The Ultimate Guide to Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park has some of the tallest trees in the world and is comprised of lush redwoods, prairies, beautiful rivers, and 40 miles of rugged coastline. With nearly 40,000 acres of old-growth redwood forest, these parks protect half of the world’s old-growth redwoods. The national park was established in 1968, but the partnered state parks have been protecting the redwoods since the 1920s.

The Redwoods is a highly underrated and under-visited national park. In this complete guide, I am sharing everything you need to know for your next trip from where to stay, the best hikes, and the best things to do in the area.

Where is Redwood National Park?

Redwood National Park is located in Northwestern California along the California-Oregon border. The closest city to the Redwoods area is Crescent City which I highly recommend making your home base unless you will be camping or using a camper van.

Is Redwood a State or National Park?

This is kind of a trick question because the answer is both. The Redwoods are made up of a national park and 3 state parks known as the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP).  Together, the National Park Service and California State Parks work together to maintain the parks.

• Del Norte Coast Redwoods
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods
• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Redwood National Park

How to Get to the Redwoods

Redwood National Park is extremely remote and can be difficult to get to because it is not near any major cities. I recommend flying into one of the airports below based on your budget and timeline.

Closest Major Airports

• Oakland International Airport (OAK) –about a 6-hour drive
• Portland International Airport (PDX) – about a 6-hour drive
• Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) – about a 3-hour drive
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – about a 6-hour drive
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF) – about a 6-hour drive

Closest Local Airports

• California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) – about a 30-minute drive
• Del Norte County Regional Airport (CEC) – about a 30-minute drive

Best Time to Visit the Redwoods

Spring is probably the best time to visit, specifically from April to June. This is when the woods are lush and green, the crowds are at a minimum, and all of the trails are usually open. The summertime is a bit busier, but not near as busy as most popular national parks. Fall is usually a nice time to visit, but it can be difficult as wildfire season is from July to October. The winter can be nice if you are willing to take on the weather. The mist, fog, and drizzle can really enhance the scenery and create a sense of mystical wonder. We got touches of fog throughout our time in June, so it can be hard to say exactly when you’ll get the perfect weather.

Are There Any Entrance Fees for the Redwoods?

Fernwood Canyon/Gold Bluffs Beach has an entrance fee for that specific area, but the park system as a whole does not have an entrance fee as you find in most National Parks.

Where to Stay in the Redwoods

Redwood National and State Parks don’t have any lodges or hotels inside the park. To stay inside the park, you’ll need to stay at one of the park’s 4 campgrounds. The other option is staying nearby in Crescent City (where we opted to stay).

• Garage Apartment in Crescent City: This is where we opted to stay. Super affordable and close to town.
• Coastal Cottage in Crescent City: Cute cottage with a short walk to the beach and a short drive to the Redwoods.
• Garage House in Crescent City: The panoramic ocean views are worth the slight increase in price.
• Beachfront House in Crescent City: Stunning views in this beachfront, luxury home.
• Remote Bungalow: Great location not too far from Crescent City or Redwood parks.
• Cozy Cabin Outside Crescent City: Newly constructed cabins a bit outside Crescent City.
• Cottage by the Sea Guesthouse: Near the beach in the heart of Crescent City.

Best Things to Do in Redwood National and State Parks

Best Hikes in Redwood National and State Parks

FERN CANYON LOOP TRAIL

• Area: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Roundtrip distance: 1 mile
• Elevation gain: 150 feet
• Difficulty rating: Easy
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• Permit Required: Apply online here
• Tip: Check out Gold Bluffs Beach while you’re in the area.
• This area was featured in the second Jurassic Park film ‘The Lost World’ and there are over a dozen fern species dating back 325 million years.

