Exploring the Redwoods National and State Parks
The Redwoods National and State Parks are a place that leave you in awe. The giant trees towering into the sky, the beautiful green ferns and moss carpeting the floor and the fresh air that leave you rejuvenated and inspired. It’s a place worth making a trip to not once, but multiple times because there’s just so much to see and experience.
The Redwoods National and State Parks are located on California’s Northern Coast. Here you can find the world’s tallest growing trees that makeup the “Redwoods”. The Redwoods are made up of three distinct redwood species, Dawn Redwood, Giant Sequoia, and Coast Redwood. These giant trees are 45% of the world’s last old-growth redwoods.
There’s over 200 miles of trails to hike on and whatever your interest is or fitness level, there’s a trail for your adventure!
Why are they called Redwood National and State Parks?
In 1994, The National Park Service and California State Parks agreed to work together on managing the redwood parklands. The Redwood National and State Parks are basically made up of four different parks, Redwoods National Park, Prairie Creek State Park, Del Norte Coast State Park, and Jedediah Smith State Park.
The State and National Park Service manages 133,00 acres of land and their mission is to “preserve, protect and make available to all people…”
Redwoods National and State Park Information, Maps and Fees
Visitor & Information Centers
There are five different information and visitor centers where you can get maps, guidance, and more park information at, Crescent City Information Center, Hiouchi Visitor Center, Jedediah Smith Visitor Center, Prairie Creek Visitor Center, and Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center.
Entrance Fees
There are actually no entrance fees to drive the scenic roads in the three state parks and national park.
If you are planning on visiting Gold Bluffs Beach and hiking Fern Canyon there’s a $8 day use fee that is to be paid at the kiosk when entering Gold Bluffs Beach.
If you have the America the Beautiful pass you can then access the parks without paying any additional fees as well as if you have the California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass. These passes are honored in the park.
We invested in the America the Beautiful pass a few months ago and brought that along with us. We were able to access Gold Bluffs Beach and hike the Fern Canyon without paying the $8 day use fee. It’s an awesome pass to buy especially if you’re planning on visiting multiple National Parks in a year.
Helpful Redwoods National and State Parks Guides and Maps
If you are stopping into an information or visitor center then you’ll most likely get a map of the parks and Visitor Guide with helpful information about the park and recommended hikes and scenic drives.
Here’s a link to the map and visitor guide to help you plan your trip ahead of time.
Best Time of Year to Explore Redwoods National and State Parks
The Redwood National and State Parks is open every day. Not all visitor centers, campgrounds, and day-use areas are open year round, several of them maintain seasonal hours. Check before going.
The temperatures stay pretty moderate at the parks during the year. During the summer you will find a lot of people visiting the park therefore there might be traffic on the roads and more people hiking the trails alongside you.
Going during the off-season such as spring or fall can be a great time because there’s less people and weather can still be great! We went mid-March and enjoyed blue skies and sunshine most of the time. In the evening there was some rain but not much.
During the winter roads might be closed due to rain, flooding or landslides as well as some trails. Not all roads are paved in the park so this would really affect your trip if you were planning on going during the winter season.
What to Wear and Bring
No matter when you decide to go it’s always a good idea to dress in layers and bring a rain jacket, and reliable footwear that you would be comfortable hiking in or getting wet.
Here’s some of our favorite gear to bring along on our outdoor adventures,
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Check out this post with all of Our Favorite Travel Gear!
Where to Stay While Exploring Redwoods National & State Parks
Crescent City
Coming down from Portland, OR we decided that Crescent City would be a great base for all of our adventures in the Redwoods. We thought about staying in two different places so that it would take less drive time between all the state parks, but we ended up settling with just staying in Crescent City and we are glad we did.
To get to the furthest park which is Prairie Creek State Park and Redwoods National Park it took only about an hour. We made it into a road trip, stopping along the way for hikes and view points, so it really didn’t feel all that long. Jedediah Smith State Park and Del Norte Coast State Park were very close, only about 15 mins away from our Airbnb.
