Naming and Renaming

Up-close look at the sign for the new Xaa-yuu-chit Tes-dvm Trail. Photo from: Emily Reed, Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation

The Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (Nation) and Redwood National and State Parks recently announced the completion of a new trail in Del Norte County, as well as the renaming of Peacock Bar in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

The new trail is named Xaa-yuu-chit Tes-dvm, which translates to "High-Status-Stream/River Trail." The community of Hiouchi lies within Tolowa Dee-ni' ancestral territory. The name Hiouchi is an anglicized version of the Tolowa word Xaa-yuu-chit. The trail is just under 1 mile, beginning in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and ending near the fire station in Hiouchi. Unlike other trails in Redwood and National State Parks, this trail is pet-, bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly.

Redwood National and State Parks and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation also collaborated to rename Peacock Bar. With the support of local organizations such as True North Organizing Network, the Nation and State Parks are installing new signage to acknowledge the original Tolowa name of Peacock Bar, See-tr’ee-ghin-dvm-dvn. See-tr’ee-ghin-dvm-dvn translates to "at the stones where the trail descends downward."

Read the full article, “New Trail in Del Norte County in Ancestral Territory of Tolowa People and Renaming of Peacock Bar at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park” in the Field Report section of the November 18, 2022 Weekly Digest.

The California State Park and Recreation Commission voted to rename Patrick’s Point State Park to Sue-meg State Park to honor the place name used by the Yurok people since time immemorial. This is the first park name change as part of the state’s Reexamining Our Past Initiative and is a momentous step to heal relationships with Native Americans and working together in recognition and honor of indigenous cultural and linguistic relationships. 

Please view our press releases for more information:

• Sept. 30, 2021: California State Park and Recreation Commission Renames Patrick’s Point State Park to Sue-meg State Park
• Sept. 10, 2021: California State Parks Seeks Public Input to Change Patrick’s Point State Park’s Name to Sue-meg State Park

At Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, located in Sacramento County, State Parks continues to engage the local community, and an array of stakeholders, on a name change for the Black Miners Bar day-use area. State Parks’ staff presented a renaming recommendation to the department director and California State Park and Recreation Commission based on an analysis of scholarly historical research along with public and stakeholder feedback.  State Parks invites the public to share their thoughts, comments, or suggestions for an appropriate place name for the park’s day use facilities via comment form. Learn more at www.parks.ca.gov/BlackMinersBar.

The State Park and Recreation Commission held a meeting and tour on June 16-17, 2022. Visit the 2022 Meetings of the Commission page to access the meeting documents.