Exploring Redwood National and State Parks

Lace up your hiking boots, grab your camera, and get ready to explore some of the country’s most awe-inspiring scenery.

From magnificent redwood forests to its spectacular coastal shorelines, Redwood National and State Parks is a hiker’s paradise. 

Where else can you walk through ethereal forests under a canopy of ancient, towering giants?

Or wander along rugged seaside cliffs with the roar of the surf pounding below and the cry of gulls overhead?

Or meander through a streambed in a primeval-looking canyon lined with fern-festooned walls? Only here in the incredible redwood parks.

Unique Park Partnership

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What else makes these parks so special? Their unique partnership.

Redwood National and State Parks is a complex of four parks managed by California State Parks and the National Park Service.

It’s the only state and federal park partnership of its kind. 

Located in California’s northwestern corner, the parks’ boundaries stretch for fifty miles between:

• the towns of Crescent City and Orick.
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the north,
• Del Norte Coast and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks in the middle, and
• Redwood National Park in the south

All work together to manage and care for over 130,000 acres of redwood parklands, including close to 40,000 acres of what remains of the old-growth redwood forests. These ancient groves are home to the world’s tallest trees.

Beyond the Giants

And big trees are what most visitors come here to see. But they aren’t the parks’ only attraction.

On Shaka Guide's Redwoods National Park Tour, we’ll take you to stunning coastal beaches, rugged seaside cliffs, and a prehistoric-looking canyon rank right up there with the parks’ top hiking destinations.

Whether you’re looking for a long, challenging trek or prefer a short, easy stroll, there are trails for every ability in the parks. 

Planning a Hiking Trip to Redwood National and State Parks

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Best Time to Visit

Because of its coastal location and mild weather, the parks stay open all year long.

However, roads and trails can close due to extreme weather, landslides, or construction, so always make sure to check the parks’ current conditions no matter when you visit.

• Most visitors come in the summer to take advantage of the slightly warmer days. However, if you do plan a summer hike, you’ll want to hit the trails early or go later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds–especially on the weekends. 
• If fighting the crowds isn’t your thing, then you might consider hiking during one of the shoulder seasons. Spring and fall have cooler and wetter weather–but fewer visitors and more parking. Plan to dress in layers with fleece inside and a waterproof layer outside. 
• Hiking in the winter is a good option if you’re looking for the most solitude and don’t mind bundling up for the chillier weather. Many park services have limited winter hours, and some trails may be closed due to winter storms, so check the NPS website prior to traveling. 

Permits and Entry Requirements

Visiting Redwood National and State Parks is free! There is no entry fee, entrance pass, or permit needed to hike most of the trails in the redwoods–with these few exceptions: 

• You’ll need a free online parking permit to park at the Fern Canyon Trailhead at Gold Bluffs Beach (required only from May 15 - September 15) or to park at the trailhead for Tall Trees Grove (required year-round). These can be reserved up to 24 hours in advance. 
• You’ll also need to pay a day-use fee or show a pass to park at Jedediah Smith Campground Day Use Area or at Gold Bluffs Beach. The park currently accepts only cash or check payments. 
• Back Country Campers can obtain a free online backcountry camping permit for overnight camping at the parks’ designated backcountry camps. Note: There is a minimal fee for camping at Gold Bluffs Beach.

Packing Essentials for Hiking

• Sturdy hiking shoes/boots with good traction. Waterproofing is best due to the high level of moisture. Also, pack wool socks during the cooler months.
• Hiking sandals if visiting Fern Canyon or the shore in the summer (optional).
• Waterproof rain jacket or poncho. (It rains A LOT here–sometimes even in the summer.)
• Warm layers (fleece, wool, or down). The weather stays cool and mild all year long.
• Hat. Warm beanie for cooler months / Sun hat for summer.
• Trail map. You can download one on your phone or grab one from the visitor center. Not all trails are clearly marked with signs, so get directions from a ranger if heading out on a trail with multiple options.
• Tide chart. If hiking to the beach, make sure to check the tide online or at the visitor center and time your visit closest to low tide. 
• Water and snacks, and if hiking a longer distance, make sure to carry the ten hiking essentials. 
• Binoculars for spotting wildlife, like elk or whales
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent with DEET
• First Aid Kit
• Hand sanitizer or hand soap and water to wash. (Most trailheads have only vault toilets with no running water.)

