The Northern California coast is home to some of the tallest trees in the world, making it a truly enchanting forest. There’s something humbling about standing beneath the towering redwoods. A place where centuries-old giants stretch into the sky and sunlight filters through an abundance of leaves. Walking among these ancient trees, the redwoods aren’t just a beautiful backdrop — they’re living witnesses to history, endurance, and the quiet power of nature. Whether you’re a first time visitor to the famous groves of Northern California or coming back to stumble upon new, hidden gems, being among them feels like stepping into a world far older and wiser than our own.
As you wander deeper into the ancient redwood forests, the sense of wonder only grows. The sheer size and silence of the redwoods create a feeling of both awe, like nature’s own sacred sanctuary. Every winding trail reveals something new: a massive scorched trunk, a fallen giant, or an unexpectedly beautiful stretch of soft ferns. In the redwoods, you don’t just see nature — you feel it, powerful and alive, woven into every breath and footstep. There’s something almost ethereal about being in a forest of tower trees— only nature can make you feel small in a way that’s so humbling yet inspiring.
Fast Facts About Redwood National & State Park
Size: 131,983 acres — 60,268 acres state park land + 71,715 acres federal land
Visitors: 622,883 visitors annually (data from 2024)
Distance from SFO Airport: 6-7 hour drive (there are smaller, regional airports that are closer)
National Park Initiation: became a national park in 1968, but in 1994, the National Park Service & the California Department of Parks and Recreation formed a cooperative agreement to maximize resource protection for the four parks (more info below)
Fun Fact: after extensive logging in the mid-to-late 1800s, only 5% of old-growth redwoods remain
National Park or State Park(s)?
Differing from most of the other national parks the national park land is interspersed with California state park land. Rather than operating separately, Redwoods National and State Parks work together under a cooperative management plan, blending federal and state resources to preserve these ancient forests as one unified whole. As a visitor, it makes for pretty seamless exploration between the four park areas: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and the broader Redwood National Park.
Sleeps
Ensuring you’re well rested is the easiest way to make the most of your hiking and sight-seeing days. Depending on how outdoorsy you’re feeling, you can either go camping or stay in Crescent City. Since we were visiting with a one year old, we did a mixture of both— two nights camping, with our final night at an Airbnb.
Jedediah Smith Campground
If you’re camping, Jedediah Smith Campground is hard to beat. It’s located about 20 minutes from arguably some of the most iconic views in the park, not to mention the campsite itself is in a beautiful spot along the Smith River. Without even leaving the campground, ancient redwoods tower right over picnic tables, just leaving enough room for a tent pad and fire pit. With clean restrooms, flat tent pads, reasonably-priced hot showers (you’ll need quarters!), and the peaceful sound of the river nearby, it offers just enough comfort to make nature feel welcoming.
We had a friend join us, visiting from south Florida, who had never been camping before, and this was a fantastic first camping experience for him. You can’t beat the combination of easy access to little “amenities”, while still being amidst the immersive beauty camping affords.
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
One could easily spend two or three nights at the Jedediah Smith Campground. In addition to the top notch locale, there’s something nice about not picking up your campsite and completely relocating it…. which is actually what we did. There’s only 25 campsites available at the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, which, in and of itself, is an awesome campsite, but it also provides easy access to the illustrious Fern Canyon (more on this later).
The campground itself is just off the beach, which makes for a very easy walk to watch the sun set on the beach. There’s ample space to spread out, free/included showers, a fire ring, and picnic table– everything you need! The bathroom and shower to campsite ratio felt perfect as we never had to wait to use the bathroom or shower.
This is also a great spot to stargaze. We were there right at the new moon, and were optimistic to potentially see the milky way; however, heavy cloud coverage ruined our fun. I’d read that this campground can get pretty windy, due to the beach location; however, we didn’t really encounter any excessive breeze or windiness.
Airbnb
Crescent City is the closest city to the Redwoods, and if you’re not much for camping, this is likely the spot to base your adventures out of. As this was our first trip camping with our kiddo, we wanted to hedge our bets a little, so we snagged an Airbnb for our final night. We stayed here and could not recommend it highly enough! The location was amazing, but it was also an easy place to share with friends as each of the three rooms had its own attached bathroom— plus a couple awesome communal areas to hang out.
