One of the most beautiful (and unknown) places in Galicia can be found on the hillside of Monte Castrove in the municipality of Poio: the Colon forest. This is one of the largest Californian red sequoia forests in Europe. These are native conifers from the western United States.
Each year, this forest welcomes many hikers who want to discover these exotic specimens while enjoying a great day out in nature. In today’s post, we want to tell you how to get there and which trails to follow, so that you can also enjoy this experience.
The origin of the sequoia forest of Poio
The origin of the sequoia forest of Poio, which is also known as Colon Forest, is relatively recent. In 1992, Spain commemorated the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival on the American continent. As a symbol of the friendship between Spain and America, the United States government, whose president at the time was George Bush senior, decided to gift Spain 500 red sequoia specimens, also known as Californian sequoias.
Since then, the sequoias have created an attractive landscape in this privileged setting with views of the ría de Pontevedra estuary. These exotic specimens have not yet become impressive because of their size, as they grow quite slowly, but due to their unique beauty.
When you visit the spot where they are located, the interpretation panels there will tell you about the trees’ characteristics and about their history.
The sequoia forest and its surroundings
The sequoia forest is one of the most attractive places in the area. You will find numerous paths there that enable you to walk to every corner of this natural space and its surroundings.
The forest is enclosed by a wooden fence. You can gain access to it from the main entrance without any problem. Once inside, you can enjoy a walk among the sequoias in complete peace and quiet.
And if you want to sit down for a rest, you can do so in the rest area which is located beside the entrance to the forest. There are stone tables and seats where you can sit and enjoy a picnic.
When you have completed your visit to the forest, we recommend that you go to the highest point of Monte Castrove. From here, you can enjoy a privileged view of the ría de Pontevedra estuary. Near there, you can also find the rock carvings of Outeiro da Criba. So, if you still want to find out a little more about the area, we suggest you end your visit there.
How to get to the sequoia forest of Poio
The sequoia forest is located in a place that is not easy to reach. However, if you know the way, you can get there easily. Also, if you have a GPS or if you want to find where you are on Google Maps, you won’t have a problem locating the route.
If you are leaving from Vigo, the shortest route will take you around 38 minutes. First, take the AP-9 motorway. Leave at exit 129 and continue for about 15 minutes along the PO-531. Then take the VG-4.8 until you reach the rúa Aris. After this, go on to the rúa Sartal and, lastly, join the Camino A Escusa until you reach the sequoia forest.
You will find a parking area near the entrance where you can leave your car without any problem.
As you can see, it is very easy to get to the sequoia forest and, once there, you can enjoy a great day in the heart of nature. This location offers you a unique opportunity to rest and relax.
If you want to visit other unique natural areas of the Rías Baixas, there is the Island of Tambo. The crossing takes over 3 hours and leaves from the port at Combarro. It includes a guided tour during which visitors can walk around this delightful island, which is located on the Ría de Pontevedra estuary. Also nearby is the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. This park consists of several islands, but you can only visit two of its archipelagos: the Cíes Islands and the Island of Ons. To get there, you can travel with us, the Mar de Ons Ferry Company.
