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In Redwood National and State Parks, it’s easy to feel small. In fact, that’s the default. Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest trees in the world, growing to nearly 370 feet tall and living up to 2,000 years old. Because their survival relies on fog, they grow in a thin strip along the coast in northern California and southwestern Oregon, where foggy summer days keep them hydrated during the dry season.
Three California redwoods state parks resulted from early 20th-century protection efforts: Prairie Creek, Del Norte, and Jedediah Smith. To further preserve the trees’ natural Coast Range habitat, Redwood National Park was created in 1968, and encircles the three state parks—all of which are cooperatively managed. Together, they protect nearly half of the world’s old-growth redwoods. From sea level along the rugged shore to an elevation of 3,200 feet in the Coast Range, a mild, moist climate ensures a diversity of wildlife, too, from salmon and steelhead to Roosevelt elk and black bear.
Redwood National and State Parks’ designation as a World Heritage Site and part of the California Coastal Ranges Biosphere Reserve reflects their worldwide importance. Use this guide for advice on when to go, where to stay, what to do, and more.
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The best time to visit Redwood National and State Parks
While oceanic influences make the year-round temperatures in this region fall consistently in the mid-40s to low-60s Fahrenheit, spring and early summer is the best time to visit. The rains of winter make the forest lush and green starting in April, and pink rhododendron blooms can appear from mid-May until late June.
The parks become more crowded from Memorial Day on, when the coast redwoods are shrouded in life-sustaining fog, and inland conditions are warm and sunny. Note, however, that wildfires have affected the redwood parks during the past three summers, so those warmer inland conditions aren’t without risk.
If you’re willing to take a chance on the weather, winter can be a sleeper hit with rushing creeks and fewer people. But stormy weather can also dump rain on the region and close highways. Take note of storm closures on the park website, as well as local weather service forecasts, before heading out.
How to get to Redwood National and State Parks
The closest airports to Redwood National and State Parks are the California Redwood Coast—Humboldt County Airport (26 miles south of the parks) and the Rogue Valley International—Medford Airport (99 miles northeast of the parks). There’s also a regional airport in Crescent City that has limited service to Oakland. Most visitors travel the remaining distance by rental car. The parks are generally oriented along the north-south U.S. 101 highway corridor between Crescent City and Orick. There are no formal entrance stations, and it’s possible to drive completely through the parks without realizing you’ve done so.
There is limited cell service in and around this region, so do yourself a favor and download the National Park Service Mobile App before your trip. Redwood park rangers created all the content for the national park, as well as for the three California State Parks. Additionally, rangers warn visitors relying on GPS units that most digital navigation systems have misdirected visitors. Go old-school: Consult the park map and use road signs.
Things to do in Redwood National and State Parks
Hikes and backpacking routes
With 40,000 acres of old-growth redwoods and hundreds of miles of trails, every trail is the “best trail” for great redwood sightings. Excellent half-day options are the 2.5-mile Karl Knapp Trail that crosses Prairie Creek and the newly opened 1.5-mile Grove of Titans Trail—a loop trail that incorporates an elevated boardwalk to protect the forest floor. For a full-day outing, choose the James Irvine Trail to the Fern Canyon Loop, a 12-mile loop through old-growth redwoods, spruce forest, fern canyon, and a golden-sand beach.
Scenic drives
If time is short and you can do only one thing here, drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, set in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. You won’t see many redwood trees unless you get off Highway 101, and this 10-mile stretch (between exits #753 and #765) takes you past thousands of acres of old-growth redwood trees, as well as a range of walking and hiking opportunities at more than a dozen trails and pull-outs.
Cycling
The majority of the region’s bike trails are in the southern part of the parks. While electric bikes are allowed on hike/bike trails completely inside the boundary of Redwood National Park, they aren’t always allowed once you cross state park boundaries, so it’s worth checking on your planned route in advance if you’re using an e-bike. An easy trail that also allows e-bikes is the three-mile Davison Trail that winds through mostly second-growth forest and a few old-growth redwoods. From October to May, the first Saturday of each month closes the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway to motorized vehicles, strictly for the pleasure of walkers and cyclists.
Guided excursions
Because they spend so much time here, park rangers and guides are your best key to getting a deeper understanding of the local environment. Join guided nature and tide pool walks, or sign up for a three-hour ranger-led kayak tour of the Smith River (offered for a limited time in summer, timing dependent on water levels). Outfitter Redwood Adventures offers private tours on a half- and full-day basis that range from spying the world’s tallest trees to following the old-growth redwoods to the coastline.
Where to stay in and around Redwood National Park
Whether you’re drawn to the ocean or mountain landscape, there are a variety of ways to bask in the glory of magnificent redwoods. While park campgrounds let you slow down with forest wildlife, nearby hotels are comfortable retreats.
Camping
Campgrounds at Redwood National and State Parks are extremely popular and may be full at any time of year, so reservations are recommended. There are four developed campgrounds in the parks with 332 sites—Jedediah Smith, Mill Creek, Elk Prairie, and Gold Bluffs Beach—all of which are managed by California State Parks. Eight basic ADA-accessible cabins, four in the Elk Prairie Campground and four in the Jedediah Smith Campground, are also available for reservation.
Hotels
Aside from campground sites and cabins, the parks have no other lodging. Roosevelt Base Camp, a newly transformed motor lodge in Orick, has a cozy North Country vibe. Guests at the Lost Whale Inn, in Trinidad, enjoy a seven-course breakfast and complimentary afternoon wine reception with their stay. The Humboldt Bay Social Club, an hour’s drive from the parks, has hotel suites (also bookable on Airbnb) on the southern tip of the Samoa Peninsula on Humboldt Bay.
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