DAY 1
Howland Hill Road
Driving Howland Hill Road feels like stepping into a fairytale — only you’re behind the wheel. This narrow, unpaved road winds through the heart of the Redwoods forest, placing you right in the midst of the tallest trees on Earth. Unlike highways that keep nature at a distance, Howland Hill immerses you in it: massive redwoods rise just inches from your window, ferns brush the edges of your car, and dappled light flickers across the windshield. It’s the kind of slow, winding journey that encourages you to roll down the windows, turn off the music, and just listen — to birdsong, the rustle of leaves, and the soft hush of the forest.
As a convenient two-for-one, all of the hikes on the to-do list for day one are located off Howland Hill Road.
Boy Scout Tree Trail (optional)
The Boy Scout Tree Trail is a bit of a hidden gem for those willing to venture a bit deeper into the redwoods. This out-and-back trail winds through a pristine, old-growth forest where massive redwoods rise like ancient pillars, ferns carpet the forest floor, and sunlight filters down in soft rays. What makes this trail stand out is its sense of quiet solitude; it’s less traveled than some of the more popular routes, giving you the chance to really experience the redwoods. The trail culminates at the enormous Boy Scout Tree — a double-trunked giant that feels like something out of a storybook — and a nearby waterfall that adds a peaceful finale.
Depending on when you roll into town, you may or may not have time for this hike. It’s the farthest down Howland Hill Road, and it’s also the longest hike, so while it’s a worthy investment of time, it would be the first to get trimmed from the itinerary.
Grove of Titans Trail
The Grove of Titans isn’t just a hike — it’s an encounter with giants hidden in plain sight. This trail leads you to some of the largest known redwoods on Earth, including trees so massive and ancient they almost seem unreal. As this trail has grown in popularity, there’s an elevated boardwalk in some areas to help protect the forest floor and root system. It’s also a good reminder as to the importance of staying on the path.
Each trail in the redwoods has something about it that’s a little unique, and Grove of Titans has some of the most physically massive trees. Large trees are littered throughout the park, but these are the wide-based trees that will really have your jaw on the ground.
Stout Grove
Stout Grove is easily one of the crown jewels of the Redwoods. Don’t let the sub-1 mile distance fool you— Stout Grove is a short, easily accessible loop that delivers an timeless sense of wonder. What makes it truly serene is the way light filters through the open canopy, creating a soft, golden glow that shifts throughout the day and highlights the sheer scale and texture of the surrounding trees. The grove has an almost cathedral-like stillness, where fallen trees, thick ferns, and towering trunks create a scene that feels both wild and artfully composed. Without the distraction of road noise or heavy foot traffic, it’s a place where even a brief visit feels immersive and peaceful.
For the Campers
If you’re staying at the Jedediah Smith Campground, it’s not a bad idea to bring cash in small bills. Showers cost 50¢ for 2 minutes and 25¢ for each additional minute. Additionally the campground host was selling firewood bundles for $8/each (cash only).
Crescent city isn’t too far away, but if you can swing by the grocery store before you get to camp for the evening, it will make things much smoother for your evening plans. There’s a store just down the road, but options are limited, so you’re best off packing everything you need.
With so many amazing trees around, you can almost forget the Smith River is steps away. I highly recommend heading down to the river for a moment of peace, either at the end of the day or as you get ready for day two.
DAY 2
Hiouchi Visitor Center
Just minutes from Jedediah Smith Campground, the Hiouchi Visitor Center is the ideal place to start your day. Whether you’re looking for passport stamps, park ~swag~, or tracking down a ranger to answer all your park-related inquiries, this small but informative center is a great spot to orient yourself before heading out.
Newton Drury Scenic Parkway
The Newton Drury Scenic Parkway is part of the drive for today’s adventures, but it’s a treat in and of itself. This ten-mile stretch through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a paved, two-lane road that winds gracefully through some stunning old-growth redwoods. Towering trees line both sides of the road— their canopies creating a living tunnel of green overhead. The journey, in some cases, is just as magical as the destination.
Cathedral Trees Trail
The Cathedral Trees Trail lives up to its name, offering a peaceful, grounding walk through a grove of towering redwoods that feel like nature’s own sanctuary. While the first part of the trail is a little busy, due to its proximity to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, it quickly thins out, and you’re left with a delightfully quiet immersion into the forest. The trees’ magnitude never ceases to be amazing, but there’s a certain reverence about this slice of the forest that felt above-averagely calming and serene.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail
Perched at a higher elevation than many other redwood trails, the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail offers a unique perspective — both literally and figuratively. This peaceful loop trail winds through a misty, upland redwood forest where the trees are often shrouded in fog, adding a rather ethereal quality to the landscape.
