These trees are extremely rare and fragile, and should not be touched. Only 50 yards from the redwoods is the riparian zone of the park, which follows the San Lorenzo River. There you can find maples, willows, and some of the largest sycamores in California. The river is popular among visitors on warm, sunny days. Wading is common but we don't recommend swimming, even though the current is slow moving.
Fishing is quite common during the winter when steelhead salmon migrate up the river to spawn.
However, there are not nearly as many fish now as in the past because of development, drought, and over-fishing at the river mouth. Fishing is allowed between Nov. 16 and Feb. 28 on Wednesdays and the weekends, and requires a license. The third ecological zone is the oak forest, located on the East side of the park and containing the campground. This zone contains more wildlife than the redwood forest, including three types of woodpeckers. Despite the fact all three woodpeckers prey on the same insects, each has an eating pattern that has evolved to work around the others.