what is there to do at the redwoods
Home to the tallest trees on Earth, many of which soar more than 350 feet to a higher place the woods floor beneath, the Redwood National and Country Parks are unique in the earth.
12 Best Things to Do in Redwood National Park & State Parks, California
Contents
- 12 Best Things to Do in Redwood National Park & State Parks, California
- What to Do in Redwood National Park & State Parks?
- 1. Explore Stout Memorial Grove
- 2. Hike Downwards to the Declension on the Damnation Creek Trail
- three. Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
- iv. See Roosevelt Elk at Elk Prairie
- 5. Feel the Redwoods With All Your Senses on the Revelation Trail
- vi. Campsite at Gold Bluffs Beach
- 7. Walk Through Prehistoric Fern Canyon
- 8. Go for a Full-Twenty-four hour period Hike on the Miner'due south Ridge – James Irvine Loop
- nine. Hike a Section of the Coastal Trail
- 10. Visit Lady Bird Johnson Grove
- 11. Drive the Bald Hills Road
- 12. Gaze Up at Huge Redwoods in Tall Trees Grove
- Where to Stay Virtually Redwood National Park?
- Redwood Attractions Map
- Suggested Itineraries for Redwood National and State Parks
- 1 Day in Redwood National and State Parks
- two Days in Redwood National and State Parks
- 3 Days in Redwood National and State Parks (Recommended!)
- Redwood National Park Video
- Other Nearby National Parks to Explore
Jointly managed past California State Parks and the National Park Service, this four-park complex preserves some of the last remaining groves of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). This is both an International Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
When yous visit Redwood National Park and its 3 adjacent country parks, you tin walk underneath these enormous trees—some are several centuries old, while the oldest ones have been around since the fall of the Roman Empire.
In add-on to walking in an ancient wood of giant trees, other things to do in Redwood National Park and State Parks include beach camping, elk viewing and breathtaking drives.
Below, yous'll find the summit activities and attractions in Redwood National Park, as well as some suggested redwood itineraries and where to stay.
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What to Do in Redwood National Park & Country Parks?
While the massive redwoods are the undisputed highlight of this amazing parks complex in Northern California, I also highly recommend exploring the area's other, different areas.
There are prairies frequented by herds of Roosevelt elk and the occasional blackness deport; there's a fascinating coastline where cliffs and rocks alternating with sandy beaches.
The following list of best things to do in Redwood National and Country Park shows the parks' peak activities, ranked from due north to s. When driving s on U.Due south. Route 101—say, on a long road trip from Portland, Oregon—yous'll visit the iv parks in this order:
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods Land Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Redwood National Park
When driving north from, for example, San Francisco, simply reverse the order of these Redwood attractions.
1. Explore Stout Memorial Grove
Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
When coming from Oregon and driving south on U.S. 101, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the first park you'll get to. And the Stout Memorial Grove Trail is the perfect introduction to the mighty redwoods.
This 44-acre stand of colossal 300-human foot former-growth redwoods is the heart of this popular state park, and ane of the tiptop attractions in the Redwood National Park and Country Parks.
Set on the south banking concern of the Smith River—which is a pop identify for picnicking, swimming and (whitewater) kayaking—the Stout Memorial Grove can be explored on a fun lilliputian loop trail.
Due to seasonal floods, the growth of understory trees, bushes and plants is inhibited. This allows you to come across, admire and appreciate the full size of these sylvan giants.
There are two ways to admission the loop trail: year round from the small parking expanse at the east end of Howland Hill Road, or in summer across the hiker's footbridge over the Smith River from the land park's campground.
2. Hike Down to the Declension on the Damnation Creek Trail
Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Without question 1 of the best day hikes in Redwood National and Country Parks, the Damnation Creek Trail run downwardly from U.S. 101 to the rugged Northern California coast.
The trailhead is at a small pullout on U.S. 101 in Del Norte Coast Redwoods Land Park. Annotation that yous can only pull out here when driving in the southbound lane. When driving northward, you have to drive past it, plough around and pull out on the way back.
Different many of the shorter Redwood trails, which typically loop around a redwood grove, this longer day hike takes you through a magnificent old-growth redwood forest, down to the Pacific declension.
It's 1 of my personal favorite (longer) twenty-four hour period hikes in the Redwood parks complex.
The trail runs 1,100 feet downwards a westward-facing slope, which makes it platonic for a tardily-afternoon hike—later in the twenty-four hours, the dominicus lights up the wood beautifully.
I like this trail so much because it offers the chance to experience two of the parks' major features: the giant redwood wood and the wild rocky coast.
