Sequoia Park of Monte Cabezón

Sequoia Park of Monte Cabezón is a small but remarkable redwood forest growing on the slopes of Monte de las Navas, right next to the town of Cabezón de la Sal in Cantabria, northern Spain. On just 2.5 hectares stand 848 coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), a species that in its native range grows only along the coast of California and southern Oregon. Alongside them grow 25 Monterey pines (Pinus radiata), a leftover from the same era of forestry experiments.

How did redwoods end up in Cantabria?

The story goes back to the 1940s, during the early years of Franco's regime and its policy of economic autarky. At the time, Spain was trying to reduce its dependence on imports, including timber, and foresters experimented with fast-growing, non-native species that promised high wood yields. The coast redwood, famous for its extraordinary growth rate in its native habitat, was an obvious candidate. The plantation on Monte de las Navas was one of these experiments and, unlike many similar attempts from that period, it has survived to this day in surprisingly good condition.

What do the trees look like today?

Eight decades later, the trees have reached an impressive size by European standards: an average height of around 36 metres and an average trunk circumference of 1.6 metres. That is still modest compared to the giants growing in California, where redwoods can live for thousands of years and exceed 80 metres in height, but for a forest only a few decades old, the growth rate is striking. The densely spaced, straight trunks create an almost cathedral-like interior, with light filtering down through the canopy high overhead and a soft carpet of fallen needles covering the forest floor.

Why is this place protected?

Because of how unusual this stand of trees is on a European scale, the regional government of Cantabria placed it under legal protection. Decree 41/2003 declared the area a Natural Monument (Monumento Natural) and included it in the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Cantabria (Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Cantabria). This status safeguards both the trees themselves and the surrounding ecosystem, while still allowing free public access — unlike many nature reserves, there are no fixed visiting hours or booking requirements.

How to get there and what to know before visiting

The redwood forest sits just a few minutes' drive from the centre of Cabezón de la Sal, a town in western Cantabria not far from the Cantabrian Sea coast. Admission is free, there are no set opening hours, and no reservation is needed — visitors can arrive at any time and stay for as long as they like. A walk through the forest typically takes anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on how much time is spent photographing and admiring the trees up close.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the redwood forest paid? No, visiting is completely free and does not require a reservation.

How old are these redwoods? They were planted in the 1940s, making them roughly eighty years old — still young for a species that can live for thousands of years in the wild.

Is this the only redwood forest in Spain? It is not the only such plantation in the country, but the Monte Cabezón forest is one of the best known and best preserved examples of its kind in Cantabria.

How long does a visit take? A relaxed walk among the trees usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes.