Site selection for new Redwood Hostel moves forward

It's been two years since we said goodbye to the Redwood Hostel, and we're excited to announce that the dream of a new hostel in Redwood National and State Parks remains alive and strong. Four potential new hostel locations have now been identified, thanks to a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy.

Redwood National and State Parks have been assessing potential sites since the former hostel closed due to structural deterioration in 2010. On December 5, the park held a public forum to solicit input on potential locations for a new hostel. The potential locations include three along Enderts Beach Road, south of Crescent City in Redwood National Park, and one off of Hamilton Road in the Mill Creek Watershed in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park.

The new locations were identified based on the following criteria:
* Enable access to park resources and recreation opportunities.
* Enable access to the California Coastal Trail.
* Provide low-cost accommodations while protecting significant cultural and natural resources.
* Provide coastal views and access to the coast.
* Promote sustainability by offering easy access for visitors using non-motorized transportation.
* Enable access to commercial visitor services such as food and fuel.

The public forum, which took place as an open house in Crescent City, allowed for further discussion, questions, and recommendations around the four locations. Redwood National and State Parks will now move forward on environmental and cultural impact studies. The studies, as well as public input, are expected to culminate with a final site selection and hostel plan in the summer of 2013.

Though there's still a long way to go before this dream becomes a reality, we think this news calls for celebration! Join us in supporting the creation of a new Redwood Hostel; for more information on the sites identified, and to submit your support, email Supervisory Environmental Specialist Aida Parkinson at aida_parkinson@nps.gov or via mail at PO Box 7, Orick, CA 95555.