The Yurok Tribe

Yurok Tribe, Save the Redwoods League Finalize Major Land Transfer - Tribally Owned Property Near National Park Preserved in Perpetuity and Open to the Public Starting August 1, 2026

ORICK, Calif. (July 28, 2026) – 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. I hope it sets a national standard for collaboration between environmental protection groups and Tribal nations,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “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, Calif. 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, Calif. at the southern end of Redwood National and
State Parks (RNSP). More information about ‘O Rew is available at 

https://o-rew-redwoods-gateway.square.site/