11 Best Hikes in Redwood National and State Parks (Complete Trail Guide)

I still remember the moment I stepped onto my first trail inside Redwood National and State Parks. The air smelled like damp earth and moss, the light filtered down through canopies so thick I could barely see the sky, and I had to crane my neck back so far it hurt just to find where the trees ended. That was the day I understood why people call these places sacred. Since then, I’ve gone back more times than I can count — scouting trails, checking conditions, and building a real picture of which hikes are worth every step. What you’ll find below is that honest, boots-on-the-ground list.

If you’re planning your trip from scratch, I’d recommend starting with the full overview at CATravelTimes.com before diving into individual trails — it’ll give you the bigger picture of Northern California’s travel landscape.

Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know Before You Hike

Before we get into the individual trails, here are the most important things to keep in mind:

• The park is actually four parks in one. Redwood National Park is managed jointly with three California State Parks: Prairie Creek Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Each has its own character and its own trails.
• Some trails require permits. Fern Canyon (May 15–September 15) and Tall Trees Grove require free advance reservations. Grab them before you go — they do run out.
• Cell service is nearly nonexistent throughout most of the park. Download offline maps before you leave.
• Bring waterproof shoes on almost every trail here. Fern Canyon especially will get your feet wet, guaranteed.
• State park day-use fees apply at Prairie Creek, Del Norte, and Jedediah Smith. The fee is $12 per vehicle. Federal America the Beautiful passes are honored.
• Howland Hill Road (access point for Boy Scout Tree Trail, Stout Grove, and more) is unpaved, narrow, and not suitable for RVs or large trailers.
• Roosevelt elk are everywhere. They look calm, but they are wild. Stay at least one school-bus length away at all times.
• Seasonal closures matter. Boy Scout Tree Trail is closed November 1–May 1. Always check current conditions at nps.gov/redw before heading out.
• Weather is cool and damp year-round. Bring layers and a rain jacket no matter the season. Summer fog is real.

All 11 Hikes at a Glance: Distance, Difficulty & Best For 

The 11 Best Hikes in Redwood National and State Parks

1. Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail — The Perfect First Hike

• Distance: 1.5 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation Gain: ~190 feet
• Trailhead: Lady Bird Johnson Grove parking area off Bald Hills Road
• Fee: None (Redwood National Park)

Named after First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and dedicated by President Nixon in 1969, this is the most popular and accessible trail in the park. The wide, well-marked loop winds through a cathedral-like old-growth grove where trees are wide enough to park a car inside. Rangers lead daily summer walks from the parking lot, and interpretive posts explain the ecology throughout. Only 5% of original old-growth redwood forest survives today — every step here carries real weight. Arrive before 9 a.m. on weekends; the small parking lot fills fast.

2. Fern Canyon Loop Trail — The Jurassic Park Hike

• Distance: 1.2 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation Gain: ~124 feet
• Trailhead: Gold Bluffs Beach Day Use Area, off Davison Road, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Fee: $12 day-use (cash or check only)
• Permit: Free parking permit required May 15–September 15
• Dogs: Not allowed

This short hike sends you through a narrow, 50-foot-deep canyon where every wall is blanketed in ancient ferns — some with ancestry tracing back 325 million years. Filming location for Jurassic Park 2 and BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs, the canyon looks genuinely prehistoric. Creek crossings are unavoidable; waterproof shoes are non-negotiable. Davison Road is unpaved and rough — high-clearance vehicles strongly recommended. Book your free summer permit months in advance through redwoodparksconservancy.org; it runs out fast. Credit cards not accepted at the entrance kiosk.

3. Trillium Falls Trail — Waterfall, Elk, and Ancient Trees

• Distance: 2.8 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
• Elevation Gain: ~200 feet
• Trailhead: Elk Meadow Day Use Area, off Highway 101 near Orick
• Fee: None (Redwood National Park)

This trail packs more variety into under three miles than almost any other hike in the park — a waterfall, old-growth redwoods, bigleaf maples, dense ferns, and one of the most reliable Roosevelt elk-spotting meadows in Northern California. The falls are a tiered cascade over mossy basalt, modest but genuinely beautiful. Giant redwoods and Douglas firs tower overhead the entire loop. Trailhead sits right off Highway 101 with ample parking and no entry fee. Go early morning for the best wildlife chances.

4. Boy Scout Tree Trail — The Best Hike in Jedediah Smith

• Distance: 5.5 miles (out-and-back)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation Gain: ~1,219 feet
• Trailhead: Howland Hill Road, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Seasonal Closure: November 1 – May 1
• Fee: None (outside campground fee area)

The only day hike in Jedediah Smith that goes deep into the old-growth interior, this trail follows Jordan Creek through moss-draped redwoods, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock. At mile 2.4, a signed fork leads to the Boy Scout Tree — a double-trunked giant standing 238 feet tall and 23 feet wide, named by local Boy Scouts in the 1930s. Half a mile further sits Fern Falls, a quiet seasonal waterfall perfect for lunch. Six footbridges cross the creek. Root-covered sections require careful footing; trailhead parking holds just six cars.

