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Redwood National Park is fortunate to have 190 miles of spectacular
trails. The terrain is varied and spectacular, while the environment
shockingly diverse. There are trails along prairie, the tallest
trees on earth, magnificent ocean and steep sloped creeks and
rivers.
Elevations in the park range from sea level to 3,000 feet, offering
a variety of challenging terrain. A hushed sense of awe greets
the hiker in the giant groves, and the cool mists from the Pacific
keep the explorer cool. Over 70 miles of the Coastal Trail exist
in the park, offering an awe inspiring experience.
It's important to remember that Redwood is a moist park, and
the avid hiker will find rain gear essential. Since winter months
get the most rain, certain stream crossings may not be available.
Please remember that no motorized vehicles, guns, or pets are
allowed on park trails.
Southern portion trails (Prairie Creek, Redwood Creek):
Lady Bird Johnson Trail - Amazing, easy one hour walk through
redwood grove. Located off Bald Hills Road off highway 101, take
2.5 miles to lot. The hike is rated as easy, maxing out at a 1
mile loop.
Dolason Prairie - Moderate difficulty of 10 miles round trip.
Bring water. Expect steep grades, prairie, young redwoods and
old growth, eventually merging with the Tall Trees trail. Drive
Bald Hills Road off highway 101 three miles beyond Tall Trees
Access Road, pull over at the Dolason picnic area. Glass the prairie
for browsing ungulates, raptors and black bear.
Miners Ridge - This hike is rated as easy, with a total of 11
miles round trip. Bring your own water. Start at Prairie Creek
visitor center. Walk along an old trail used by gold miners. This
is a really special trail, offering a wide variety of scenery.
You get massive old growth redwoods, the famous Fern Canyon and
Gold Bluffs Beach. A good trail for wildlife.
Lyons Ranch Trail - A 2 mile round trip hike located 17 miles
up Bald Hills Road from highway 101. The hike is moderate, taking
you to pretty grass hills and various stages of forest.
Tall Trees Trail - Only 50 permits are issued per day for this
trail and they base this on a first come, first served basis.
Get there early as this is one of the most spectacular redwood
groves in the park. A 3.5 mile round trip hike with strenuous
rating. Take highway 101 to Bald Hills Road, and follow the road
for 14 miles.
Emerald Ridge Trail - A 2.8 mile moderate hike down into old growth
redwoods which were saved from logging in the 60's (why they were
still cutting these trees then, one can only guess). Located 1/4
mile on Tall Trees trail.
Elam Loop and Horse Camp - A 20 mile moderate loop hike and horse
trail through park backcountry. Nice and quiet trail. Located
at the Orick Rodeo grounds. Hikers and riders can stay at Elam
backcountry camp.
McArthur Creek - 14 mile moderate hike and riding trail (open
to horses) into the park backcountry. Views of the ocean along
the ridge. Located at the Orick Rodeo grounds.
Elk Prairie Trail - A 2.8 loop hike rated as moderate. This trail
is loaded with Roosevelt elk. Come early and in late afternoon
to dusk, and you will see one.
Located in Elk Prairie campground.
Cathedral Trees Trail - A moderate 1.4 loop through one of the
largest redwood groves in the Prairie Creek area. Located at the
Big Tree Wayside parking lot. Across from the Prairie Creek visitor
center.
Prairie Creek Trail - A 4 mile moderate hike along Prairie Creek
and slope redwoods. Take the spur to the Corkscrew Tree, known
for a "fairy wing". Check the creek for salmon and steelhead
during spring and winter.
Fern Canyon Loop Trail - a 0.7 mile moderate hike into magical
Fern Canyon, where numerous ancient species of fern cling to the
thirty foot walls. Located off rugged Davison Road at the Fern
Canyon parking lot. Be aware that bridge crossings are only available
in the summer.
Redwood coast country.
North Country Trails (Jedediah Smith country, Del Norte country):
Nature Loop Trail - Rated as easy with a total length of 1 mile
round trip. This is a good place to learn about the redwood forest
as you stroll below the canopy, reading the interpretive signs.
Located east of highway 101 at Mill
Creek campground entrance station. The rail is directly
across from the station.
Flint Ridge - Rated as a strenuous, 9 mile round trip hike. Reach
the trailhead by Coastal Drive exit on highway 101. If you hit
the Klamath river you have gone too far. Bring your own water
and expect an outstanding tour of a giant redwood grove. Flint
Ridge camp open to those wishing to spend the night in the backcountry.
A challenging trail, but worth it.
Damnation Creek - Rated as a strenuous 4.5 mile round trip hike.
Bring your own water. How cool is this? You get to descent 900
feet into old growth on your way to the Pacific ocean. The trail
was used by Tolowa Indians for gathering food. To locate the trail,
drive to False Klamath Cove. If you pass Footsteps Rock you've
gone too far.
