Introduction
Tucked away in the northwest corner of California is Redwood National and State Parks–home to the world’s tallest trees.
In this mild and misty climate, coast redwoods can grow to dizzying heights of over 300 feet tall. Talk about giants!
They’re also some of the oldest living things on earth. The average redwood lives into the hundreds, and some are still going strong after 2,000 years.
On Shaka Guide's Redwood National and State Parks Tour, you'll walk through ancient groves and gaze up at these magnificent forest sentinels.
If you want to see big trees, then you’re headed to the right place!
Giant Trees in Redwood National and State Parks
The redwood is a close cousin of California’s other giant–the sequoia. In terms of sheer volume, sequoias rank as the world’s largest trees.
But when it comes to height, redwoods are without a doubt the world’s tallest. These colossal trees average about 300 feet tall, higher than a 30-story skyscraper!
To grow the world’s tallest trees, you’d think their seeds would have to be gigantic.
But surprisingly, redwood seeds are tiny–about the size of a tomato seed! How can something so small grow into something so tall? Location. Location. Location.
The reason for their colossal height has to do a lot with where they live. The northern coast of California provides the perfect climate for redwoods to thrive:
- large amounts of moisture
- mild temperatures
- rich soil, and
- few natural enemies.
It’s a great place to grow up–and a great place to grow old. Their scientific name, Sequoia sempervirens means “always alive or evergreen.” It’s a fitting name for trees that can live into their thousands!
Redwood National and State Parks protect the largest remaining contiguous old-growth coast redwood forest in the world. And in these ancient groves, you’ll find some of the world’s tallest and oldest trees. Let’s meet a few of them.
RELATED: How to Get to Redwood National and State Parks
Stout Tree
Shutterstock Image
Reaching a dizzying height of 325 feet, Stout Tree is the tallest redwood in Stout Grove and one of the ten tallest trees in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park!
You can view this ancient giant up-close and personal thanks to a large wooden platform that surrounds the base of the colossal redwood.
The platform allows visitors to stand at the foot of the tree without damaging its fragile base and shallow root system.
To view the tree, take the easy Stout Grove Trail. It’s one of the most popular hikes in the park system and can be accessed via the scenic Howland Hill Road (not suitable for RVs or trailers) or via a seasonal footbridge from the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground.
The Titans
The Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is famous for its trees of titanic size. This magnificent stand of redwoods just opened to the public in 2022.
In the 1990s, researchers discovered the secret grove. They measured and named a number of these record-breaking giants.
The trees they named Hailstorm and Lost Monarch reach over 350 feet tall! Other titans in the grove include ones named:
- Glass Castle
- New Hope
- Stalagmight, and
- Screaming Titans
Lord of the Rings fans will recognize the names Fangorn, Aragorn, and Earendil.
Unfortunately, for many years well-meaning visitors looking for these titans strayed off-trail, trampling the forest floor plants and unknowingly damaging the redwoods’ fragile root system.
So, as creative as these names are, you won’t see any signs identifying which tree is which. According to the park, a little anonymity (as well as the elevated boardwalk) helps protect these giants. And, at the same time, it lets our own imaginations soar.
You can view many of these titans from the Grove of the Titans Trail via Howland Hill Road.
RELATED: Know Before You Go, Redwood National & State Park
Big Tree
Located in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a giant redwood called Big Tree. When you stand in front of this giant, you’ll agree that Big Tree lives up to its name!
The impressive old-growth redwood is estimated to be almost 290 feet tall and 1,500 years old.
You can access Big Tree by car from the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway at the Big Tree Wayside.
You can also hike to the giant from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center on the Karl Knapp/Foothills Loop Trail.
Corkscrew Tree
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Another popular tree located along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is the Corkscrew Tree. This unusual redwood is a fantastic example of a “fairy ring.”
Also known as a “cathedral tree” or “family circle,” this cluster of redwoods all sprouted from the base of a single-parent tree. And since they all have the same exact genes as their parent, they’re actually clones!
Corkscrew Tree is a fairy ring made up of four redwood clones. When the parent tree died, these four trees continued to grow up and twist around each other to form a single trunk–like a corkscrew! You can view the 200-foot redwood via a short trail from the parkway.
Hyperion
The tallest tree in the entire world is the redwood named Hyperion. Reaching an impressive height of 380 feet, Hyperion lives in Redwood National Park somewhere near Tall Trees Grove.
To protect this giant, its exact location is kept secret, and the tree is off-limits to visitors. Why? Since its discovery in 2006, many tree enthusiasts have come to the park to view the record-breaker.
But because the tree is off trail, it requires heavy ‘bushwhacking’ in order to reach it.
Sadly, ignorant visitors have not only trampled, and in some cases killed, surrounding native vegetation, but they have also damaged the area directly around the tree’s base, leaving it exposed and vulnerable.
“Forests grow by the inch and die by the foot.” The park encourages all visitors to help protect this fragile ecosystem by staying only on designated trails. Hiking to Hyperion could result in a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail!
Other Big Trees Outside Redwood National and State Parks
Can’t get enough of big trees after your visit to Redwood National and State Parks? Check out these nearby places where you can view even more colossal giants:
Trees of Mystery
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If you’ve ever dreamed of walking up high in the redwood canopy (like the Ewoks in Star Wars!), then head over to the Trees of Mystery.
This fascinating tourist attraction on Highway 101 just south of Crescent City takes redwood tree gazing to new heights.
Meander along well-maintained interpretive trails that feature giant redwoods of unusual shapes and sizes, walk on sky bridges up in the redwood canopy and glide through the forest on a magical gondola ride that takes you above the treetops.
The popular tourist attraction is a bit spendy, but if you have the budget for a splurge, we highly recommend it!
Click here for current hours and admission fees. We’ll guide you to this massive tree on Shaka Guide’s Redwoods National Park Tour.
RELATED: Shaka Guide's Redwood National & State Parks Itinerary
Tour Thru Tree
For a minimal fee, you can drive through a giant living redwood! Check out the Tour Thru Tree in Klamath just north of the Klamath River Bridge.
There are picnic tables, a unique restroom made from a redwood tree, and a gift shop.
The attraction is open year-round. Note: Remember to fold in your mirrors!
Avenue of the Giants
Image from Flickr by Doug Kerr
About 1.5 hours south of Redwood National and State Parks on Highway 101, you can experience even more awe-inspiring trees in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
The scenic drive along the 32-mile Avenue of the Giants is a must-do! You’ll also find trailheads for many of the park’s best hikes along the drive.
The park boasts the largest expanse of old-growth coast redwoods left on the planet. Some trees are believed to be over 3,000 years old!
California’s Redwood State Parks
We’ve only just touched on a few of the incredible places where you can view these inspiring trees. Altogether, California has 49 redwood state parks!
These parks protect and preserve both the giant sequoias of the Sierra Nevada and the coast redwoods that are found on the north and central California coast.
Planning a redwood road trip? Click here for a map of California’s Redwood Parks.
Explore the Redwoods with Shaka Guide
Visiting Redwoods National and State Parks is truly a magical experience. From their breathtaking beauty and unbelievable height to the deep silence of the forest, these trees–and this place–inspire awe like no other.
On Shaka Guide’s Redwood National and State Park Tour, we’ll show you the best places to see these colossal wonders. We’ll also share the history, geology, and fascinating human stories that will bring this region to life.
With 24 potential stops, over 90 points of narration, and curated music, you can be sure to get the most out of your visit to Redwoods National and State Parks.
Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Redwood National Park Tour!
We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.
For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Redwoods National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.
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