Trees that are so big you can drive through them, that have been around for thousands of years, and tower over you like a skyscraper? Yeah… You should probably visit Redwood National and State Parks first hand.
REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS: HOW TO PLAN YOUR VISIT
The 33rd National Park, Redwood National Park was designated in 1968, and is combined uniquely in partnership with California Redwood State Parks (there are actually four parks total). Each of the parks are known for their giant Coastal Redwood trees which are said to be the tallest in the world. Some of these incredible giants measure over 350 ft tall. For those keeping track, the Statue of Liberty is 305 ft tall.
In addition to their size, these trees are quite incredible for other reasons as well! Redwoods first appeared over 240 million years during the time of dinosaurs, they have their own ecosystems of worms, spiders and other little critters living amongst their canopy due to their foliage falling each year, and settling on branches, decomposing in to “canopy soil”. The redwoods and surrounding plant life rely heavily on the fog in the area, as it is caught by the foliage and then condenses in to liquid dripping down on to the ground, further feeding these giants and other plants. Really shows how unique and incredible plant life can be.
LOCATION & WHERE TO STAY
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
The National Park is located just under 2 hours south of the California-Oregon coastal border, or 6 hours north of San Francisco between Crescent City and Eureka. Thomas H. Kuchel visitor center, which is the main visitor center (there are three total) is located in Orick.
There are no hotels or lodges within the park grounds, so you’ll have to look outside the park for places to stay. Most of the towns surrounding the National Park are quite small, so finding accommodations may not be super easy. You’ll find that nearly all of your traditional hotels and motels are located either in Crescent City or Eureka. Both of which are roughly one hours drive to the Visitors Center.
Alternatively, you’ll find a number of RV parks and campgrounds in places like Trinidad, Orick and Klamath, as well as a few Airbnbs. We opted for this super cozy Klamath Riverview Airbnb. The location is perched on top of the main office of the RV park with a lovely river view. We were looking for a cozy location that was relatively central to all the parks that we could come home to each night, and this location more than suited our needs.
Additionally, we had not seen this location when we were doing our initial searching, but after driving past it a couple times, and seeing all the Elk grazing in the front yard, we could see this being an incredible location to stay at also. Imagine waking up with this view every morning!
Ultimately where you stay is up to you based on your plans and activities.
REDWOOD STATE PARKS
The State Parks are spread out a little bit further both north and south of the National Park. We’ve noted below which parks are where in relation to the National Park. But you can also find our Google map below as well which will give you a full lay of the land on where everything is located.
North
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
South
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
WHEN TO GO
To be honest, there likely isn’t a BAD time to visit Redwood National or State parks. According to the NPS website the peak visiting season is summer (June-September). Temperatures can fluctuate between 40ºF/4ºC and 75ºF/24ºC. Even at the worst, you don’t have to worry about freezing temperatures or massive snowfalls. But you will want to plan for all ranges in temps and for the potential for rain at any time. So plan to bring and wear layers no matter when you go.
Personally, we prefer times when we don’t have to worry about crowds. Especially during these times of COVID, so we generally look at off-seasons to visit. But even at the peak visiting season, you are not going to have to worry about massive crowds of people like you would a place like Yosemite National Park. Our recommendation would be Spring or Fall. But you can’t really go wrong, so go when it makes the most sense for you.
ENTRY TO REDWOOD NATIONAL & STATE PARKS
Unlike many of the National Parks, Redwood has no entrance station. Therefore entry in to all of the parks is free. That being said, if you’re anything like us, and love visiting National Parks, you may want to consider getting the America The Beautiful Pass. This pass gives you free annual entry to ALL National Parks in the U.S. for just $80. They do also have discounted Senior passes as well as free passes for current U.S. Military.
WHAT TO DO
Just stand there and bask in the glory of these massive giants. That’s it. The end.
