California Tribe Objects to Great Redwood Trail, Citing Ancestral Graves

Members of Northern California’s Wailaki tribe are raising strong objections to the Great Redwood Trail, a 307-mile nature trail planned to extend from the San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay. The tribe contends that the trail's route will permit tourists to walk directly over the graves of their ancestors.

The Great Redwood Trail project, which is currently 40% complete, was granted an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This exemption means public agencies were not required to notify or consult with native tribes regarding projects that could impact them, a decision that has further intensified the local tribe's opposition.

Wailaki tribe member Perry Lincoln stated that when locals first learned of the trail plans, which were already well underway, they felt blindsided. "You’re just kind of shoving it down our throats," Lincoln told the LA Times.

The trail is being constructed along the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad line and the Eel River. State Sen. Mike McGuire has voiced support for the project, highlighting its potential to showcase the region's natural beauty. "What this trail will do is open up some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth," McGuire told the LA Times. "Folks will be able to traverse past giant ancient redwoods to mighty rivers … through lush vineyards, golden rolling hills."

Environmental groups also back the trail, predicting positive environmental outcomes. Alicia Hamann, executive director of the nonprofit Friends of the Eel River, noted the scale of restoration that could be achieved with state involvement.

The Northwestern Pacific Railroad ceased operations in 1998 following significant damage from El Niño storms. The Great Redwood Trail Agency was established in 2021 to oversee the land along the defunct railway after years of discussion about a potential trail.

More than one million people used the southern segment of the trail for walking, hiking, or biking last year, according to McGuire. Bruce Silvey of the Humboldt Trails Council expressed enthusiasm for rail trails, describing them as "beautiful and they’re fun and they’re easy to ride."

However, not all officials share the same level of support. Humboldt County supervisor Steve Madrone resigned from the trail agency earlier this year, citing concerns about the project's CEQA exemption. "Think about the trauma that these tribes have experienced," Madrone told the LA Times. "That did not help remove that mistrust. It reinforced that mistrust."

Despite his concerns about the process, Madrone ultimately supports the trail, believing it will stimulate business in the small towns along its route.

Elaine Hogan, executive director of the Great Redwood Trail Agency, stated that efforts have been made to contact the tribe. However, Lincoln asserts that neither he nor any tribal member he knows has received any communication.

The Wailaki tribe members, who do not reside on their ancestral lands, report limited access to these areas themselves. "We’re barely getting access to these areas ourselves, but we’re going to allow outside communities to have full access to these places?" asked Tisanche Warren, Lincoln's daughter, in comments to the LA Times. "That doesn’t seem fair."