Planning a trip to northern California and wondering what the best things to do in Redwood National Park are? This is the blog post for you!
The Redwood National Park area is actually comprised of the National Park along with 3 state parks. You won’t really notice a huge difference as you drive through the area, but the best things to do here are scattered across the 4 parks so keep that in mind. Just because it is labeled as a “state park” doesn’t mean it is less impressive than the National Park!
We visited Redwood National and State Parks on a northern California road trip in the fall of 2023. Seeing the sun peek through the top of the old-growth redwood trees is absolutely magical. This park has a way of making you feel small in the best way possible.
This post is all about the 14 best things to do in Redwood National and State Parks.
Redwood National & State Parks Overview
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world. Some are over 300 feet tall and 2000 years old!
The moisture in the air from the fog, winter rain, and moderate temperatures of the northern coast allows these giants to thrive. The atmosphere here is truly magical!
The Redwood National Park area includes the National Park along with 3 state parks: (Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, and Del Norte Coast). The hiking trails, beaches, and sights are located throughout all 4 parks and are similarly impressive.
The NPS and California State Parks work together to manage this region that protects 40 miles of coastline, endangered wildlife, and 45% of the old-growth redwood rainforests. Old-growth forests refer to the trees that existed before early settlers started heavily logging the region in the mid-1800’s.
Oh, and did I mention that over 95% of these old-growth redwood trees have been cut down since then? So not only are the remaining 5% of these old growth forests the tallest trees in the world, they’re also some of the rarest.
And to top it all off, parts of Jurassic Park 1 and 2 were also filmed here!
The Best Time to Visit Redwood National & State Parks
Redwood National Park is a great year-round destination. Highs all year tend to stay in the 50s and 60s, which is optimal for hiking and adventuring.
Spring is generally seen as the best time because this is when the forests are the most lush and green.
Summer sees the highest crowds (but they are very minimal compared to other busy National Parks), fall is the driest season, and winter brings the most rain.
If you plan a visit between September 15th and May 15th, you will not need a reservation to visit Fern Canyon, so that is definitely a plus!
If you are planning a northern California road trip and plan to visit other sites that are more weather-dependent (like Lassen Volcanic or Yosemite National Parks), I’d plan my trip around the best time to visit those areas (probably summer or early fall) since you can visit Redwood year-round.
Related: Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1-3 Incredible Days
How to Get to Redwood National & State Parks
Redwood National Park is located along the northern coast of California, 40 miles north of Eureka and 4 miles south of Crescent City. There aren’t any nearby major cities, so you’ll find this area quite remote for a coastal town.
The best way to get to Redwood National & State Parks is to fly into San Francisco, Sacramento, or Portland and rent a car.
It will take you about 6 hours to drive from all 3 cities to Redwood National Park. This is a great road trip to take along the California and/or Oregon coast!
Here are the drive times to Redwood National Park from common destinations:
- San Francisco, CA: 311 miles / 5.5 – 6 hours
- Sacramento, CA: 328 miles / 6 hours
- Portland, OR: 371 miles / 6.5 – 7 hours
- Lake Tahoe: 400 miles / 7.5 hours
- Yosemite National Park: 470 miles / 8.5 hours
Fees & Passes Information
Redwood National Park is free to visit and there are no reservations required to get in the park.
Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, and Del Norte Coast State Parks do charge a day use fee for developed campground entrance stations, but they will accept the America the Beautiful National Park Pass and the California State Parks Pass.
You will also need a permit to visit the Tall Trees Trail, Fern Canyon, and Gold Bluffs Beach.
Tall Trees requires a reservation year-round and Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach requires a reservation between May 15th and September 15th. These are the best and most popular things to do in the park so I recommend applying for a permit as soon as the reservation window opens for your travel dates.
You can find more information on permits for Fern Canyon & Gold Bluffs Beach here and the Tall Trees Trail here.
How Many Days Do You Need at Redwood National & State Parks?
You really only need one full day in Redwood National & State Parks to thoroughly explore it. With one day, you can hike the Tall Trees Trail (or another similar trail), visit Fern Canyon, do the Newton B. Drury Scenic Drive, and see some of the best overlooks.
