Your Guide to Redwood National and State Parks in California

If you want to see redwoods—Redwood National and State Parks is one the best places to see redwoods in California.

Wait, scrap that. It’s one of the best places in the world! But the area is a little confusing, so we’re going to break it down for you.

Redwood National and State Parks

The main thing to know is that it consists of one national park and three state parks:

1. Jedediah Smith Redwoods
2. Del Norte Coast Redwoods
3. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

The National Park Service and California State Parks jointly manage the parks.

The complex is located in the coastal region of northern California, covering a huge area of 139,000 acres.

Within those acres, 45% of the remaining old-growth coast redwood forests are located, and the parks protect these forests, prairies, woodland rivers, coast, and, of course, the giant trees they contain.

The trees are some of the tallest and oldest on earth, living up to 2000 years old and growing up to 300 feet tall.

Here’s a run down of the three state parks and things to do in the area.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods

It is so easy to fall in love with Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, located in Del Norte County, just outside Cresent City.

Not only is the park filled with huge redwoods, but it is also one of the densest rainforests in the world, and a hike through this lush environment is always a treat, no matter how long or short it is.

The Smith River winds its way through the trees, and with several swimming holes, it is the perfect place for a quick dip between hikes.

The park is also home to some of the largest trees in the world when measured by volume, and trust us when we say they will take your breath away.

Highlights of Jedediah Smith Redwoods

Boy Scout Tree Trail – This is one of our absolute faves! Step into the world of Jurassic Park with a fern-filled woodland surrounding you. This is where you will see some of the most impressive trees, so check it out.

Stout Grove Trail – The huge trees in Stout Grove are known as the heart of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, and the trail that skims the trucks of these trees offers prime viewing. This stunning trail is one of our favorites and will tick a lot of those redwood boxes.

Grove of Titans – Be sure to take the grove of Titans Trail on your trip for an elevated boardwalk view of some of the best trees in the park. Expect trees so wide a tennis court couldn’t wrap round it and creepy tall trees fused together.

Howland Hill Road – Don’t care to walk much? No worries. We have you covered by a drive down Howlands Hill Road, where you can see the redwoods from the comfort of your car. It is also where the trails mentioned above are located.

Myrtle Beach – On hot days, there is nothing like taking a dip in the Smith River, and you can do so at Myrtle Beach. Don’t expect a long stretch of sandy shoreline, but it’s a great little swimming hole.

Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park

With dense woodlands, steep canyons, and tall hills, stretches of wild ocean, tall trees, and 15 miles of hiking trails, Del North Coast is one of the best places to explore Californian redwoods.

However, what sets this park apart from others in the area is that the biggest trees can be found perched on a bluff, the perfect ocean fog-catching location.

The park is easily reachable thanks to Highway 1 snaking its way in from Wilson’s Beach, just one of its stunning beaches. It is largely undeveloped, so don’t expect a visitor center or other facilities.

Highlights of Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park

Damnation Creek Trailhead – At only 4.2 miles, this hike is worth the effort and more, even with the 1100ft elevation change. It takes you along the redwood-strewn cliffside, with the biggest trees at the beginning and a small beach at the end.

Coastal Trail – Trace a wiggling path along the coast of the state park, passing huge old growths, thick firs, and open meadows. It is a little used and more than a bit of wild, but that adds to the magic.

Endert Beach – Accessible via a short trail (although use it with caution, as at some parts, you are at the edge of a sharp drop-off), you’ll get a sandy stretch you can admire with verdant green hills cascading into the ocean up.

Crescent Beach Overlook – For some seriously impressive ocean views, head to Cresent Beach Overlook, where you can watch the wild ocean roar onto the shore. If you visit in the winter months, the spot makes an epic whale-watching location.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

With mighty redwood groves, sandy beaches, towering cliffs, vast open meadows, and thick, fern-filled forests, Prairie Creek really does have it all.

There are a couple of campgrounds if you want to stay the night, Elk Prarie and Gold Bluffs Beach, and 75 miles of hiking trails, giving you plenty of opportunity to get up close to these giants.

There are also a few scenic drives if you are short on time. Fun fact: Fern Canyon was used as a backdrop in Jurassic Park, and you will soon see why!

Highlights of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Revelation Trail – Awe-inspiring gentle giants stretching towards the sky all around you with almost zero effort! This is a short and easy walk.

Brown Creek Trail – Weave your way over a bubbling stream along the Brown Creek Trail, surrounded by giant trees and lush green ferns. There are some of the densest trees in this part of the park, yet despite this, it is one of the less-trodden trails.

Foothills and Cathedral Trees Trail – As the name suggests, this trail will take you to explore some of the biggest trees, towering up in the sky like cathedral spires. This is a nice little loop and one of our favorite hikes.

High Bluff Overlook – We are not sure about you, but we love lunch with a view, and High Bluff Overlook is the perfect picnic area. You are so high up that sometimes the sweeping coastal views are shrouded in fog, but you can see for miles when it clears.

Big Tree Wayside – If it is a big trees you are after, head straight to Big Tree Wayside, which puts some of the other trees in the park to shame. The viewing platform gives you a great vantage point of the 286-high tree, estimated to be over 1500 years old.

We hope this helped you plan your trip to Redwood National and State Parks!

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