Where to Go in Redwoods National Park
In Redwoods National Park, not only can you take a stroll through some of the tallest trees in the world, you can also view wildlife such as elk, and drive along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean.
In this guide to Redwoods National Park, I’ll cover everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip based on my experience visiting the park.
Let’s get started!
Redwoods National Park Basic Information
Redwoods National Park is open 24/7 every day of the year. The national park is combined with a couple of state parks that you can visit. There are multiple visitor centers in the park that you can visit.
Both the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center and Hiouchi Visitor Center are open:
9 am - 5 pm early March - October
9 am - 4 pm November - early March
The visitor center has limited hours on holidays and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Both the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and Crescent City Information Center are open:
9 am - 5 pm every day
The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
The Jedediah Smith Visitor Center is open:
9 am - 5 pm mid-May through September (usually Memorial Day to Labor Day) and is closed on Mondays.
The park is free to visit if you’re visiting the scenic roads or highways. Day use passes of $8/day apply if you visit the Gold Bluffs Beach/Fern Canyon area or the Jedediah Smith Campground.
Be prepared, there is very limited internet and cell phone access in the park. So plan your itinerary in advance or use the paper maps provided by the park.
Things to Do
Take a Scenic Drive
A great way to explore the park is by taking a scenic drive on one of the many roads in the park. On the scenic drives, you can choose to drive through forests, along coastlines, or even through prairies. With multiple options to explore, you should take a drive on at least one of the scenic roads. My favorite in the park was the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway where you can see lots of giant redwood trees.
Some of the best scenic drives include:
Howland Hill Road
This 10-mile one-way drive from Cresent City takes about 45 minutes to complete. This road will take you through the forests of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The road is mostly unpaved, and motorhomes/RVs will not fit on the road.
Enderts Beach Road
This 2.25-mile one-way drive from Crescent City only takes a few minutes to complete. This road will take you to the Crescent Beach Overlook and picnic area for great views of the coast. Elk can also be found on this road from time to time. Although the road is paved, motorhomes and RVs are not advised to travel past the Crescent Beach picnic area.
Requa Road
This 2.25-mile one-way drive to Klamath River Overlook takes about 15 minutes to complete. The overlook offers views of the Pacific Ocean where you might even catch a glimpse of whales. Although the road is paved, motorhomes and RVs are not advised to traverse this road as it is very steep and narrow.
Coastal Drive
this 9-mile loop road takes about 45 minutes to complete. This drive offers views of the Pacific Ocean where you might see whales, sea lions, birds, and more. Popular places to stop are at the High Bluff Overlook and the WWII radar stations that were disguised as farmhouses. The road is mostly paved, but you can only go one-way northbound between Alder Camp and Klamath Beach road.
Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
This 10-mile one-way drive takes about 30 minutes to complete. This is a popular alternative to U.S. 101 which takes through through the forest of the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Along this road is also the trailheads to the popular Big Tree Wayside, along with access to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center. This road is paved which makes it one of the most popular roads for travelers.
Cal-Barrel Road
This 1.5-mile one-way drive takes about 30 minutes to complete. This road is unpaved and very narrow and does not allow motorhomes or RVs on the drive. If you go slowly along the winding road you’ll enter the old-growth redwoods that are part of the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
Davidson Road
This 7-mile one-way drive takes about 30 minutes to complete. The road will take you through a meadow that is often filled with elk. It also provides access to the Fern Canyon Trail and the Coastal Trail. The road is mostly unpaved so motorhomes and RVs are not permitted.
Bald Hills Road
This 17-mile one-way drive takes about 45 minutes to complete. You’ll pass through open prairies where you might come across elk or even a black bear. In springtime, this area blooms with tons of wildflowers. The road is mostly unpaved so motorhomes and RVs are not advised.
Go on a Hike
If you have more time to explore the part, you should definitely take a hike or two to really see the trees up close. There are multiple hikes to choose from ranging in difficulty and duration. Below is a list of some of the top hikes you can check out!
Big Tree Wayside
Distance: <200 yards
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: Minimal
Trailhead Access: Big Tree Wayside Trailhead in Prairie Creek State Park off of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
Duration: 10 - 30 minutes
This is one of the most popular hikes in the park as it’s easy to access and requires just a short walk from your car to see the redwoods up close. As it’s such a popular stop, parking may be limited at times as the stop can get fairly crowded. But it’s popular for a reason, so stop by if even just for a few minutes.
Simpson-Reed Trail
Distance: 0.8 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: Minimal (ADA accessible)
Trailhead Access: Simpson-Reed Trailhead in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Duration: 30 - 60 minutes
This is a great, short trail to explore the redwood groves. Along the trail, you’ll pass ferns, hemlocks, huckleberries, and creeks. The trail also has interpretive wayside markers that provide info on some of the natural and cultural history of the area. There is limited parking available at the trailhead, which no parking options for RVs or vehicles with trailers.
Karl Knapp Trail (previously Prairie Creek Trail)
Distance: 2.5 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: 100 ft (ADA accessible)
Trailhead Access: Karl Knapp Trailhead next to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
You’ll start off this hike crossing the prairie where you can sometimes spot elk grazing. After crossing the prairie, you’ll enter the lush forest where you can see the old-growth redwood trees. Along the loop, you’ll pass along a creek where you’ll often see salmon swimming by. This is a very popular trailhead as multiple trails start from this location, so plan ahead. Parking is available nearby for RVs and cars with trailers.
