| Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)[1] | |
 Rhododendron blossoms on the Kruse reserve | |
  Location in California Show map of California Location in United States Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Sonoma County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Point Arena, California |
| Coordinates | 38°35′35″N123°20′21″W / 38.59306°N 123.33917°W /38.59306; -123.33917 |
| Area | 317 acres (128 ha)[2] |
| Established | 1933 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve is aprotected area administered byCalifornia State Parks. It is located in northernSonoma County approximately 400 m (1,300 ft) inland ofCalifornia State Route 1 near milepost 43 on the north edge ofSalt Point State Park about 20 mi (32 km) north ofJenner and 15 mi (24 km) south ofGualala. The area is asecondary forest ofredwood andDouglas fir with anunderstory ofRhododendron macrophyllum which produces a colorful display of pinkblossoms against the green forest background from mid-April to mid-June.[3]
The land was part of a large ranch established in 1880 to convertold-growth forest trees to lumber, collecttan oak bark fortanningleather, and raisesheep on the cleared land. Edward P. Kruse donated the land to the state of California in 1933 as a memorial to his father, who was a founder ofSan Francisco's German Bank.Ecological succession following awildfire produced a rhododendron grove whosespringtime blossoms became a popular tourist attraction. As tan oaks began shading out the rhododenron understory in 1979, California State Parks began a tan oakthinning program to preserve the rhododendron habitat by slowing natural succession.[3]
Approximately 2 mi (3.2 km) offootpaths begin at a smallparking lot unsuitable forbuses ortrailers on the unpaved one-lane Kruse Ranch Road off California Route 1. These footpaths through quiet secondary forest crossfern-covered seasonal streams in Phillips Gulch and Chinese Gulch passing clusters of rhododendron,salal,California huckleberry, andPacific wax myrtle. The rhododendron blossoms are a springtime bonus. Funding problems have closed thepit toilets adjacent to the parking lot, but a pit toilet is available at Salt Point State Park Stump Beach parking lot approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) south on California highway 1. Nobicycles ordogs are allowed on the footpaths and operation ofdrones is prohibited.[3]