For a lover of redwood trees, Hendy Woods State Park is a paradise. Located roughly three hours north of San Francisco, in Anderson Valley, it provides various outdoor recreation options. It is also known for the Hendy Hermit, a Russian immigrant who lived in the park for 18 years.
Azalea and Wildcat Campgrounds provide almost 100 sites, including accessible sites and sites for hiker/bikers. The bathrooms have coin-operated showers, and each site has a picnic table, fire ring and food storage box.
The main attraction are the redwoods, with various trail options taking the visitor through groves at Big Hendy Grove and Little Hendy Grove. A day-use area provides picnic areas adjacent to the Navarro River. The huts built by the Hendy Hermit can also be accessed by trail.
Azalea Campground
Azalea is one of two campground loops (Wildcat being the other). I reserved site 39, located along the road bisecting the loop. It backs in towards a wooded area, which means no direct neighbors behind you. It is only a short walk away from the bathrooms (and coin-operated showers) (campground map).
Reservations can be made via ReserveCalifornia.
Supplies
Firewood can be purchased from the camp host whose campsite is right at the entrance of the Azalea Campground loop.
Other Facilities
An area with a dump station and fresh water spigot are located in a small pullout next to the approach road to both campgrounds.
Hiking routes by AllTrails
Other Trail Resources
Hendy Hermit
- The legend of the Hendy Woods Hermit | Bartell’s Backroads (ABC10)
- Petrov: The man who lived in the woods of Mendocino County (The Ukiah Daily Journal)