Trillium Falls
Distance: 1.0 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: 400 ft (for the whole loop)
Trailhead Access: Trillium Falls Trailhead
Duration: 30 - 90 minutes
This is an easy, family friendly hike that will take you through old-growth redwoods, maples, and fir trees. About 1/2 a mile into the trail, you’ll be rewarded with views of the small Trillium Falls. This is a great place to stop and turnaround, but if you want to hike more, you can do the full ~3-mile loop. Back at the parking lot, there are great places to grab a picnic lunch, use the restroom, and maybe even see some elk grazing. There is also lots of parking available at the trailhead for all vehicle types.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Distance: 1.5 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: 75 ft
Trailhead Access: Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trailhead
Duration: 1 hour
This family friendly hike takes you through groves of old-growth redwoods and conifers. As this forest is further from sea level and receives more rain, the redwoods here will look slightly different than other areas of the park as the trees will look a little less red. But, the trail here will feel more open than other areas of the park as you can look up and see the sky peaking through the leaves of the trees. This is a great hike to do at the beginning or end of your day as it’s located on the southern end of the park. Be aware, the 2.5 mile drive up Bald Hills Road to get to the parking area is windy, bumpy, and narrow, so RVs and vehicles with trailers are not advised.
Fern Canyon Trail
Distance: 1.0 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: 150 ft
Trailhead Access: Fern Canyon Trailhead
Duration: 60 - 90 minutes
This is a unique, popular hike in the park that takes you into a mini-canyon that is covered with ferns. You’ll walk through a stream to reach the ferns, so be prepared to get your shoes wet. Occasionally, you can also come across elk in this area. This hike can get very crowded, so plan to arrive at the trailhead early to secure parking. Reaching the trailhead also requires an $8 fee to access the California State Park.
Boy Scout Tree Trail
Distance: 5.5 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: 750 ft
Trailhead Access: Boy Scout Tree Trailhead
Duration: 3 - 5 hours
If you’re up for a longer hike, this is a great trail that shouldn’t be missed. On the trail you’ll walk through old-growth redwood forests where you’ll get a remote sense of feeling as you’ll be far enough where you’ll no longer hear traffic noise. At the end of the trail, you’ll come to Boy Scout Tree which is remarkably larger than the surrounding trees. Be aware, the 2 mile drip along Howland Hill Road to get to the parking area is windy and bumpy, so RVs and vehicles with trailers are not advised.
Tall Trees Grove
Distance: 4.0 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation Change: 1,600 ft
Trailhead Access: Tall Trees Trailhead
Duration: 3 - 6 hours
If you’re up for an adventure, take a hike to Tall Trees Grove to get views of some of the tallest trees in the world (note, the tallest tree in the world is not located here). Access to this trail is limited to 50 parties per day, so plan ahead. Permits can be obtained online only 48 hours in advance. Be aware, the road to the trailhead is windy, bumpy, and narrow so RVs and vehicles with trailers are not advised. Plan on allowing an hour to reach the trailhead from the nearest Visitor Center.
Nearby Attractions
Sue-Meg State Park (previously Patrick’s Point State Park)
Located just outside of Redwoods National Park is Sue-Meg State Park. This is a great place to go to spend a few hours along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. You can also learn about the history of the Native Americans who lived here and see some of the villages they built.
If you want to stay longer, there are 120 campsites available to reserve here. There are picnic tables you can enjoy to have a picnic lunch overlooking the ocean.
Where to Stay
Lodging in Redwoods National Park:
There are no hotels or lodges within Redwoods National Park.
There are four developed campgrounds you can stay at, and reservations are strongly recommended:
Jedediah Smith Campground
Mill Creek Campground
Elk Prairie Campground
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
There are eight cabins available for reservation in the park with a maximum occupancy of 6 people per cabin. Four of the cabins can be found in the Jedediah Smith Campground and the other four are located in the Elk Prairie Campground.
Lodging in Eureka:
The best place to stay near the Redwoods is the town of Eureka which is about 45 minutes south of the park. Hotel options include:
Eureka Inn Trademark by Wyndham
Best Western Plus Bayshore Inn - this is where we stayed during our trip.
Best Western Plus Humboldt Bay
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Eureka
Where to Eat
There are no restaurants or food vendors within the park, so plan on packing a picnic lunch to enjoy within the park or visit restaurants outside the park.
EdeBee’s Snack Shack is one of the closest restaurants to the park. It offers American food including burgers and other snacks.
The Lighthouse Grill is a diner south of the park that offers burgers and sandwiches.
Trinidad Bay Eatery and Gallery is an American restaurant south of the park that offers steak and seafood.
Seascape Restaurant south of the park is a small seafood restaurant with views of the ocean.
What to Pack
If you want to take one of the longer hikes in the park, it’s worth bringing hiking poles with you.
Good hiking socks to keep your feet comfortable when hiking through the park.
Bring waterproof hiking boots that are comfortable and you have a chance to break in before you set out long hikes.
Keep your hands free while having space for your sunscreen, water, extra layers, quick dry towel and more.
Is a must so you don’t burn while wandering among the trees.
Stay hydrated while you’re hiking in the park.
A roll-up hat you can pack in your day bag to keep cool in the heat.