With more time, you can definitely add on some more hikes through the groves of old-growth Redwood trees, but the trails all look very similar and can get repetitive.
Related: How to Spend One Perfect Day at Redwood National & State Parks
14+ Incredible Things to Do in Redwood National & State Parks
Since “Redwood National Park” typically means the National Park plus the 3 state parks, I’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in all 4 parks and noted the location of which park that particular activity is located in.
1. Hike the Tall Trees Trail (Permit Required)
Location: Redwood National Park
Hiking the Tall Trees Trail was my favorite thing we did in the Redwoods. You will need a permit to hike this trail (reserve your permit here).
It’s a 3.6-mile lollipop loop that leads you down to an old-growth grove of the tallest trees in the world (hence the name). You’ll hike down almost 800 feet to get to the loop, and you will definitely feel it coming back up!
The tallest tree in the world, Hyperion, is rumored to be somewhere in this grove. Its exact location is not disclosed because people have ruined the landscape here trying to find it in the past.
Do not venture off the trail at any point while hiking. Be content with sharing the presence of these rare, ancient trees and respect the environment here.
2. Visit Fern Canyon (Permit Required)
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
The Fern Canyon Trail is an easy, mile-long loop hike through an incredible canyon of ancient ferns. The walls of ferns here are over 2 stories high!
You also might recognize Fern Canyon from the second Jurassic Park movie- some of the scenes were filmed here.
This area of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is the only place that charges an entrance fee. The cost is $12 per vehicle and it is CASH ONLY. If you have an America the Beautiful National Park Pass or a California State Parks Pass, you won’t have to pay this fee.
There is often standing water in the canyon, so bring water shoes or be prepared to take your shoes and socks off. The water isn’t deep (think ankle height or lower), but it will definitely ruin your day if you get your socks wet and don’t have an extra pair.
You will need a permit to visit Fern Canyon between May 15th and September 15th (reserve your permit here). We unfortunately were not successful in getting a reservation, so Fern Canyon is still on my list of places to visit! The photos look absolutely incredible, and I was so sad we weren’t able to see it for ourselves.
3. Do the Newton B. Drury Scenic Drive
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
The Newton B. Drury Parkway is a 10-mile scenic drive through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park that can be taken in lieu of Highway 101.
This road winds through thousands of acres of old-growth redwood trees and is named after Newton Drury, a man who spent 40 years working to preserve the redwood forests in this area.
This drive is a fantastic photography location that you should not miss on your visit to the Redwoods! It takes less than 30 minutes to drive the entire length of the parkway.
4. Walk the Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Location: Redwood National Park
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is one of the best and most accessible places in the park to walk among the old-growth Redwood Trees. This loop is an easy 1.5-mile walk through the woods.
In 1969, President Nixon named this grove of Redwood Trees after former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, to honor her environmental and conservation work.
The parking lot for this trail is pretty small and overflow parking isn’t allowed on the road. We had no trouble parking midday in early September, but I imagine it fills up on weekends during the summer.
5. Visit Gold Bluffs Beach (Permit Required)
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Gold Bluffs Beach is known for its grey sand and driftwood. It was a California gold mining site back in the 1800s, and got its name for the gold-colored sediment deposits left by the Klamath River.
You will need a permit (the same one required for Fern Canyon) and have to pay the $12 fee (unless you have America the Beautiful National Park Pass or a California State Parks Pass) to access the beach. The road to get to the beach is a narrow, dirt road, but you will be fine in a regular car. Campers and RV’s are not allowed on this road!
Gold Bluffs Beach is a great place to have a picnic or relax after a day of hiking!
6. Hike the Trillium Falls Trail
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Another great trail in Redwood National Park is the Trillium Falls Trail.
This 2.6-mile loop trail starts at the Elk Meadow picnic area off of Highway 101 and takes you through a grove of old-growth redwoods, trillium flowers, and to a small waterfall.
We personally didn’t have time to hike this trail, but it can be a great alternative to the Tall Trees Trail if you can’t get a reservation.
7. Photograph Crescent Beach
Location: Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park
Crescent Beach is a great place to enjoy the Pacific Ocean without the need for a permit and has a ton of parking. This is also a great location to pick up the Coastal Trail.