Mill Creek - Rated as a moderate 5 mile round trip. Access via
Howland Hill Road ( 2 miles east of Crescent City via highway
D2). Bring your own water. Mill Creek is said to offer decent
fishing. Expect a pleasant hike through old growth forest.
Stout Grove Trail - Rated as easy, also paved and flat. Expect
thick, fat redwoods thanks to the nutrient-rich soils of the Smith
River drainage. Accessed via Howland Hill Road, 2 miles east of
Crescent City via county highway D2.
Little Bald Hills Trail - Rated as a strenuous 10 mile round trip
hike. Bring your own water. Best if done as an overnight hike,
although those more experienced can do it in a day. Little Bald
Hills backcountry camp available with potable water. This is one
of the higher elevations in the park, climbing to 1800 feet, rising
to prairie and conifers 7.5 miles from Crescent City along highway
D2 and Howland Hills Road.
Simpson-Reed Trail - Rated as an easy, 1 mile hike. Ancient Redwood
forest and other large trees. Lots of variety here in creeks,
rotting logs and life which feeds in the moist environment.
Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop Trail - Rated as a moderate 2.6 mile round
trip hike. Old redwood grove, numerous berry bushes, vine maple
and wildflower blooms in spring. Trailhead at Walker Road, 0.4
miles from highway 99.
Boy Scout Tree Trail - Rated as a moderate, 2.8 mile round trip
hike. Deep old growth on the way to Fern Falls. A spur trail 2.5
miles in leads to the Boy Scout Tree, a strange double redwood.
Saddler Skyline Trail - Located between site 7 and site 8 at Mill
Creek Campground. Rated as a moderate, 1.5 mile hike through beautiful
forest. Red foxes and birds call the area home.
Trestle Loop Trail: Rated as a moderate 1 mile round trip hike
along an old railroad trestle along Mill Creek. Access is across
from the Mill Creek campground amphitheater.
Alder Basin Trail - Rated as an easy, flat 1 mile round trip hike
along Mill Creek. A good trail for young ones who can observe
fish and salamanders. Across from Mill Creek campground entrance.
Yoruk Loop Trail - Rated as an easy 1 mile round trip hike through
a Sitka spruce forest near the ocean and finally to Hidden Beach.
Enjoy the tide pools and keep your eye open for wildlife such
as osprey, seals, whales and otters.
Ferns and moss along creek.
Hobbs-Wall Trail - Rated as a moderate, 3.75 mile round trip hike
which offers a great view of the difference between an old growth
redwood forest and second growth. Located on the Mill
Creek campground access road.
Hatton Trail - Rated as an easy 0.3 mile round trip hike providing
access to the Hatton-Hiouchi Trail. Highway 199, across from Simpson-Reed
Trail.
Hatton- Hiouchi Trail - Rated as a moderate1.2 mile round trip
hike though pristine redwood forest.
Hiouchi Trail - A moderate, 2 mile round trip hike along the Smith
River. Offers massive old growth redwoods, Douglas-fir and numerous
berry bushes. The park service seems to recommend this trail highly.
Incredible views abound. Reached via highway 99. If you cross
the Hiouchi bridge heading east, you've gone too far.
River Trail - A moderate 1 mile round trip hike along the Smith
River. Noted for old growth redwood and summer/fall runs of salmon
and steelhead.
Jensen Loop Trail - A 0.6 mile loop rated as easy. The park service
claims this trail offers access to one of the most impressive
redwood groves in the park, and they are right. The redwoods in
this section along the Smith River receive rich nutrients. Located
Across from the Jedediah Smith campground or the Hiouchi/Mill
Creek trails.
Nickerson Ranch Trail - A 1 mile loop hike rated as moderate,
taking you hiker through ancient redwood forest and Mill Creek.
Mill Creek Horse Trail - A 7.75 mile round trip ride through rugged
terrain with spectacular views of Crescent City, the ocean. You
can see transition forest, with ugly clear cut scars, too Rated
as strenuous. The riding enthusiast will love this trail. Located
on Berstch Avenue off Howland Hill Road.
Relim Ridge Trail - A moderate, 4.3 mile hike through new forest
growth of spruce and Douglas-fir. Provides great views of harbor.
Located past gate on Hamilton Road.
Enderts Beach - A 0.6 mile section of the Coastal Trail. Accessed
via Enderts Beach Road from highway 101. This is great country.
The hiker is rewarded with educational signs pointing out various
features of the ecosystem, tide pools and coastal forest. Rated
as moderate.
Coastal Trail - An incredible 70 mile section running the
entire length of the park while hugging the Pacific Ocean. This
trail offers everything the park has from river mouths, tide pools,
beaches, cliffs, ancient redwoods and other outstanding members
of the old growth community. This is a good trail for observing
birds and ocean wildlife from whales to seals.
Remember that you need permits for certain backcountry camps along
the Coastal Trail, so please visit one of the information centers
in the park. The Coastal Trail can be done in sections, with a
total of six. Please remember to filter all water from the creeks.
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