The 7 Best Hikes in Redwood National Park

Redwood National and State Parks are truly a Northern California gem. The best hikes in Redwood National Park are about the journey, not the destination. Every walk among these giant redwood trees will bring amazement to your eyes. Even as you walk amongst them, it is hard to fathom how big they truly are and how long they have been inhabiting the earth. This blog not only details the best hikes in Redwood National Park, but it also talks about some of the best scenic drives in the area.

About Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National Park is a little confusing because it is actually a combination of the national park and 3 California state parks: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek. The 4 parks contain 45% of all coast redwoods, which are the tallest trees in the world. But don’t confuse coast redwoods with sequoias. While coast redwoods are the tallest, they are also more slender than sequoias, which are the biggest trees in the world by volume. If you want to see General Sherman, the largest tree in the world, you will need to visit Sequoia National Park.

The massive trees are not the only feature of these parks. They are also home to old-growth rainforests, oak woodlands, prairies, rivers, and coastlines.

Visit the Redwoods as part of a

14-day Oregon Road Trip!

Best Time to Visit Redwood National Park

Spring is the best time to visit the best hikes in Redwood National Park. The rainy season of winter has passed, the rainforests are at their most lush, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. If you are ok with crowds, summer is also a good time to visit. The forests are still green and the summer fogs roll in making the park even more mystical.

Where to Stay at Redwood National Park

The parks themselves have 8 campgrounds with a limited number of cabins at Prairie Creek and Jedediah Smith State Parks, which fill up months in advance. If camping is not your forte, do not worry. There is plenty of hotel options in the nearby towns of Crescent City, Klamath, Calville, and Eureka.

Fees for Redwood National Park

The fee situation can be a little confusing with the combination of national and state parks. In general, there is no fee to enter the parks or to do the scenic drives. However, the state parks require day-use fees which can be purchased at developed campground entrance stations. But the state parks honor the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass, so make sure to display that if you have one. There is a $12 permit fee for the Gold Beach Day Use Area and Fern Canyon Trailhead, but that fee is also waived with your Interagency Pass.

What to Pack to Redwood National Park

Water!! I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle or two.
Bug Spray – Keep those pesky bugs away!
Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face, but the hat can also keep rain off your face.
Hiking shoes/boots – These are waterproof so walking on the beach or in muddy areas will not be a problem. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your longer hikes.
RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – Keep your drinks and food cool in this soft cooler.
Packing Cubes – Keep your stuff organized in your luggage with these packing cubes.
Rain Jacket – Rain can (and probably will) occur at some point while in northern California, so make sure to pack your men’s or women’s rain jacket.
Waterproof Pants – If visiting in the rainy season, waterproof pants will help keep your legs dry. Men’s Pants.
Jacket – Even in warmer months, the temps can be cool so pack a light men’s or women’s jacket.

Best Hikes in Redwood National Park

1. Stout Memorial Grove

Trail Length – 0.7 miles
Elevation Gain – 35 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Loop
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are pit toilets in the parking area.

Stout Memorial Grove may be the most popular trail in the park and for good reason. The trail is basically a giant tree playground. There are many trees with people size holes in them, and there are many fallen titans. You could spend hours climbing on the fallen trees and getting up close and personal with all the redwoods. Some of the other trails do not allow getting this close to the trees, which makes this a super fun and popular hike.

2. Grove of Titans

Trail Length – 1.7 miles
Elevation Gain – 137 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Out and back
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are pit toilets in the parking area.

Unlike Stout Memorial Grove, the Grove of the Titans trails is a well-defined trail that you are asked not to stray from. As you near the end of the trail, a sign welcomes you to the Grove of the Titans and the trail becomes a raised grated platform. The grove grounds is completely covered in fragile ferns who depend on you staying on the trail for their survival.

3. Fern Canyon Loop

Trail Length – 1.1 miles
Elevation Gain – 127 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Loop
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are pit toilets in the parking area.

Fern Canyon is an easy, short hike where the Redwoods are not the main feature. It is so different than any other trail in these parks. Most of the trail walks you up a creek bed between two 2-story tall fern-covered canyon walls. Make sure to wear water shoes or waterproof shoes as your feet are likely to get wet. During the busy summer months, the park lays down wooden platforms to help you avoid most of the running creek waters. Because of the trail’s extreme popularity, the park has initiated a permit system from May to September to control crowds. If you are unfortunate enough not to get a permit during the summer months, you can arrive before the permit time of 8:00 am. Or you can hike there from Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center area which is 10 miles roundtrip via James Irvine Trail.

4. Trillium Falls Loop

Trail Length – 2.7 miles
Elevation Gain – 449 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Loop
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are flushable toilets in the parking area.