RELATED: Biggest Trees in Redwood National and State Parks

Top 10 Hikes in Redwood National and State Parks 

This compilation of top 10 hikes showcases some of Northern California’s most breathtaking scenery–from the redwood forests to the Pacific coast. 

And the best part? Each of the hikes on this list is under three miles in length and easy enough to suit most abilities.

For longer or more challenging hikes, check the NPS website or get recommendations from a ranger.

1. Stout Grove

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Location: You can access the trail two ways: through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Campground using a seasonal footbridge or via Howland Hill Scenic Drive.

Note: The footbridge to access the grove is located at the opposite end of the campground from the day-use area parking.

Also, Howland Hill Drive is windy, narrow, mostly unpaved, and therefore unsuitable for large vehicles such as RVs or trailers.

Whichever point you choose to start this hike, you’ll want to plan extra time to get to the trailhead and check current road/footbridge conditions.

• Distance: 0.5 mi/.8 km, longer if walking from the campground.
• Difficulty: Easy, level trail
• Fee: A fee, paid in cash or check, or a valid park pass is required to park at the campground day-use area.
• Facilities: There are flush toilets at the campground and vault toilets at the Howland Hill Trailhead.
• Pets: No

Details: This magical walk through a majestic 44-acre grove features awe-inspiring ancient redwoods that tower over 300 feet tall.

The loop trail passes by the Smith River with an optional spur to the water for those wishing to swim in or picnic by this pristine and beautiful river.

Stout Grove was named after Frank D. Stout, the former president of Del Norte Lumber Company.

In 1929, his widow Clara donated this piece of old-growth forest to Save the Redwoods League in memory of her husband.

It was the first of many memorial groves dedicated in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. 

2. Grove of the Titans

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Location: The trailhead is about midway on Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. 

• Distance: 1.7 mile/2.7 km with 140 ft elevation gain
• Difficulty: Relatively easy, taking an average of 45-60 minutes to complete.
• Fee: None
• Facilities: There is a vault restroom at the trailhead on Howland Hill Road.
• Pets: No

Details: The Grove of the Titans opened to the public in the summer of 2022. The trail to the grove, a spur of the existing Mill Creek Trail, features an elevated metal walkway through a grove of magnificent redwood giants, nicknamed the “titans” by researchers in the 1990s.

The park built the trail to protect the grove from well-meaning, but careless tourists who had gone off-trail, trampling the fragile soil and damaging the tree roots in their quest to see the acclaimed titans.

Note: Howland Hill Drive is windy, narrow, mostly unpaved, and unsuitable for large vehicles such as RVs or trailers.

3. Enderts Beach Trail

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Location: Drive to the end of Enderts Beach Road, just past Crescent Beach, to access the trailhead near the overlook.

• Distance: 1 mile round trip.
• Difficulty: Moderately easy with a sharp descent at the end including a scramble down a rock boulder to get to the beach.
• Fee: None
• Facilities: There is a vault toilet at the trailhead.
• Pets: No

Details: Dramatic cliffs, rugged offshore sea stacks, tidepools brimming with colorful sea life, and the breathtaking Pacific Ocean make Enderts Beach a must-do hike on your visit to the redwoods. Remember to check the tide chart and try to plan your visit closest to low tide.

Interesting side note: the trail to Enderts Beach follows the “Last Chance Section” of the California Coastal Trail and was once part of the old Redwood highway before the road was moved to higher ground due to landslides and erosion.

4. Yurok Loop Trail with optional Hidden Beach Trail

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Location: You can access the Yurok Loop Trailhead at the Lagoon Creek Picnic Area, about fifteen miles south of Crescent City right off Highway 101.

