roof has been replaced several times over the past 80 years. The fireplaces are still functional but to use them in one of them you will have to bring your own firewood, since the collection of firewood is not allowed in the grove.
In the past, when the state of California could afford it, a summer pedestrian bridge was installed each year to allow visitors to cross the eel and visit the Rockefeller Redwood Forest, which is located just across the river. Today you will have to wade across the river to do it. Unless you are extremely fit and adventurous, it is probably best to drive the short distance to the Rockefeller grove of redwoods if you want to visit them.
A short trail on the north side of the grove leads to a nice swimming hole in the River Eel. The suitability of this place for swimming varies from year to year depending on factors such as rainfall. As a general rule, The Eel is a good river to swim in during the early summer months, in late summer and fall it is less suitable for swimming due to moss, especially in dry years.
The Woman’s Grove is a very special place! You don’t want to just walk in, look around for a few minutes, and head out to see another grove of redwoods. No, there are two great picnic areas in Northern California – this is one of them! So, come prepared to spend the day. Bring a picnic basket and a bottle or two of good wine and plan to spend the day, also the night if the weather is warm.
If possible, plan the visit on one day of the week. Few tourists know the Women’s Grove, but the locals do; therefore, the grove will be at its busiest on weekends when people from Eureka and Fortuna come to the grove to escape the foggy summers in northern Humboldt County.
PS, I’m going to tell you about Northern California’s second great picnic area in an upcoming article. Until then!
