5 Amazing and Easy Hikes in Redwood National & State Parks
You don’t always have to go on strenuous or double-digit mile hikes to have an amazing National Park experience. The Redwood National and State Parks have some truly incredible, easy trails so you can explore this California wilderness without training for a marathon first. Whether it’s due to skill level or a time crunch, sometimes quick and easy hikes are the way to go. Luckily, these trails don’t skimp on breathtaking views (wait until you see number four on this list!). These amazing hikes in Redwood National Park will bring you to some of the most scenic areas of the park. While your car may have to put in a little extra work to reach some of these trails, your legs won’t.
Get ready for an amazing adventure amongst the giants with this guide to easy hikes in Redwood National Park.
National or State Park?
Before we start, let’s clear up any confusion you may have about the National versus State Parks. In addition to the National Park, there are three State Parks in the Redwood Forest – Prairie Creek, Jedidiah Smith, and Del Norte Coast. Don’t worry too much about which one you’re in because they all essentially operate as one entity. Redwood National Park and most areas in the State Parks are free to enter! Fern Canyon and the campgrounds at the State Parks require either a day-use pass (currently just $8) or a California State Park pass. However, if you have an America the Beautiful pass, this will cover any day-use fees in Redwood State Parks. I highly recommend this pass if you’re visiting more than a couple of National Parks this year.
1. Lady Bird Johnson Grove
1.5 miles (0.8 km)| Loop | Redwood National Park
This is a beautiful walk through Redwood and Douglas Fir trees. The short and flat trail is an easy and popular hike in Redwood National Park. It’s located in an upland grove, so the trees here are smaller than some you’ll find in lowland groves. It’s still a gorgeous forest walk that shouldn’t be missed! The higher elevation of this trail means that it gets more fog than lower trails. It’s also free of traffic noise. The result is a serene, mystical, and somewhat spooky scene.
BEWARE OF POISON OAK: This pesky little plant grows both as a low shrub and in vines throughout Redwood National and State Parks. Wear long sleeves and pants to avoid your skin coming into contact with poison oak, and know what it looks like so you can avoid it.
2. Big Tree Loop (Cathedral Trees & Prairie Creek)
1.5 – 3 miles (2.4 – 4.8 km) |Loop or Out-and-back | Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
There are a couple of different ways you can do this trail. It can get a little confusing if you don’t know what to look for, so I’ve got all the details on each below. Both are great options, and you won’t be missing or gaining much in terms of scenery by picking one over the other. So just pick whichever distance you’re up for.
Bonus – this trailhead is located right across from Elk Meadow where you can often spot herds of elk grazing!
The Big Tree Loop (3 miles)
To hike the full loop, start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and follow the signs for Prairie Creek Trail. Hiking the opposite direction (starting with Cathedral Trees) would put some of the trail signage facing away from you, so it’s easy to miss (…which is what happened to us…thank goodness for that runner who stopped us from hiking nine miles in the wrong direction). After almost a mile, you’ll cross the main road (Newton B. Drury Pkwy) to continue on to Cathedral Trees Trail. Here, you’ll pass by Big Tree and then continue on toward Cal Barrel Road. Cross the road and walk down into the grove and back toward the visitor center.
Cathedral Trees (1.5 miles)
For a short and easy hike, head to Cal Barrel Road to grab a parking spot and walk to the trailhead. The walk along this road is gorgeous and lined with huge, huggable redwoods! The trail entrance you want to take will be on your left where you’ll walk up into the grove. From here, it’s only about a half-mile walk to Big Tree where you can turn around and head back.
Hiking Tip
Download the All Trails app to map out your hike before you go. Consider upgrading to a Pro membership as well which will give you the ability to download maps for offline use. Many of the trails here split and join with other trails, and they aren’t always clearly marked. Having an offline trail map will help ensure you don’t take a wrong turn.
3. Fern Canyon
1.1 miles (1.7 km) | Loop | Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Fern Canyon will make you feel like you’ve stepped into Jurassic Park. In fact, it was used as a filming location for Jurassic Park 2, and once you get here, you’ll see why. The dense greenery lining the walls of the canyon feels so prehistoric that running into a stegosaurus on the trail doesn’t seem entirely implausible.
While the hike itself is short and easy, I recommend waterproof hiking boots for this one. The water can get up to ankle-deep in some portions of the trail! Several plank bridges have been placed to help you avoid walking through the water, but at a certain point, it becomes unavoidable. If you don’t have waterproof boots, be sure to have a spare pair of shoes and socks waiting for you in the car. I promise it’s worth it!
To access Fern Canyon, you’ll need to purchase a day-use pass (eight dollars, cash only). A pay station is located at the entrance, and the fee is waived if you have a California State Park pass or an America the Beautiful pass.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Getting to Fern Canyon is an adventure all on its own! The narrow, dirt road takes a while to traverse – expect about a 30-minute drive each way from the highway. Additionally, depending on the season and recent weather, you may need to cross a bit of water to get here. We visited in early May and were thankful to have rented a Jeep, although we did see a few full-size Sedans plow on through. People have definitely gotten stuck here, however, so be safe and use your best judgment (and drive a high-clearance 4WD vehicle if you can). Bonus – You’ll pass by Gold Bluffs Beach on the way which is another excellent stop!
You Might Also Like: 7 Tips for Your First Trip to the Redwoods
4. Enderts Beach
0.5 mile (0.8 km) | Out and Back | Redwood National Park
Did you know that Redwood National Park also included coastal beaches!? I sure didn’t, and boy was I excited when I saw this! A short walk will bring you to this Pacific Coast beach with some stunning views on the way there. The tail end of the trail is a bit steep, so be ready for a little leg burn on the way back up (it’s a short distance though – you got this!). The jagged coastline and sea stacks make this one of the most scenic stops in the park, so you won’t want to miss it! Oh, oh, oh, and during low tide, you can find tidepools here as well!
HEADS UP: The beaches in Redwood National Park are not good for swimming. First of all, brrr. Second, the swift currents and sneaker waves make for unsafe swimming conditions.
5. Stout Grove
0.6 mile (0.9 km) | Loop | Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park
This is the quintessential Redwood hike and is an absolute must-visit! This densely packed grove is filled solely with Redwoods and a plush layer of ferns. The largest tree, Stout Tree, is 325 ft high (99 m) and 16.7 ft wide (5 m). That’s a big one! You’ll also find plenty of huggable trees here for that iconic Redwood Forest photo.
The loop trail is short and flat, making it an easy hike for nearly all abilities. This is one of the most impressive, easily accessible groves in the park. The drive along Howland Hill Road to get here is lined with towering trees, making the entire experience all the more scenic. Stout Grove was my favorite spot in the park!
Read More: 5 Bucket List Things to Do in the Redwoods
Leave No Trace
Before going on any hikes in Redwood National Park make sure you’re familiar with Leave No Trace principles. We all love our planet, so follow these seven fundamentals whenever you’re in the park (or anywhere really). Head to the National Park Service website for full details.
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
We were able to hit all five of these amazing and easy Redwood National Park hikes in just a single weekend. Since we’re usually traveling with limited time, I love when a park has so much to experience in just a couple of days. From towering Redwoods to misty forests and stunning Northern California coastlines, there’s so much to explore here.
Have any questions about your upcoming trip? Let’s chat in the comments!
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Comments (1)
Tanya
November 9, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Are the passes for each individual person or for a car full of people?