• Distance: A little over 1 mile round trip to complete the Yurok Loop Trail. (Add an additional mile round trip if continuing on to Hidden Beach.)
• Difficulty: Easy, taking an average of 30-45 minutes. (Add an additional 30 minutes for Hidden Beach)
• Fee: None
• Facilities: There are flush toilets in the Lagoon Creek picnic area.
• Pets: No

Details: The Yurok Loop Trail begins at the northern end of Lagoon Creek Picnic Area. Heading counterclockwise, the trail follows the coast on the California Coastal Trail for the first half mile, offering spectacular views of False Klamath Cove, Wilson Beach, and the Pacific coastline studded with rugged sea stacks.

Then, it turns back inland on the Loop Trail, winding through a coastal scrub forest along the lagoon.

*Option: consider extending this hike by adding on the mile round trip hike to Hidden Beach. Instead of returning inland on the Yurok Loop, continue half a mile south on the scenic Coastal Trail.

There is a short, unmarked spur trail near a trail junction that leads down to Hidden Beach. The secluded cove features huge sea stacks and piles of driftwood logs that you may have to climb over to reach the beach. It’s a great place to bird-watch, beach comb, or enjoy the crashing surf. 

5. Cal Barrel Road

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Location: Off the Newton B. Drury Parkway in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The road is open to hikers/bicyclists even if the gate is closed.

• Distance: Up to 3.5 miles one way/7 round trip if you do it all. *You can do as much or as little of this walk as you like since this is not a destination hike. 
• Difficulty: Moderate with 700 ft elevation gain
• Fee: None
• Facilities: None 
• Pets: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome

Details: This reclaimed logging road is the best place in the parks to hike through giant redwoods with leashed pets. (Pets are not allowed on any other park trails.) Bicyclists are also welcome to ride this seven-mile round trip through the trees with a steady climb and return coast.

6. Revelation Trail

Location: About 150 yards south of Prairie Creek Visitor Center. 

• Distance: Quarter-mile loop
• Difficulty: Easy, wheelchair accessible
• Fee: None
• Facilities: There are restrooms with flush toilets at the Visitor Center.
• Pets: No

Details: This lovely trail through stunning old-growth trees was specially designed for those with vision and mobility challenges.

Not only is it wheelchair and stroller-friendly, but it also includes a rope to guide the vision-impaired through the grove.

It’s a great option for those wishing to experience the wonder of the redwoods without having to commit to a longer hike.

RELATED: How to Get to Redwood National and State Parks

7. Karl Knapp Trail (Prairie Creek) to Foothills Trail or Cathedral Trees Trail

Location: The Karl Knap (formerly known as Prairie Creek) Trail begins in front of Prairie Creek Visitor Center.

• Distance: 2.5 miles if returning via the Foothills Trail or 3 miles if returning via the Cathedral Trees Trail. 
• Difficulty: Relatively easy.
• Fee: None
• Pets: No
• Facilities: There are restrooms with flush toilets at the Visitor Center.

Details: This beautiful loop follows the Karl Knapp Trail north along picturesque creeks, across boardwalks and wooden bridges, and through a grove of magnificent towering redwoods.

After about a mile, turn right to cross the Newton B. Drury Parkway and connect into the southward-bound Foothill Trail toward Big Tree Wayside.

After gazing up at the colossal giant named Big Tree, you can continue for a mile on the Foothills Trail or take the longer Cathedral Trees Trail to return to the Visitor Center.

*There are several trails that fork off from this route, so grab a trail map from a ranger and some clear directions before heading out.

8. Trillium Falls

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Location: You’ll find the trailhead in the Elk Meadow Picnic Area off Davison Road, just three miles north of Orick on the southern end of the parks. 

• Distance: 1 mile round trip to and from the falls or a total of 3 miles if doing the entire loop.
• Difficulty: Moderately easy with some switchbacks and an elevation gain of 200 feet.
• Fee: None
• Facilities: There are restrooms with flush toilets at Elk Meadows Picnic Area.
• Pets: No

Details: This lovely hike meanders past old-growth redwoods, maples, trillium flowers, ferns, and fir trees, and across a wooden bridge to a picturesque little waterfall. Although the falls are not tall or especially grand, the walk itself is scenic and beautiful. It’s a great option for families.