Numbered trail posts are found along the trail. If you have the NPS app, there’s a virtual ‘Lady Bird Johnson Grove Walking Tour’ you can read along at each of the 13 stops. It’s not quite as smooth as a guided ranger tour, but it certainly provides some interesting information.
Fern Canyon
After wandering around in a towering redwood forest all day, Fern Canyon feels like stepping into another world. This unforgettable trail winds through a narrow canyon where 50-foot-high walls are completely draped in lush, prehistoric ferns, dripping with moisture and alive with vibrant green. Fern Canyon is actually so surreal in appearance that parts of Jurassic Park 2 were filmed here!
With a shallow creek running through the canyon floor, you’ll find yourself hopping across stones and fallen logs, fully immersed in a landscape that feels untouched by time. And I do mean fully immersed! Bring shoes you don’t mind getting wet! You can hop around to a certain extent, but you’ll be hard–pressed to make it through the canyon with dry toes.
This part of the park is permitted, so it’s a good idea to snag permits as soon as you can. That can be done here. If you happen to be camping at the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, that will also grant you access to this part of the park as well.
Even with the permits, this canyon can feel a little over-run with fellow visitors/tourists. If you are staying at the near-by campground, I’d recommend setting up camp and then going over to check out the canyon about an hour and a half before sunset. The even better option would be waking up and getting to the canyon earlier in the morning, before the masses are awake and moving. I promise it will be worth going out of your way to enjoy a bit more solitude!
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
The Gold Bluffs Beach Campground is also the public access point to the Gold Bluffs Beach. If the timing works out and you’re wrapping up at Fern Canyon or camping at the campground itself, the beach makes for a lovely sunset to end the day.
While night number one was spent under the trees, night two will be steps away from the beach. The campsites are a generous size, the showers are included in the cost of the campsite, and someone will drive by in the evening selling firewood… what more could you ask for?
Stars perhaps? This part of the park is known to be excellent for stargazing, due to the lack of nearby light pollution. Check the moon cycle… if it’s a new moon and the weather is clear, you might just be able to see the milky way!
DAY 3
Klamath River Overlook
Perched above the Klamath River and Pacific Ocean confluence, the Klamath River Overlook offers a breathtaking panorama, unique to the forest, fern, and beach views observed thus far. It’s a dramatic, ever-changing scene where fog rolls over the cliffs and waves crash below. It’s another uniquely peaceful place— allowing you to start the day by appreciating the sheer diversity of landscapes that make up Redwood National and State Parks.
Damnation Creek Trail
For those looking to experience the full drama of the Redwood Coast, the Damnation Creek Trail delivers an unforgettable blend of towering forest and rugged shoreline. Beginning beneath a dense canopy of old-growth redwoods, the trail descends steeply—over 1,000 feet—through layers of lush ferns, mossy trunks, and misty understory until it reaches the wild, wave-battered cliffs of the Pacific.
It’s one of the few hikes in the region that truly bridges the forest and the sea, offering a rare chance to walk from ancient inland groves all the way to a coastal bluff. The elevation change is no joke, especially on the way back up, but the reward is a deeply immersive journey through the diverse ecosystems that define the magic of Northern California.
Crescent Beach Overlook & Enderts Beach
For an up-close taste of the wild Northern California coast, Crescent Beach Overlook and the short hike to Enderts Beach offer the perfect coast experience, while actually still being part of the national park land. Just minutes from Crescent City, the overlook provides a stunning, easily accessible view of the coastline — a sweeping panorama of rugged cliffs and crashing waves. It’s more than worth it to take the short trail down to Enderts Beach. A peaceful stretch of shoreline awaits, a scenic contrast to the towering redwoods and a reminder of just how richly varied this landscape really is.
Pebble Beach
Depending on where you plan to rest your weary bones tonight, catching the sunset at Pebble Beach in Crescent City just might be the perfect end to your beachy redwood day. This rugged stretch of coastline is known for its dramatic sea stacks and ever-changing skies — and as the sun sinks low over the Pacific, the entire sky is bathed in golden light. The perfect way to reflect on a lovely trip!
The national and state parks in California have such a huge range, and are beautiful in so many unique ways. The Redwoods are tall, historic trees and the forest they compose is a humbling reminder of nature’s magnitude. Three days in the park flies by… in the best possible way— happy travels!
Looking for your next great national park adventure? Crater Lake National Park is less than 4 hours away!
written by Hannah
Hannah traded the warm beaches of southwest FL for the outdoor adventure locale that is Bend, OR. Despite the distance, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves making time to explore newfound hikes. These days she has some extra pack weight; however, Xavier is notorious for being unimpressed by sweeping vistas.
