The Redwoods Ascent

Just outside San Francisco, tucked deep within a private redwood forest, we spent six weeks building one of our most ambitious creations yet — a handwoven treenet adventure that climbs nine stories into the canopy, reaching 80 feet above the forest floor. Every day began in the hush of the redwoods — the air damp and cool, ropes coiled at our feet, and the light filtering through a maze of trunks that rose more than 120 feet high. Together with our dear friends at Treenets Costa Rica, we set anchors, rigged lines, and began weaving — over a thousand hours of patience, teamwork, and elevation. The result is a towering vertical experience, part art installation, part aerial playground, all held within the cathedral-like stillness of the redwoods.

The journey starts with a slanted bridge that rises 20 feet off the ground, guiding you to the first landing: Platform #1, “The Green Room.”
Here, you’re surrounded by woven walls and a roof that fully encloses the space — a soft, cocoon-like hideaway built by our friend Fernando, who flew in from Costa Rica to help us bring this forest dream to life. From there, a ramp affectionately called “The Chocolate Slide” leads into The Layer Room — a spacious “conversation pit” layered with colorful woven benches and hanging nooks. The name stuck because of the stacked design — multiple levels of soft netting where guests can lounge, chat, and feel the forest breathe around them.

The climb continues up a playful series of webbed steps (now forever known as “The McDonald’s Steps,” thanks to builder Kane’s throwback to his favorite childhood playscape). They lead through a woven portal, the first of several passageways connecting one massive room to the next. Step through, and you’ll arrive at Birmingham Palace — a soaring, grand chamber of netting so spacious we joked it deserved a chandelier. Named for an inside joke that’s lived through many projects, it’s one of the build’s most spectacular spaces.

From there, the Moki-step ramp climbs even higher into The Ready Room, where the forest opens up and the world drops away. At this point, you’re about 60 feet high, the air thinner, the ground invisible below. It’s the spot where the climb starts to feel exhilaratingly exposed — the kind of height that takes your breath away and reminds you how alive you are. Finally, one last vertical ascent leads to the upper canopy — the final climb, where the view stretches out through glowing ropes and whispering treetops. At night, the treenet transforms: soft canopy lights trace each walkway and platform, illuminating the structure like a constellation suspended in the redwoods.

Key FEATURES

• Nine-story treenet suspended 80 feet above the forest floor

• Collaboration with Treenets Costa Rica for expert rigging and climbing

• Built over six weeks and 1,000+ hours of hand weaving

• Anchored to redwoods over 120 feet tall

• Includes multiple rooms and ramps:

  • The Green Room – enclosed entry platform

  • The Chocolate Slide – ramp to The Layer Room

  • The Layer Room – multi-level hangout with woven benches

  • The McDonald’s Steps – playful webbed staircase

  • Birmingham Palace – grand central chamber

  • The Ready Room – elevated viewing platform at 60 feet

• Final vertical climb to the top of the canopy

• Integrated canopy lighting for nighttime visibility and forest ambiance

• Color-matched paracord designed to blend with redwood bark

• Engineered for flexibility, movement, and longevity in a living forest

Paracord Colors Used

• Chocolate Brown

• Acid Dark Brown

• Forest Green

• Walnut

• Coyote Brown

• Emerald Green

• Olive Drab

• Ranger Green