IN THE REDWOODS by María Ayllón
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IN THE REDWOODS

Days at El Nido Norte

María Ayllón
Por María Ayllón

hiking in a REDWOOD FOREST

Typical redwoods forests usually include redwoods, bay trees, maples, tan bark oak, and hazelnut trees. In fall, maples change colors before they drop their leaves, which fall waltzing in the air.
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story

Big basin

Big Basin is California‘s oldest State Park, established in 1902 and home to some of the oldest, first generation redwood trees in the area.

Whenever we visit, we think of Percy, Lillian, Tom, and Dick camping in those same forests almost 100 years ago.

A photo in this story
A photo in this story

Pogonip

Our favorite hiking spot! It consists of a mix of forested areas and meadows

Here is where Santa Cruz’s first golf course was established, and it is odd seeing a couple of tall palm trees guarding the entrance to the old country club building.

Pogonip means ‘icy fog‘ in Shoshone.

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A photo in this story

EL NIDO NORTE, the forest

Tress everywhere. Someone one day remarked on the “number of trees we owned”. The way we see it, we are only the trees guardians. Humbled by their beauty and longevity.

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A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story

Some of the mixed forest around the house

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts

Maple trees

Maple trees

Maple leaves changing colors

Maple leaves changing colors

Ferns by the window

Ferns by the window

Banana slugs. The love the back of our house...

Banana slugs. The love the back of our house...

EL NIDO NORTE, THE CABIN and its habitants

We still can’t believe we did this! We feel so fortunate.
Observing El Nido. We still can't believe we did it!!

Observing El Nido. We still can't believe we did it!!

Choosing colors

Choosing colors

Staining the railing

Staining the railing

View from a window on the second floor

View from a window on the second floor

the neighborhood

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A photo in this story
A photo in this story

© 2025 María Ayllón

Observer, writer, photographer, Maria has been taking pictures since the 2000s. She lives in a redwood forest in California with her husband and their cats.
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