The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (161 page)

Redwood Creek Challenge Trai
l

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FastView:
 
Serene trails and exciting wilderness challenges.  Fun for Guests young and old, and of all abilities.
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One summer when I was in college I was the sports and games director for a summer camp in the New Hampshire woods.  I loved waking at dawn and walking through the early-morning woods.  Every time I visit
DCA
’s
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
, I’m transported back to that forest of my youth.

The
Imagineers
did an outstanding job of designing this portion of the
Grizzly Peak
district.  The
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
was an
Opening Day
attraction.  Appropriately enough, this California forest-themed attraction borders the eastern edge of the
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
, providing part of the hotel’s wilderness backdrop.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
is deeply immersive.  You enter it just south of and across the trail from the
Grizzly River Run
, and are welcomed by a Cast Member clad in forest ranger togs.  A large, colorful map orients Guests and helps them plan their visit to
Redwood Creek
.

There are plenty of activities for Guests of all ages and abilities.  Your visit is self-guided and self-paced.  Stay as briefly or as long as you want, and partake only in
challenges that interest you. 
Disney
prefers to give Guests control of their activities whenever possible; a high level of control over pace and itinerary enriches the Guest experience.

Even if you simply stroll along the
Redwood Creek Trails
you’ll have a delightful visit.  One of the routes starts by passing through a life-like replica of a redwood tree, giving Guests a sense of redwoods’ massive scale.  Up the trail is a giant slice of an ancient redwood; its growth rings are labeled, showing when notable historical events occurred during the tree’s lifetime.

In this way,
Guests from out of state, out of the country, or even from Southern California can experience what it’s like to visit a redwood forest.  Many So Cal residents of modest means might be able to make a day trip to
Disneyland
, but will never get up to Central or Northern California.  With
Redwood Creek
’s two acres of redwoods, evergreens, deciduous trees, foliage, and flowers, its sounds of birds and animals, and its paw prints of forest animals like foxes, bears, and wolves, the carefully crafted environment envelopes Guests in a redwood wilderness unique to northern California.

You and your little ones could literally spend an hour here.  There are trails to walk, shaded benches to rest on, and educational features like the redwood slice, the animal prints, and beautifully carved wooden animal statues based on Native American legends.

For the more active and adventurous there are observation towers to ascend, providing incredible views of the district, particularly
Grizzly Peak
.  There are logs to clamber through and slide down, rocks to climb, zip lines to zip down, a seemingly rickety plank suspension bridge to cross, and multiple levels of squirrel netting to navigate.  Near the little creek–complete with stepping stones–is
Kenai’s Spirit Cave
, a cavern in which Guests can press their palm against one of two luminous paw prints on the cave walls to discover their animal spirit.

During peak seasons, the
Redwood Creek
amphitheater used to present a
Magic of Brother Bear
show starring
Koda
and
Kenai
, and
Koda
and
Kenai
often visited the
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
to meet Guests and pose for photos.

I
n summer of 2011,
DCA
introduced
Wilderness Explorer
challenges to make the area more interactive.  Guests earn “badges” at
Wilderness Explorer Ceremonies
by completing activities such as solving woodland puzzles and howling like wolves while descending the hollow-log slides.  Guests also meet
Russell
the
Wilderness Explorer
and
Dug
the dog from
Disney
’s
Up
(2009).

The tranquility, fun
, and charm of this attraction can’t be overstated.  Kids, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles–your whole family or group of friends can congregate at
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
for a delightful time.  The lower levels are even wheelchair-accessible.  If you love the woods, and if you have the time, be sure to build this attraction into your visit. 
Did You Know?
  What’s your animal spirit?  Is it a bear, beaver, eagle, moose, salmon, skunk, or wolf? 
Kenai’s Spirit Cave
knows!  A sign outside the cavern shares the traits attributed to that animal.  For example, wolves represent wisdom and loyalty. 
Did You Also Know?
  Sequoias, known more commonly as redwoods, are the tallest and largest trees on the planet.  They thrive in damp coastal areas with plenty of rain and fog.  Most California redwoods grow in the central and northern coastal areas of the state.  These trees live for thousands of years.  The tallest in the world is Hyperion in California’s Redwood National Forest.  It’s almost 380 feet tall.  That’s taller than a football field would be if you could somehow stand it on end, about as tall as a 38-story building.  In Greek mythology, Hyperion was a Titan, and the god of light.  Coincidentally, one of the early
Disney
studios was on
Hyperion Avenue
in Silverlake.  That’s why one of the
Disney
publishing arms is named
Hyperion Books
, and why the theater in
DCA
’s
Hollywood
district is called the
Hyperion Theater
. 
FastPass:
  No.  This is a self-guided attraction, so it doesn’t have a
FastPass
option.  Given that the attraction covers two acres, even on days when the park is crowded there’s plenty of elbow room here, although there might be longer queues for the zip lines and slides, and a bigger crowd on the squirrel nets. 
Kid’s Eye View:
  I love this place!  It’s like a giant park.  There are a lot of things to do, a lot of ropes and bridges–it’s like a big adventure.

