Seward’s 120 acre old-growth forest is a rare remnant of a million acres of lowland Douglas-fir forest.
It burned to the ground in 1508 as part of a huge regional conflagration.
Douglas-fir and sword fern take root rapidly after such a fire. We know of about 100 firs which came in during the 16th century. Many of the sword ferns – those which have not succumbed to the current blight – hail from that century as well.
A second fire came in 1701. It burned most of the regrown forest in 1701. But by this time, many firs had matured – developing thick, furrowed fire resistant bark.
As you walk the trails, look for burn bark on the big firs, perhaps reflect on the fire history of the forest, its ancient trees, and the transience of all who live here.