I am going to be honest and say that Trillium Falls itself is less than impressive, but the hike is still remarkable. The waterfalls are only 1/2 a mile from the trailhead, so if that is your end goal, you could only walk 1 mile of the full 2.7-mile loop. But you will want to walk the entire loop to get the full experience of second-growth and old-growth forests.

5. Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Trail Length – 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain – 101 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Loop
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are pit toilets in the parking area.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove is an easy, family-friendly nature walk off Bald Hills Road. President Richard Nixon dedicated this grove to Lady Bird Johnson in 1969 because of her dedication to preserve the natural beauty of Redwood National Park for the American people. Lady Bird Johnson Grove is also a virtual walking tour. Download the National Park Service Mobile App and navigate to the Self-Guided Tours to access the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Walking Tour.

6. Tall Trees Grove

Trail Length – 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain – 1600 feet
Difficulty Rating – Moderately Challenging
Route Type – Loop
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are pit toilets in the parking area.

Tall Trees Grove is a longer hike with big elevation changes which makes this trail not for the feint of heart. The trail drops 800 feet in the first 1.5 miles. Because of its popularity and limited access (only 50 vehicle per day allowed), you will need to acquire a free permit online to hike Tall Trees Grove prior to your arrival.

7. Fern Falls vis Boy Scout Tree Trail

Trail Length – 5.3 miles
Elevation Gain – 938 feet
Difficulty Rating – Moderately Challenging
Route Type – Out and back
Parking Situation – The parking lot holds approximately 20 cars but you can park along the street and walk in.
Restroom Situation – There are pit toilets in the parking area.

The Boy Scout Trail is often ranked the best among park rangers. Because of its length and difficulty, most visitors to the park do not attempt this hike. There are lots of other shorter, easier hikes people choose to explore. But because of this, this trail is less crowded than the other hikes in the park. Fern Falls is also one of the few waterfalls in the park which is an added bonus to the giant redwoods on this path.

Best Scenic Drives in Redwood National Park

1. Howland Hill Road

Road Length – 10 miles
Approximate Time – 45 minutes
Sites You Can Access – Grove of Titans, Boy Scout Tree, Stout Memorial Grove

Howland Hill Road is my favorite scenic drive in Redwood National Park. The road also leads to some of the most popular hikes in the park, so whether you intend to or not, you will likely be making this drive. The dusty drive is a narrow, windy road with several roadside massive trees. There are pullouts every few feet where you can pullover and take in views of the redwoods without needing to hike any trail.

2. Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

Road Length – 10 miles
Approximate Time – 20-30 minutes
Sites You Can Access – Big Tree Wayside, Prairie Creek Visitor Center

Depending on which way you take this scenic parkway, you will either begin or end at Prairie Creek Visitor Center which is at a vast meadow. This meadow is home to a resident Roosevelt elk herd. This 10-mile drive through the heart of Redwood National Park is an alternative scenic road to Highway 101.

3. Coastal Drive Loop

Road Length – 9 miles
Approximate Time – 45 minutes
Sites You Can Access – High Bluff Overlook

This narrow road has steep inclines and sharp turns that result in scenic panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean coastline. Keep an eye on the ocean horizon as you may be able to spot whales, pelicans, and sea lions.

4. Bald Hills Road

Road Length – 17 miles
Approximate Time – 45 minutes
Sites You Can Access – Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Tall Trees Grove, Redwood Creek Overlook

Bald Hills Road begins just a short distance from Orick and begins with a steep incline through old-growth and second-growth forests. The drive eventually opens up to several wildflower-filled meadows where it is common to spot elk. Also look out for black bears in this region.

5. Davison Road

Road Length – 7 miles
Approximate Time – 30 minutes
Sites You Can Access – Gold Bluffs Beach Day Use Area and Fern Canyon Trailhead

This windy road starts through Elk Meadow and then takes you through old growth forests. The final few miles travel along the coast by Gold Bluffs Beach Day Use Area and finally to the Fern Canyon Trailhead. To traverse this scenic drive, you will need to purchase the Gold Bluffs Day Use Area permit from May through September prior to arriving. You will need to cross 2 creeks that pass over the gravel road, so I recommend driving in a high clearance vehicle.

6. Avenue of the Giants

Road Length – 31 miles
Approximate Time – 2.5 hours

The Avenue of the Giants may be the most famous of the scenic drive, but it is technically not in Redwood National and State Parks. This 31-mile scenic route is located 2.5 hours south of Crescent City and runs parallel to Highway 101. For the famous drive-thru tree, you will need to visit the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree near Myers Flat.