Annotation that, in this instance, the kickoff function of the hike is the easy function. The claiming awaits on the steep one,100-foot rising support from the coast.
Additionally, thank you to its location, it'due south also a great place to stop and do a hike on the way between Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the north and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park / Redwood National Park in the s.
iii. Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
About x miles long, the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is a beautiful alternative to U.South. Highway 101 in Prairie Creek Redwoods Country Park. Information technology's a glorious road that takes you lot through a towering sometime-growth redwood woods.
If you only have time to exercise one or ii things and yous're wondering where to go in Redwood National Park and State Parks, this should exist at the top of your list. Information technology's a spectacular road.
What makes information technology so special is that it'south one of but a couple of roads in the world where you can feel the redwoods with any kind of vehicle. From bicycles and motorbikes to huge RVS, all wheeled vehicles can use this scenic redwood route.
There are numerous pullouts and trails for those who'd like to see these giant trees from up close. Pop stops are Large Tree and Elk Prairie, which is home to a large herd of Roosevelt elk.
4. See Roosevelt Elk at Elk Prairie
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
The largest subspecies of elk in North America, the royal Roosevelt elk can be seen all throughout the Redwood parks arrangement.
The best places to see elk, however, are south of Klamath. Particularly cracking locations are Gold Bluffs Embankment, along the Baldheaded Hills Route, around the town of Orick and, especially, at appropriately named Elk Prairie.
When nosotros arrived at the Prairie Creek Company Center, two huge bull elk were peacefully grazing in the prairie but beyond the road. Afterwards on, we saw a large herd of Roosevelt elk but upward the road.
Notation: Roosevelt elk are among the largest land mammals in America. Think that they're wild animals and, therefore, can be dangerous. Observe them from a safe altitude; never approach them. Utilize a proficient pair of binoculars and/or a telephoto lens. Be especially careful during calving season (May and June) and mating season (fall).
5. Experience the Redwoods With All Your Senses on the Revelation Trail
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods Land Park
Designed specifically for people who are visually impaired, the Revelation Trail is one of the about boggling and immersive hikes in the redwoods. Although only 0.three miles long, it'southward 1 of the elevation things to practise at Redwood National Park and State Parks.
When walking on this woods path, you are encouraged to apply and engage all your senses.
In social club to feel the redwood forest to the fullest, yous "can bear on the rough bawl of a redwood and so compare it to the soft feel of a moss-covered fir or spruce, while sounds of the creek murmur in the background. The precipitous aroma of California bay and tart taste of redwood sorrel allow for a more consummate understanding of the ecosystem."
6. Campsite at Gold Bluffs Beach
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods Country Park
A remote campground in the dunes of Aureate Bluffs Beach, this is easily ane of our favorite national park campgrounds. It's located well-nigh 6 miles up unpaved Davison Road and offers visitors the take a chance to camp on the wild Pacific coast and amid Roosevelt elk.
The secluded sandy beach is literally a minute from the campsites, while redwoods height alpine cliffs in the background.
From this campground, you lot can also walk to gorgeous Fern Canyon and admission the awesome Miner's Ridge Trail. The Coastal Trail runs right through the campground besides.
This is a pocket-sized campground, though, with but 26 sites. You'll need to volume your site well in accelerate.
Every bit far as facilities become, there are solar showers and flush toilets, barbecues and burn pits, picnic tables and food lockers—more than enough for a remote camping chance with some basic luxuries.
Note that the first part of Davison Road is very steep and winding. Large RVs and trailers of any kind are prohibited on this route and, as such, at the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground. In that location are no hookups.
7. Walk Through Prehistoric Fern Canyon
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods Land Park
Although you lot won't find whatever towering redwoods hither, Fern Canyon is however one of the places you simply must see in Redwood National and State Parks. Flanked by 50-foot-high walls, this mini-canyon is covered in verdant and aboriginal ferns.
Due to its prehistory advent, Fern Canyon has served equally filming location for scenes in The Lost World: Jurassic Park and the BBC'south Walking With Dinosaurs series.
The Fern Canyon Trail runs through this scenic canyon, forth and across bubbling Home Creek. You can explore the coulee on a 0.five-mile out-and-dorsum hike or a slightly longer 1-mile loop hike. Set to climb through log jams created past winter floods and to get your anxiety moisture!
Exploring Fern Canyon is i of the about popular things to practise in the Redwood parks complex. I recommend arriving early to get a parking spot—or alternatively, campsite at nearby Gold Bluffs Beach.
eight. Go for a Full-Solar day Hike on the Miner'south Ridge – James Irvine Loop
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Although hiking the Miner's Ridge Trail, James Irvine Trail and Fern Coulee Trail loop is a full-24-hour interval commitment, it'south 100% worth it. In fact, on this 12-mile loop, you get to experience the accented all-time of Redwood National Park and State Parks, in all their diverseness and beauty.