Gr
izzly Peak Gear and Grub

Gear:

Rushin’ River Outfitters

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FastView:
 
A lovely shop overlooking the boarding area of the
Grizzly River Run
.  Wilderness-themed clothes, accessories, pins, plush dolls, hats, sunscreen—and ponchos.
]

One of
DCA
’s most charming and intricately themed stores,
Rushin’ River Outfitters
is a spacious log and plank structure set among ferns and trees, perched above the
Grizzly River Run
loading area and a gentle bend in the river.

An inviting front porch adorned with carved bear statues
offers shade and features a
Disney
penny press.  Pause here for a spell, and look over the
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
badges and postcards in their glass case, the Yosemite pamphlets and the typed, old-school
Grizzly Peak Camp Schedule
.  The
Miner 49ers
, who played a special blend of folksy bluegrass just across the road, left
DCA
in February 2012, but you might hear the
Happy Camper
crooning a classic campfire song along
Grizzly Trail
.

The store is as lovely inside as outside, high-ceilinged and admitting a wealth of sunlight that plays warmly o
ver planks and posts. The walls are vivid with lavish murals of California’s mountains, forests, and waterfalls, all rendered in the style of national park art in the 1930’s and 40’s.  Decorative touches throughout the shop include vintage kayaks, paddles, oars, skis, and sleds.

Although by no means on the scale of
Disneyland
’s
Emporium
,
Rushin’ River
is one of
DCA
’s larger stores and you could spend a good 15 to 20 minutes browsing its diverse merchandise.  One of its striking displays:  At the front of the shop is a wooden canoe bearing rows of plush
Disney
dolls like
Mickey
or
Pooh
dressed in woodsy regalia.

There are
Disney pins
and plenty of knick-knacks, and kids can fill a bag with rocks and minerals for about $7, but most of the wares here are high-quality (and not inexpensive) clothes themed to
Grizzly River Run
and hiking and the outdoors in general.

Looking for a
Grizzly River Run
or
Grumpy
T-shirt, mainly in outdoorsy shades of brown, grey, green, or navy?  Want a
Disney
cap, predominately in masculine styles?  You’ll find them here, including Aussie outback hats.  For men, women, or children there are khaki shorts, warm sweatshirts, and sweatpants, plaid pajamas, fleece jackets, cozy socks, slippers, and lightweight rain ponchos.

If you’re going to brave
Grizzly River Run
and you don’t want to get soaked, stop here first to pick up one of those inexpensive ponchos (around $10) and don it before boarding your raft.  If you take your chances on the river (not everyone gets soaked) but end up drenched and without backup socks or clothes, pop in here for dry duds; the shop is right next door to the
Grizzly River Run
exit. 
Did You Know?
  There’s a real Russian River Outfitters shop in Duncan Mills, California, specializing in eco-friendly kayaking.  If you’re interested in doing some real kayaking on the Russian River, call the store at 1-877-RRKAYAK (their site
www.russianriveroutfitters.com
seems to be down for reconstruction)
. 
Kid’s Eye View:
You can get little rocks and fake gold in a pouch.

Grub:

Snack Carts
(S)

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Quick snacks and beverages along the wilderness trail.
]

Grizzly Peak
doesn’t have a restaurant–not even a counter-service-only hole-in-the-wall–but it stations a few snack carts along
Grizzly Trail
.  Churros, beverages, cotton candy, and
Mickey
ice cream bars abound as you near the
Bay Area
at the border of
Pacific Wharf
.  But watch your wallet; snacks and beverages can add up quickly (especially for families) and take a grizzly-sized bite out of your dining budget.  Snack carts are rarely wired to process
Annual Passholder
discounts, so even if you’re an
AP
, be ready to pay full price.  Do the math before you drop the cash to avoid unpleasant surprises.  If you and your companions are hungry, and snacks won’t be filling enough, head north to the
Taste Pilots’ Grill
in
Condor Flats
, southeast to the many eateries of
Pacific Wharf
, or west into the
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
, where you can dine at the kid-friendly
Storytellers Café
, or the pricey, award-winning
Napa Rose
.

G
rizzly Peak Character Meetings and Performers

Fans of
Disney
’s animated feature
Brother Bear
(2003) used to enjoy meeting
Koda
and
Kenai
in the open air amphitheater at the
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
.  They were replaced in 2011 by two characters from
Disney
’s
Up
(2009): 
Wilderness Explorer Russell
and dog
Dug
.  Guests meet
Russell
and
Dug
at the
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
, and earn badges at
Wilderness Explorer Ceremonies
; see the
DCA
Entertainment Times Guide
schedule for meet-and-greet and ceremony times.