After losing more than 90 per cent of their land during the upheaval of the mid-1800s, the Yurok Tribe has regained a 125-acre section of its ancestral territory in Northern California. The land, known as ‘O Rew, was transferred back to the Yurok Tribe by Save the Redwoods League on 30 June 2026 after more than a decade of conservation and restoration work. According to Save the Redwoods League, the property is now tribally owned and operated, with the project also protecting critical salmon habitat. Once the site of a lumber mill where much of Prairie Creek’s natural channel and floodplain had been buried, ‘O Rew has been transformed into a restored landscape beside Redwood National and State Parks. The property now forms the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway, a public recreation area with new trails, wildlife habitat and exhibits presenting the Yurok perspective and language. Located off US Highway 101 near Orick, the gateway also provides access to some of the region’s old-growth coast redwood forests, including Lady Bird Johnson Grove. At the same time, plans include a cultural centre and a traditional village.
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