Calling this the greatest long twenty-four hour period hike in the redwoods is not an exaggeration at all. It offers an extraordinary opportunity to bask Redwood'due south sheer variety of scenery, all on ane long hike.
Y'all'll hike from Elk Prairie through a spectacular onetime-growth redwood forest, wander through famous Fern Canyon, and likewise include a section of the Coastal Trail on Gold Bluffs Beach.
Many hikers offset this loop at the top, at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, hiking down to the coast on the James Irvine Trail and back up on the Miner's Ridge Trail.
However, if you managed to get a site at the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground—hands one of the all-time national park campgrounds nosotros've ever stayed at—y'all tin conveniently start your hike there, too.
From prairie and forest to beach and canyon, this fantastic loop hike is without question one of the all-time Redwood National and Land Parks activities.
Read more than: Best Hikes in Redwood National and Land Parks
9. Hike a Section of the Littoral Trail
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods Country Park (or Del Norte Declension Redwoods State Park or Redwood National Park)
Following the rugged coastline in Redwood National and Country Parks for 70 miles, the Coastal Trail is one of the greatest multi-solar day hikes in America'due south national parks. It runs from Crescent Beach to Elk Meadow.
While backpacking its entire length is certainly possible for avid hikers, about visitors opt to exercise a section of this scenic trail. Especially the Gold Bluffs Beach section is popular, cheers to its beautiful littoral scenery and nearby attractions like Fern Canyon.
Along the way, you tin can explore tidepools, walk beyond gorgeous sandy beaches and underneath redwood-topped cliffs. There'southward plenty of wildlife effectually, too, from starfish, crabs and sea lions to Roosevelt elk and blackness bears.
10. Visit Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Location: Redwood National Park
If you're looking for brusque Redwood National Park trails, it doesn't get whatsoever better than the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. This pleasant one.v-mile loop trail meanders through an upland stand of old-growth redwoods.
It runs past the site where Lady Bird Johnson—who actively fought for the protection and creation of natural habitats during her time as First Lady—defended Redwood National Park in 1968. A plaque commemorates that important day and location.
In addition to massive redwoods, this forest also consists of tanoak and Douglas fir, every bit well as azaleas and rhododendrons that add together some cute colour to the scenery in spring.
11. Drive the Bald Hills Road
Location: Redwood National Park
The breathtaking Bald Hills Road is off of U.S. 101 about 1 mile due north of Orick. It'due south the only road through Redwood National Park and offers access to both Lady Bird Johnson Grove and Tall Trees Grove.
Along its 17-mile course, the road climbs steeply (15 percent) from near sea level to the top of a series of coastal hills. It winds through a forest of huge old-growth redwoods and beyond several open prairies, which are home to Roosevelt elk and black bears.
In spring, this is a bang-up place to enjoy an abundance of colorful wildflowers.
The first 13 miles of the Bald Hills Route are paved, the last section is gravel. Considering of its steepness and abrupt turns, large RVs and trailers are non recommended on this road.
12. Gaze Up at Huge Redwoods in Tall Copse Grove
Location: Redwood National Park
Fabricated famous past a National Geographic Magazine commodity in 1963, the Tall Trees Grove played a vital role in the establishment of Redwood National Park several years later.
Thanks to its sheltered location, abundant water sources and fertile soil, the grove has many redwoods that are higher than 350 feet (106 meters). The tallest tree on World—Hyperion—is, even so, not located here. Its location is kept secret to protect it.
Situated in the very center of the national park, the Alpine Trees Trail is one of the most popular places to visit in Redwood National Park. Getting there is not easy, though, and requires some planning.
First, yous need to get a gratuitous let, which is issued on a commencement-come up starting time-served basis and contains a code to open up the locked gate on the access route. It's at least a i-60 minutes bulldoze from the nearest visitor heart to the trailhead, including nearly 6.v miles on a steep, unpaved forest road.
Fifty-fifty though the Tall Trees Trail is only four miles in full, the whole trip, including the bulldoze, takes virtually iv hours.
Where to Stay Near Redwood National Park?
Several towns are scattered around this four-park complex, nearly of which have accommodations. So, if you lot're non planning to campsite, you can find motels, hotels, cabins and/or B&Bs in places similar Eureka, Orick and Crescent City.
Booking.comThat being said, notwithstanding, I ever recommend spending at least one nighttime in whatever national park you lot visit. The same, of grade, applies to Redwood National and Land Park. Each of the iv parks has its own campground, all of which are developed and offering most basic campground facilities.
If yous'd like to camp amongst huge redwoods, consider setting upward camp at Jedediah Smith Campground or Mill Creek Campground. The Elk Prairie Campground, on the other paw, is a fantastic base camp for wildlife viewing at dawn and dusk.
The fourth campground—and by far my favorite—is Gold Bluffs Beach Campground. Located about 6 miles up unpaved Davison Road, this small 26-site campground sits on a remote sand beach, backed past cliffs and a redwood woods.
I loved this particular campground so much that I included staying there in my list of the best things to do in Redwood National Park and State Parks to a higher place. I could not recommend this place more.
Redwood Attractions Map
Suggested Itineraries for Redwood National and State Parks
Traversed past U.S. 101, i of America's greatest highways, the Redwood National and State Parks complex can be a passing-through destination for some visitors, while others might want to spend a few days exploring these mighty forests and secluded coasts.
Whatever your itinerary dictates, there is a fashion to immerse yourself in the redwood forest.
1 Day in Redwood National and State Parks
Fifty-fifty if yous only have one solar day in the Redwood parks, you tin can even so make the nigh of your feel by focusing on the post-obit activities and attractions. Information technology as well means that y'all won't be able to visit all iv parks, though.
- Drive the Newton B. Drury Breathtaking Parkway and practice some short hikes
- Encounter Roosevelt elk at Elk Prairie
- Bulldoze Davison Road and enjoy Gold Bluffs Embankment
- Walk through Fern Coulee
- Visit Lady Bird Johnson Grove
2 Days in Redwood National and State Parks
Spending ii days in Redwood National and State Parks allows y'all to explore the parks complex in more detail.
24-hour interval 1 (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods Land Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods Country Park):
- Explore the Stout Memorial Grove
- Hike the Damnation Creek Trail
- Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
- See Roosevelt elk at Elk Prairie
- Camp at Gold Bluffs Embankment
Twenty-four hours 2 (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park):
- Walk through Fern Coulee
- Visit Lady Bird Johnson Grove
- Drive the Bald Hills Route
- Hike through Tall Trees Grove
3 Days in Redwood National and Country Parks (Recommended!)
While the two-day itinerary in a higher place is pretty solid, calculation a third mean solar day to your Redwood National Park itinerary ways that y'all can do all the activities mentioned to a higher place in this blog post.
We spent three full days in these parks, allowing us to visit both Redwood National Park and all three Redwood state parks. This suggested 3-day itinerary for Redwood National Park is based on our time spent in that location.
Day 1 (Jedediah Smith Redwoods Land Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park):
- Explore the Stout Memorial Grove
- Hike the Damnation Creek Trail
- Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
- Run into Roosevelt elk at Elk Prairie
- Camp at Gold Bluffs Embankment
Solar day 2 (Prairie Creek Redwoods Country Park):
- Hike the Miner'southward Ridge – James Irvine Loop, which includes Fern Coulee and a department of the Coastal Trail
- Chill out at Aureate Bluffs Beach
- Camp at Gold Bluffs Beach
24-hour interval 3 (Redwood National Park):
- Visit Lady Bird Johnson Grove
- Drive the Baldheaded Hills Road
- Hike through Tall Copse Grove
Redwood National Park Video
After decades of logging in the nineteenth and early-20th centuries, the massive redwoods were on the brink of extinction. California state parks were established to save some of the last remaining redwood groves, followed by the creation of Redwood National Park in the fall of 1968.
Nowadays, a number of organizations and conservationists continue to fight for the redwoods in northern California. One of the organizations I'd like to highlight is the Save the Redwoods League, a nonprofit that has been pushing for redwood preservation since 1918.
In the video below, they've partnered up with Teresa Baker, a Bay Area-based abet for more than diverseness in the outdoors. It's a great 10-minute video that shows the importance of more inclusion of minorities in America's parks.
Other Nearby National Parks to Explore
The Redwood National and State Parks are a phenomenal Pacific Northwest park to visit. But what makes this even more attractive is the fact that there are several more than ballsy parks in the region.
From massive volcanoes and an impossibly blueish lake to razor-abrupt mountain peaks and pristine temperate rain foresst, I recommend that you at least consider visiting one of these other national parks in the Pacific Northwest:
- Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
- Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
- Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Northward Cascades National Park, Washington
Have You Ever Visited the Redwood Forest? What Were Your Favorite Things to Do in Redwood National Park and Country Parks? Share Your National Parks Experience in the Comments Beneath!
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