KARL KNAPP AND FOOTHILL LOOP

• Area: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Roundtrip distance: 2.5 miles
• Elevation gain: 95 feet
• Difficulty rating: Easy. ADA Accessible.
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• Tip: Can combine with the Cathedral Tree Trail Loop which we opted to do
• Formerly called Praire Creek Trail, so can be a bit confusing when reading blogs, maps, and signs.
• Bonus – this trailhead is located right across from Elk Meadow where you can often spot herds of elk grazing!

TRILLIUM FALLS

• Area: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Distance: 2.6 miles
• Elevation: 433 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• The lush redwood forests are surrounded by ocean and rivers, so it’s only natural that you’d find a waterfall nestled in the redwoods. The short, family-friendly trail takes you through an old-growth redwood forest to the 10-foot-tall Trillium Falls.

STOUT MEMORIAL GROVE

• Area: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Roundtrip distance: 0.7 miles
• Elevation gain: 32 feet
• Difficulty rating: Easy. ADA accessible.
• Caution: Dirt road access, check conditions before you go
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• One of the easiest, yet stunning views. Definitely add this one to your list!

BOY SCOUT TREE TRAIL

• Area: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Roundtrip distance: 5.3 miles
• Elevation gain: 938 feet
• Difficulty rating: Moderate
• Caution: Dirt road access, check conditions before you go
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• Because my husband is an Eagle Scout, we were not going to miss the opportunity for this trail. The trail is a bit of elevation gain, but was totally doable!

SIMPSON-REED TRAIL

• Area: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Roundtrip distance: 0.8 miles
• Elevation gain: 52 feet
• Difficulty rating: Easy.
• Tip: For a longer walk, you can add on the Peterson Loop Trail
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps

TALL TREES GROVE LOOP TRAIL

• Area: Redwood National Park
• Roundtrip distance: 3.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 780 feet
• Difficulty rating: Moderate
• Permit required: Apply online here
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• Tall Trees Grove was home to the tallest tree in the world until 1994 when the top died back moving it to the 34th tallest tree.

LADY BIRD JOHNSON TRAIL

• Park: Redwood National Park
• Roundtrip distance: 1.5 miles
• Elevation gain: 101 feet
• Difficulty rating: Easy
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• This is a beautiful walk through Redwood and Douglas Fir trees. The short and flat trail is located in an upland grove, so the trees here are smaller than some you’ll find in lowland groves. This is a great alternative to the Tall Trees Grove Trail if you are worried about the elevation, therefore making it a pretty popular hike in Redwood National Park.

DAMNATION CREEK HIKING TRAIL

• Park: Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park
• Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 1,190 feet  
• Difficulty rating: Difficult
• Trailhead Location on Google Maps
• This trail was closed when we went and I was extremely disappointed as it was pretty high on my list.
• Note: While this trail is rated as difficult, I have heard that the first mile or so has the best views. So you could shorten the distance and elevation gain by turning around sooner!

Redwood National Park Scenic Drives

1. Bald Hills Road
2. Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
3. Howland Hill Road
4. Enderts Beach Road
5. Klamath Beach Road

Redwood National Park Scenic Overlooks

Klamath River Overlook

The Klamath River Overlook is a stunning and unique view high above where the Klamath River meets the ocean. The drive up is pretty steep and narrow.

Redwood Creek Overlook

High above the forest, this overlook offers stunning views of redwoods with the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

High Bluff Overlook

This is one of the best overlooks in the Redwood area. Situated high above the Pacific Ocean, High Bluff Overlook will give you gorgeous views of the rugged California coastline.

Best Things to Near the Redwoods (Northern Side)

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

One of the highlights of our trip was hopping across the California/Oregon border to visit the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on the southern Oregon coastline. This state park features 12 miles of thickly forested and rugged coastline, quiet sandy beaches, and remarkable rock formations in the ocean. It is a must-see if you are in the area!