Make a quick stop at the overlook or spend more time enjoying the beach. Keep in mind that this isn’t a great swimming beach- the water is cold and the current is really strong. It is still insanely beautiful though!
8. Walk Through Stout Grove
Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Walk through this 44-acre grove of old-growth redwood trees via the short 0.5-mile trail. This grove of trees is located along the Smith River, and there is a spur trail that takes you down to it as well.
Stout Grove is named for Clara W. Stout, who donated this section of old-growth trees to the Save the Redwoods League in 1929 in honor of her late husband.
9. Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail
Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
If you’re looking for a longer hike through the redwood forests that doesn’t require a permit, the Boy Scout Tree Trail is a great option. This hike is a 5.2-mile out-and-back trail with 951 feet of elevation gain that takes you to Fern Falls.
Getting here is a little tricky, though. The trailhead is located 3.5 miles down a winding, dirt road, so don’t bring your camper or trailer.
10. Picnic at the Redwood Creek Overlook
Location: Redwood National Park
The Redwood Creek Overlook is a can’t-miss spot to see the contrast between the old growth redwood forests and the new growth, along with a good view of the Pacific Ocean (if the clouds and fog stay out of the way). You can also learn about the logging history here.
It is a great place for a picnic lunch or to watch the sunset after the fog rolls in along the treetops!
11. Backpack the Redwood Creek Trail
Location: Redwood National Park & Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Looking for an overnight hike in Redwood National Park? The Redwood Creek Trail is your answer!
The entire trail is 15.4 miles with 1112 feet of elevation gain, so it can be done as a very long day hike, but is better as an overnight backpacking trip. The trail follows the Redwood Creek and takes you through Tall Trees Grove. You won’t need a permit for Tall Trees Grove if you hike this way.
You can camp anywhere along the Redwood Creek, which is the only place in the park that you can camp outside of established campgrounds (just make sure you get an overnight permit).
The trailhead is located off of Bald Hills Road.
12. Hike the Miner’s Ridge & James Irvine Loop
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
This trail starts at the Prairie Creek Visitor’s center and makes a lollipop loop through river valleys and Fern Canyon. You get to see a little bit of everything on this hike: the Pacific coastline, old-growth redwood trees, creeks, and the famous Fern Canyon.
You also won’t need a permit for Fern Canyon if you hike there via this trail.
The total trail is 11.6 miles with 1505 feet of elevation gain, so it’s a big day hike but doable if you’re an experienced hiker.
13. Hike a Portion of the Coastal Trail
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Redwood National Park, Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park
If you’re looking for some different scenery besides coastal redwood trees, hike a portion of the Coastal Trail and enjoy the gorgeous Pacific Ocean scenery. The entire 70-mile trail is pretty much continuous from Klamath to Crescent City along the jagged coastline.
There are smaller sections of the trail that you can hike separately as day hikes, and they all vary in length and difficulty. The NPS website has more information on the different sections and the start/end locations.
14. Check out the WWII Radar Station
Location: Redwood National Park
If you’re interested in history, don’t miss the Klamath River Radar Station B-71! This radar station survived World War II and is a rare-early warning station that used the new 1940’s technology.
This was a cool little surprise, especially for my history-loving husband. It is a short visit that only takes a few minutes.
More information on the radar station can be found on the NPS website here.
BONUS: Watch the Sunset from Samoa Beach
If you’re staying in Eureka during your visit to Redwood National and State Parks, make sure to watch the sunset at Samoa Beach! The Samoa Dunes Recreation Center is a 4×4 park, but it also makes a great place to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Best Things to Do in Redwood With Limited Time
If you have one day or less in Redwood National Park, here are the things I would prioritize with limited time:
- Tall Trees Trail (and/or Lady Bird Johnson Grove if you don’t have a Tall Trees Permit)
- Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
- Crescent Beach Overlook
- Fern Canyon
- Redwood Creek Overlook
I hope this post helped you plan your trip to Redwood National and State Parks! Let me know when you plan to visit in the comments below!
-Megan
More Information on Northern California
- How to Spend 1 Day in Redwood National Park
- 7-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary for Hikers
- The Ultimate Point Reyes Day Trip Itinerary
- 7 Best Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- 13 Fantastic Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- The Ultimate 1-3 Day Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary
