The Headwaters Forest Reserve is 7,472 acres of public land six miles southeast of Eureka. The reserve was the site of many anti-logging demonstrations (including the famous tree-sit by Julia “Butterfly” Hill, who spent two years on a platform in a tree she called Luna) following a hostile takeover in 1985. After 15 years of effort to save the ancient ecosystem from being clear cut, the lands were set aside in 1999.  Some trees are estimated to be more than 2,000 years old.

Public access into the reserve is from the northern section only.  Dogs are allowed on the first three miles of the Elk River Trail (shared with hikers and cyclists) and must be under voice control of the owner at all times or on a leash. The trail ends at an old-growth redwood grove. Other old-growth portions of the reserve are off limits except on guided hikes.