We loved our Airbnb! We had the entire guest suite to ourselves which was up above the garage. It had a small kitchenette, bathroom/shower, table, couch, and bed. It was very cozy and had everything we needed to cook breakfast and make quick sandwiches for the day’s adventures. We recommend staying here!
The Airbnb we stayed at and recommend- Storybook Guesthouse Unit B Upstairs
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Crescent City was a great place to stay because we had close access to gas stations, grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, and the coast! We enjoyed going out to eat at SeaQuake Brewing during the evening. We especially loved their deep fried cheese curds! It’s a must try! On one of the days we explored Pebble Beach and Battery Point Lighthouse. Other great places to eat at which were recommended by our airbnb hosts, Chart Room and North Coast Grill.
Other places to stay at that would be close to the Redwoods National and State Parks are Klamath and Trinidad. They have a few airbnb options, cabins and you could also find something on booking.com.
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Booking.comCamping
There are four developed campgrounds in the park as well as several designated backcountry camps which require a free permit.
The four developed campgrounds are located in different parts of the park, Jedediah Smith Campground, Mill Creek Campground, Prairie Creek Campground, and Gold Bluffs Beach Campground.
If you are visiting in the summer be sure to reserve in advance because they tend to fill up quickly.
For more information on camping and backcountry camping check out this site.
Best Things to See and Do in Jedediah Smith State Park
Best Hikes To Do in Jedediah Smith State Park
If you are driving from the north, Jedediah Smith State Park is a great place to start. It was one of our favorite parks that we explored and drove through.
Boy Scout Tree Trail
The Boy Scout Tree Trail is a moderate trail that is 5 1/2 miles out and back. It takes you through the old growth redwoods and ends with Fern Falls. On the way you can also take a short side trail to the giant Boy Scout Tree. We loved hiking this trail and constantly stopped to take pictures.
Stout Grove Trail
Stout Grove Trail is an easy quick trail that takes about half an hour to complete or less. The loop trail takes you amongst the giant redwoods. The soil is a rich red color and thrives with ferns, moss, and other plants growing on it. After hiking the Boy Scout Trail this one was a quick fun walk to do before it was about to get dark.
Best Scenic Drive in Jedediah Smith State Park
Howland Hill Road
Where do I even begin?! This was our favorite scenic drive we did through the Redwoods. The road is narrow at times and is unpaved but it sure is beautiful! We drove very slowly and admired all the tall trees on either side of us. A couple times we even pulled off to get out and take pictures because the trees were just overwhelmingly beautiful! This road is an alternate route and provides entry to Stout Gove and other great hiking trails. If you’re on a motor home or trailer then it’s advised to not go on this road.
Best Things to See and Do in Del Norte Coast State Park
Del Norte Coast State Park is located south of Crescent City and makes for a perfect day of exploring the coast and the Redwoods.
Best Hikes and Stops To Make in Del Norte Coast State Park
Crescent Beach Overlook
If you take Enderts Beach Road you can stop at the Crecent Beach Overlook. It’s a beautiful overlook to watch whales at, have a picnic, or just enjoy the views.
Coastal Trail
The Coastal Trail ( 70 miles) starts from Enderts Beach Road and goes to the Tall Trees Gove in the south. If you commit to backpacking this trail there are backcountry camps that are provided from the north to the south. Free backcountry permits are required for camping along the trail. The trail takes you through beaches, bluffs, grasslands, farm land, and redwood forests. Sounds like an amazing trail to do someday!
Damnation Creek Trail
If you want to do a hike that lets you experience the redwoods and the coast, Damnation Creek Trail is a great one to do! The Damnation Creek Trail is 4 miles long (out and back) and starts taking you through the redwoods and ends at a small rocky beach with beautiful views of the ocean. As of right now the Damnation Creek Trail is open to the bridge but access to the beach from the trail is closed until the bridge can be repaired. Check before going.
Best Things to See and Do in Prairie Creek State Park
Best Hikes To Do in Prairie Creek State Park
Prairie Creek State Park is a beautiful park that is worth exploring and doing a couple hikes in. We spent almost an entire day in Prairie Creek during our trip. One thing to note is that the park is known for it’s Roosevelt Elk that spend their time in the grasslands. Be very careful & respectful and don’t approach the elk.
