Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo

On my recent trip to Eureka, Ca., I got a chance to visit the new attraction at the Sequoia Park Zoo: The Redwood Sky Walk with Kay and our new trail buddy Nancy. I am more than a little amped about this.

When I went to the zoo in 2018 they  had just announced the plans for the Sky Walk.  I had many strong but conflicting feelings about it.  Would it be glitter and glam? Would the trees suffer? Would it be accessible for me, or worse be so overly accessible that it was ridiculous?

I am pleased to find that this new feature is going to take this small town, pleasant zoo, and make it a world class exhibit. And I am going to encourage all to make the stop as they do the Highway 101 trek north. And don’t give me that “It’s too steep for me” or “I’m afraid of heights.”  No matter what  you think your limitations are, I hope you will give this a try. 

There is a web site that you may or may not want to visit first. It has info on the zoo, but the SkyWalk part it is still developing.  Mostly it is thanking donors and links to local lodging. Better info can be had at this article. 

The ramps are at a gentle slope, not challenging at all.  Most of the walkway is suitable for wheelchairs. (The few exceptions are clearly marked.)  Even if you just go to the first bridge and turn back, it will be worth the effort. The whole walk is only a quarter mile, leaving you energy to walk the trails of Sequoia park or visit the rest of the zoo.

The bridges do swing a bit. But there are comfortable hand holds along the whole way. Sometimes there are exuberant children that like to bounce the bridge, but the parents here seem to be conscious of having the kids wait. The staff here are champs at encouraging good behavior.

Great care has been given to engineering the Sky Walk without damaging the trees. It involves engineering, tree sense, and knowing which materials will not react badly with the living tree. Look at how they used extra long bolts, planing ahead for decades of growth. Sometimes you go to things like this and the trees are obviously stressed.  Here it is a visit to a world that we could not otherwise see.

Walking up in the trees is magical. A whole different world.

Look at how the platforms circle the trees.  They needed to be close enough to keep things safe for the inevitable stupid kid that must challenge every dangerous possibility.  But at the same time, the trees need room to grow. A tight collar around a tree can damage the cambium layer, the part just under the bark that moves water and  nutrients up and down the trunk of the tree.

The opening of the SkyWalk was delayed due to some freak winds that hit right at opening day.  I think this may actually have been to their benefit, giving them a few more days to deal with details.  And now the completed Sky Walk has been stress tested!

The SkyWalk is still in development. The signage is still being added, and this floor tile is under construction. 

Views from up here of the extensive trail system in Sequoia park and the picnic area.  I promise that my next trip up here will give you walking info in the park. For an urban park, it has some fantastic redwood trails.

When you  are ready for lunch, exit the zoo, turn right and walk over to the picnic area. Or try the Ecos Cafe. Do not be dissuaded by the standard looking, public venue menu. I have never had a hamburger like this at a zoo.  And don’t miss the hand cut chips and sweet potato fries.