On a recent trip to Sonoma County, I made the trip to Guerneville, Calif., to visit Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve. While admittedly not the most outdoorsy person, I do enjoy a good hike and experience with nature from time to time. I had never seen the redwoods before, so I looked forward to my visit.

The reserve sits on more than 800 acres and is home to many majestic surroundings. We arrived in the late afternoon. We made our way to the visitor’s center for advice on navigating the many trails. We decided to take a loop with a view of a waterfall. When we entered the reserve, the temperature dropped quite a bit due to the shade from the trees. The shade also prevents many plants from growing, which would provide shelter and food for animals, thus there are few animals in the park. The lack of animals makes for a quiet experience.

Near the entrance is Parson Jones Tree, the tallest tree in the reserve, measuring more than 310 feet high. We also stopped to look at a trunk which historians marked with important moments from history. The oldest tree in the reserve, Colonel Armstrong Tree, is estimated to be more than 1,400 years old.

The reserve is a quick drive from popular towns in Sonoma County and perfect for a change of scenery. The hours are 8 a.m. until one hour after official sunset. Entrance costs $8 per vehicle. Pedestrians and bicyclists enter for free.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director