Kidding, well sort of. There are actually a number of different types of activities available to do, such as hiking, bicycling, kayaking, camping, backcountry camping, horseback riding and more. But much of what you’ll be doing, even while doing these activities, is soaking up all the incredible views of these massive trees. And we would normally list a number of the hiking trails available, but there are easily 30+ trails available ranging from 0.5mi/0.8km to 30mi/48km. So make sure to take a look at the NPS website to see what fits your preferences.
Before we recommend anything, keep in mind, the parks are all spread out from one another. There is no road through the National Park, and there aren’t loops around the parks either. Highway 101 splits all of the parks, but if you want to go IN to the parks, you will need to park somewhere on the outer rims and hike or bike in.
- Chandelier Tree – Drive-thru tree in Leggett, CA
- Avenue of Giants – 30mi/48km scenic drive from Phillipsville to Pepperwood with some of the best views of giant redwoods
- Shrine Tree – Drive-thru tree in Myers Flat, CA
- Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway – 10mi/16km scenic drive in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park
- Fern Canyon – Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park where the walls are covered in moss and fern – also a filming location for Jurassic Park: The Lost World
- Klamath Tour-thru Tree – Drive-thru tree in Klamath, CA
- Klamath River Overlook – Incredible views of Klamath River and Pacific Ocean while perched up on a cliffside vista point
- Trees of Mystery – Self-guided and educational tour through a grove of redwoods
HOW MUCH TIME TO PLAN FOR
The amount of time you plan to spend in the parks, really depends on the amount and types of activities you’d like to do. Despite not being one of the largest parks in the U.S., because there are four in total, you can easily spend a week here exploring each park separately. Our recommendation though, 4-5 days is a perfect amount. This allows you one full day in each park, or some flex time to explore some of the other activities outside the parks.
WHAT TO BRING
You, yourself, warm and comfy clothes, and good footwear. Oh, and a camera. Yup, that should do it.
All kidding aside, you will want to bring layers. It can get pretty cold in the early mornings and late evenings, but warms up nicely during the day. So you’ll want to have some good outerwear with you if you plan on being out early or late.
Eureka and Crescent City are the largest towns near the parks which are nearly 2 hours apart. So our biggest recommendation would be to do some grocery shopping and stock up on any food or beverages you’ll want before arriving at wherever you plan on staying. Because once you’re in the parks, you’ll basically be limited to a couple of gas stations to pick up snacks.
Our last recommendation would be to download an offline map from Google prior to entering the parks. Cell phone services is extremely limited, so you’ll appreciate having the offline map.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
There is an enormous amount of beauty to see inside and around the parks. In addition to the beautiful redwoods, you might even be lucky enough to see some roaming elk. You’ll find a number of different prairies and meadows where you can pull over and watch elk feed and rest, like Elk Meadow just north of Orick.
There are also a number of animals you may NOT want to pause to watch, like mountain lions, cougars, bobcats and black bear. While it’s unlikely that you’ll come across any of these will exploring, it’s good to be aware of them and to know what to do in the event you cross paths with any one of these.
Lastly, poison oak. If you are not familiar with poison oak or poison ivy, thank your lucky stars. I (Ryan) had a run-in with some poison oak this year and it is PAINFUL, and it is difficult to treat with ANYTHING over the counter. We’ll spare you the pain of any images of what poison oak can do, but if you’re curious, feel free to google it. But ye be warned. That being said, poison oak is a plant that is relatively common in California and difficult to spot unless you’re specifically looking for it. So might want to familiarize yourself.
For all things safety, check out the NPS Safety website to learn more about all of the above prior to your trip.
HAVE FUN
Lastly, have fun! This is a beautiful park with coastal views, giant redwoods, and lots to see, so enjoy it!
We hope this helped give you some insight, and ultimately helps you plan your own visit to Redwood National and State Parks. If we missed anything, or you have any other recommendations, let us know below! Also, if you’re a National Park lover like we are, make sure you check out our guide on how to plan your visit to Joshua Tree National Park as well!
Keep an eye out for our upcoming post on our top recommended things to do in Redwood National and State Parks!
