ORICK, CA – Save the Redwoods League transferred 125 acres of land in the heart of Yurok ancestral territory back to the Yurok Tribe through a transformational agreement that prioritizes tribal land‑management practices, creates a new public space and permanently protects critical salmon habitat.
“This project represents a truly just approach to the restoration of culturally important landscapes and tribal communities,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “I hope it sets a national standard for collaboration between environmental protection groups and tribal nations. I sincerely thank Save the Redwoods League for working with the tribe to make this dream a reality.”
“O Rew Redwoods Gateway shows what is possible when people come together with a shared commitment to healing the land and honoring its history,” said Steve Mietz, President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. “What was once a degraded and abandoned mill site is now full of life again – a place where people can connect with the majesty of the redwoods and the living culture of the Yurok Tribe. We are deeply honored to support the return of this land to its rightful stewards.”
The ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway and Restoration Project creates a new tribally owned and operated recreational area on Prairie Creek, a Redwood Creek tributary located off U.S. Highway 101 at the base of Bald Hills Road in Orick, CA. Save the Redwoods conveyed the property to the Yurok Tribe on June 30, 2026.
The space, known as ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway, will open for recreational access on August 1, 2026, in Orick at the southern end of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP).
The park-like property features an information kiosk resembling a traditional Yurok house and interactive interpretive exhibits driven by Yurok perspective and language in both audio and written formats. The exhibits and amenities provide opportunities to learn about the restored landscape, the tribe’s culture, and its reciprocal relationship with the redwood ecosystem. Additionally, there is a pedestrian plaza with lunch tables, ADA-accessible trails, and an elevated vantage point offering a panoramic view of the restored site and surrounding forest.
The freshly laid trails introduce a new segment of the California Coastal Trail and connect with RNSP, providing easy access to some of California’s most prolific old-growth coast redwood stands, including the popular Lady Bird Johnson Grove. The Yurok Tribe will be hosting public and private events and programs at ‘O Rew for the tribal membership, local communities, and the visiting public.
In the near future, the Yurok Tribe aims to construct a cultural center further highlighting the distinct history and living culture of the tribe and the extraordinary natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the region. The Yurok Tribe also plans to build a traditional village on the site, including plank houses and a sweat house.
About ‘O Rew
During the mid-1800s, there was an attempt to forcibly remove Yurok people from their homeland to accelerate exploitation of the region’s natural resources, including salmon and old-growth coast redwood trees, many of which were milled at the ‘O Rew property. During this period, the tribe lost more than 90 percent of its land, including ‘O Rew and nearby Owr-rekw. For decades, the ‘O Rew property stood as a reminder of that era. The site now allows Yurok people to reconnect with the land after generations of separation.
The property operated as a lumber mill for more than 50 years before Save the Redwoods League purchased and conserved it in 2013. During mill operations, large portions of the land were paved over, and much of the natural channel and floodplain of Prairie Creek was buried. Save the Redwoods spent more than 10 years partnering with restoration organizations, including the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation and Fisheries Department and California Trout, to plan and undertake a full restoration of a critical stretch of Prairie Creek at the site, with the goal of supporting federally listed coho salmon and steelhead populations.
The Yurok Tribe’s participation in the ‘O Rew Project is part of a long-term effort to reclaim and restore culturally important landscapes across its ancestral territory.
“The Yurok Tribe has cared for these lands since time immemorial, and today’s milestone honors that enduring relationship while opening a new chapter of stewardship for future generations,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “The return of ‘O Rew is a powerful example of what’s possible when conservation is guided by tribal leadership, and California is proud to support this work alongside the Yurok Tribe and Save the Redwoods League. We hope this serves as a model for how partnership can strengthen both people and the places we cherish.”