Elk Meadow and Trillium Falls Trail
Although Trillium Falls is small it’s still a nice short hike to do. You start at the Elk Meadow Day use area and make your way through a second generation and old growth redwood forest. The trail is less than 3 miles long. Also, at Elk Meadow Day Use Area you can have a picnic and possibly even see some elk.
Fern Canyon (A Scene From the Movie “The Lost World” from Jurassic Park Was Filmed)
Fern Canyon makes you feel like you just stepped into the world of “Jurassic Park” The canyon’s 50 foot walls are lush with seven different kinds of ferns. There might be water depending on the time of year you’re going so be prepared for that. We were wearing boots and had no trouble because there are many stones or fallen logs that help you get across the parts with water.
Gold Bluffs Beach
Make a stop at Gold Bluffs Beach if you’re driving to Fern Canyon. It stretches along the road and there’s several pull outs that you can park at to enter the beach. There’s also picnic tables, so it’s a perfect spot to relax at, eat lunch and watch the waves roll in and out.
Miners Ridge & James Irvine Trail
This is a beautiful 11.2 mile moderate trail that starts at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and takes you along a ridge, along the beach and then back through Fern Canyon. This one might be an all day type of hiking trail that you do. With this one you’ll be able to get a good feel for the park, see the ocean and experience Fern Canyon all at the same time!
Best Scenic Drive in Prairie Creek State Park
Newton B. Drury Parkway
Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is an eight mile stretch of the original Redwood Highway. You’ll be able to see beautiful old-growth redwood forest along the drive.
Best Things to See and Do in Redwoods National Park
Best Hikes To Do in Redwoods National Park
Tall Trees Trail
To get to the Tall Trees Trail you will need to pick up a free permit at the Kuchel Visitor Center or Crescent City Information Center. Allow time for this trail because not only do you first have to reach the trailhead but also you will need to hike down to the grove (3.4 miles) The trail is steep and descends 726 feet into the grove where some of the world’s tallest redwood trees grow! There’s definitely some planning required for this trail but it’s totally worth it.
Ladybird Johnson Grove Trail
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail is a 1.5 miles loop trail that meanders through the forest. There’s also a memorial site at which Lady Bird Johnson dedicated the national park in 1968. Pick up the self guiding pamphlet at the start of the trail and make your way through this gorgeous trail!
Redwood Creek Overlook
The Redwood Creek Overlook is a great stop to make to look at the beautiful views of the forest and you might even see the Pacific Ocean if it’s not too foggy or cloudy.
Best Scenic Drive in Redwoods National Park
Bald Hills Road
Bald Hills Road is a scenic drive that is 17 miles in length from U.S. 101 to Lyons Ranch trailhead. The drive gives you access to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail and the Tall Trees Grove Trail. It’s a beautiful drive that feautres redwoods, oak woodlands, prairies and you might even see some wild elk.
Where Can I Drive Through A Tree in the Redwoods?
There are actually no drive-through redwood trees in the National or State parks, but with a little bit of driving you can find a few.
Klamath Tour Thru Tree is located in the town of Klamath, Shrine Drive-Thru Tree is located in the town of Myers Flat and Chandelier Tree in the Drive-Thru Tree Park is located in the town of Leggett. There is a minimal fee to drive through the trees, so be prepared.
Planning Your Trip To The Redwoods National and State Parks
We hope that this has been a helpful guide for your next adventure of exploring the Redwoods National and State Parks. It’s a place that will leave you breathless and inspired!
California has nine state parks and we hope to visit them all someday. If you’re making a road trip down to Oregon, check out our must have adventures, hikes, and places to visit in Oregon.
If you need more inspiration or ideas, follow us on our Instagram @thatoneadventurecouple!
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If you visit, let us know by tagging us in your pictures on Instagram #thatoneadventurecouple #idratherplayoutside!
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6 Incredible Scenic Drives To Take Through The Redwoods National and State Parks - That One Adventure Couple
April 8, 2020 at 8:34 pm[…] ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EXPLORING THE REDWOODS NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS (HIKES, SCENIC DRIVES, AND MORE!) […]