9. Fern Canyon

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Location: The trailhead is at the Gold Bluffs Beach parking area at the end of Davison Road (a seven-mile unpaved, narrow, and windy drive with lots of potholes and a few stream crossings). 

• Distance: 1 mile 
• Difficulty: Easy, but may require climbing over downed logs and crossing a shallow stream.
• Fee: A day-use fee is required. Pay with cash, or check, or show a California State or federal park pass at the entrance booth.
• Permit: If hiking to Fern Canyon from Gold Bluffs Beach between May 15th and September 15th, you’ll need to reserve a free online parking permit at least a day in advance. 
• Facilities: Vault toilets in the parking area.
• Pets: No

Details: The Fern Canyon trail winds along a creek bed through a narrow gorge. Spectacular 50-foot tall walls covered with lush green ferns tower above, making this canyon look like it’s straight out of prehistoric times.

Fun fact–Stephen Spielberg chose this primeval-looking location to film scenes from his dinosaur thriller, Jurassic Park The Lost World.

There are two options for completing this hike:

1. You can walk through the canyon and exit through the forest in a one-mile loop.

2. You can walk through the canyon both ways.

The second option gives you more time to spend in this magical movie location. Whichever option you choose, remember that your feet will get wet, so plan to hike in sandals or waterproof shoes.

Note: RVs over 24 feet and trailers are not permitted on Davison Road. Vehicles with low clearance are not advised.

10. Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail

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Location: To access the trail, take Bald Hills Road north of Orick and drive about three miles to the trailhead.

• Distance: 1.5 miles / 2.5 km loop
• Difficulty: Moderately easy loop trail that takes a little over an hour to complete
• Fee: None
• Facilities: Vault toilets at the trailhead
• Pets: No

Details: Another magnificent grove of colossal giants awaits at the Lady Bird Johnson Grove.

A wide trail showcases ancient redwoods that reach up to dizzying heights, maples that dazzle in the fall, and rhododendrons that burst with color come spring.

Rangers lead daily walks through the grove in the summer. You can also download the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Walking Tour on the NPS app to read the information that corresponds with the numbered markers along the trail.

Learn more about the unique ecosystem as well as about the remarkable former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, for whom the grove is named.

Note: There is limited parking at this trailhead and no parking or turnarounds for large vehicles. RVs and trailers are not advised.

Safety Considerations

Here are some ways you can keep yourself and this fragile ecosystem safe while you hike:

• Always hike with a buddy or in a group and keep children close. If hiking alone, make sure to tell someone your plans and expected return.
• Always lock your car door and hide all valuables.
• Watch out for poison oak. This poisonous plant has three distinctive, smooth, shiny leaflets: “Leaves of three, let them be!” Wash your skin thoroughly if you have contact.
• Stay on designated trails and use insect repellent with DEET to avoid getting bitten by ticks–especially in the summer. Ticks can carry Lyme disease.
• Avoid hiking in the forest during high winds when branches and trees are more likely to fall.
• Be mindful of the tides, sneaker waves, and fragile cliff sides when hiking along the coast and along the shore.
• Lastly - help keep this beautiful yet fragile ecosystem safe by staying on designated trails and not trailblazing through the brush. Redwood roots are shallow and easily damaged by thoughtless human footsteps. And remember to never feed or harass wild animals. This is their home, after all.

Final Thoughts

Whether you walk among the ancient redwoods, trek along the beautiful California coast, or explore a prehistoric-looking canyon, you can’t go wrong. Hiking in the Redwood National and State Parks is a magical experience no matter what trail you choose.

Enhance your adventure with Shaka Guide's tailored audio tour of Redwood National Park. Let it be your virtual companion, immersing you in the park's beauty and natural history.

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 Redwood National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.

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How to Get to Redwood National and State Parks

Biggest Trees in Redwood National and State Parks