• Cape Ferrelo Viewpoint: 1-mile trail takes you through breathtaking views.
• House Rock Viewpoint: Take a short walk to Samuel H. Boardman Memorial with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Here you can take many side trails to secret and secluded beaches.
• Whaleshead Beach Overlook: Named after the sea stack that looks like a whale’s head, this beach is flat and easy to reach. A perfect place to pull over and have a quick bite to eat. FYI, the Whaleshead Beach Overlook is a bit further south than the Whaleshead Beach parking lot.
• Natural Bridges Viewpoint: One of the most iconic views in the area – seven arched rocks and blowholes surround a cove. There is a
• Secret Beach: This secluded cove is home to some of the most iconic sea stacks on the Oregon Coast. It can be hard to find, so here is a blog post with details.
• Arch Rock: Extremely short walk from the parking lot to a viewpoint. You will find a cluster of sea stacks with one particular rock that has a hole right through the middle, forming an “arch.”
• Other stunning stops: Spruce Island from Deer Point, Thunder Rock Cove, North Island, Thomas Creek Bridge, Indian Sands, Lone Ranch Picnic Area

Best Things to Near the Redwoods (Southern Side)

Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants is 31 miles of scenic highway-lined coastal redwoods driving through Humboldt Redwoods State Park about an hour south of Redwood National Park. There are tons of hiking trails, but due to being short on time, we only had time for one hike. This scenic drive has been on many travelers’ bucket lists for years, and I definitely recommend taking the time to visit!

• Founders Grove Trail – 0.5-mile loop trail

Sue-Meg State Park

Sue-Meg State Park is a 64o acre California State Park that sits right on the coast with panoramic views of the ocean, stunning cliffs and lots of great places to watch the sunset. If you are road-tripping through northern California, you should add this to your list!

• Rocky Point – a great place to watch the sunset
• Wedding Rock: 0.2-mile trail
• Mussels Rock – 0.3-mile trail
• Patrick’s Point – for the iconic swings, you can park at Trinidad State Beach and follow signs to College Cove to the cliffs

Drive Through Trees

Driving through a tree is one of the most unique things to do in Redwood National Park. Our experience was great and they allowed you time for photo and video opportunities. If you are in a car and want to experience this – there are 3 options:

• Klamath Tree – in a central area of the park and the closest to Crescent City.
• Shrine Tree – close to the town of Eureka.
• Chandelier Tree – in Leggett.

Redwood National and State Parks Itinerary

2-Day Itinerary to Redwood National Park

Day 1

1. Fern Canyon Loop Trail (1.1 miles)
2. Prairie Creek and Foothill Loop via ‘Big Tree Wayside’ (2.6 miles)
3. Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway
4. Klamath Drive-thru Tree and Scenic Road
5. Klamath River Overlook
6. High Bluff Overlook

Day 2

1. Howland Hill Road
2. Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.3 miles)
3. Simpson-Reed Trail (0.9 miles)
4. Stout Memorial Grove (0.7 miles)
5. Enderts Beach Road

5-Day Itinerary to Redwood National Park

Day 1

1. Samuel H. Boardman State Corridor

Day 2

1. Fern Canyon Loop Trail (1.1 miles)
2. Prairie Creek and Foothill Loop via ‘Big Tree Wayside’ (2.6 miles)
3. Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway
4. Klamath Drive-thru Tree and Scenic Road
5. Klamath River Overlook
6. High Bluff Overlook

Day 3

1. Howland Hill Road
2. Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.3 miles)
3. Simpson-Reed Trail (0.9 miles)
4. Stout Memorial Grove (0.7 miles)
5. Enderts Beach Road

Day 4

1. Tall Trees Grove Loop Trail (3.6 miles)
2. Lady Bird Johnson Trail (1.5 miles)
3. Bald Hills Road for Sunset
4. Redwood Creek Overlook

Day 5

1. Sue Meg State Park
2. Avenue of the Giants
3. Founder Grove Trail
4. Shrine Drive Through Tree

Hope this was helpful in planning your trip to Redwood National Park!

xx,

Ashley

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