5. Stout Grove Trail — 15 Minutes of Pure Wonder

• Distance: 0.6 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation Gain: ~30 feet
• Trailhead: Stout Grove Picnic Area, Howland Hill Road, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Fee: $12 day-use (California State Park)

Donated by Clara Stout in 1929 in memory of her husband Frank, this was the first dedicated grove within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The short, flat loop circles an incredibly tight stand of massive old-growth redwoods with almost no understory — nothing to distract from the sheer scale of the trees above you. The Smith River runs quietly alongside. Summer afternoons around 3–4 p.m. bring shafts of golden light through the canopy, making this one of the most photogenic spots in the entire park.

6. Karl Knapp Trail (Prairie Creek Trail) — Elk and Giants

• Distance: 2.4 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation Gain: ~95 feet
• Trailhead: Prairie Creek Visitor Center, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
• Fee: $12 day-use (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park)

Starting behind the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, this gentle loop follows Prairie Creek through classic old-growth redwood forest with winding waterways and lush fern understory throughout. The meadow just before the trailhead is one of the most reliable Roosevelt elk-viewing spots in the park — I’ve never hiked it without a sighting. Terrain is gentle and well-marked, making it an excellent pick for families with young children. Pair it with a slow drive along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway for one of California’s finest forest experiences.

7. Tall Trees Grove Trail — A Permit-Required Hidden Gem

• Distance: 3.3 miles (out-and-back)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation Gain: ~700 feet
• Trailhead: Tall Trees Grove trailhead (permit + gate code required)
• Fee: None; free permit from Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center in Orick

Daily permits are strictly limited, which is exactly why this grove stays uncrowded and pristine. Pick up your free permit and gate code at the Kuchel Visitor Center before heading out — no walk-ins at the gate. The access road runs about 6–7 unpaved miles from Highway 101; high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended. The trail descends through spectacular old-growth forest to Redwood Creek, where some of the tallest measured trees in the entire park system stand quietly without a crowd in sight.

8. James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon — The Epic No-Permit Alternative

• Distance: 9–10 miles one-way / ~11 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation Gain: ~450 feet
• Trailhead: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center
• Fee: $12 day-use (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park)

The best-kept secret in the park: reach Fern Canyon with zero permit required by hiking in on foot. The James Irvine Trail winds 4.5 miles one-way from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center through some of the most towering old-growth forest in the entire system, dropping you directly into Fern Canyon at the coast. One-way with a shuttle is ideal; round-trip is a full 11-mile commitment. Plan 5–8 hours, bring plenty of food and water, and download offline maps before you leave cell range.

9. Damnation Creek Trail — Rugged Coast and Ancient Redwoods

• Distance: 4 miles (out-and-back)
• Difficulty: Moderate–Strenuous
• Elevation Gain: ~1,000 feet
• Trailhead: Highway 101 pullout, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
• Fee: None at trailhead

One of the most underrated hikes in the entire park system, Damnation Creek drops steeply from Highway 101 through dense ancient redwoods and Douglas firs before delivering you to a wild, untouched stretch of Pacific coastline. The descent is roughly 1,000 feet over two miles — the climb back up is a real workout, so pace yourself. Sea stacks, crashing waves, and long coastal views reward the effort. One of very few trails combining true old-growth forest with direct Pacific Ocean access. Best on a clear morning.

10. Yurok Loop Trail — Coastal Views and Tide Pools

• Distance: 1 mile (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation Gain: Minimal
• Trailhead: Lagoon Picnic Area, near Klamath, Redwood National Park
• Fee: None (Redwood National Park)

No redwoods here — just wide-open Pacific views, coastal bluffs, and a hidden beach packed with tide pools. The Yurok Loop follows the bluffs above the Pacific near the Klamath River mouth, offering genuine coastal ecology in a single easy mile. At low tide, the hidden beach reveals starfish, crabs, and small tidal pools full of life. Trail narrows and overgrows in spots — long pants and closed-toe shoes recommended. A perfect morning opener before heading into the forest, or a relaxed end-of-day wind-down walk.

11. Prairie Creek and Foothill Loop — Old Growth Without the Crowds

• Distance: ~3.5 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
• Elevation Gain: ~200 feet
• Trailhead: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center
• Fee: $12 day-use (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park)

This combination loop links two of Prairie Creek’s best trail segments — the creek-side Prairie Creek Trail and the elevated Foothill Trail — for a well-rounded sampler of old-growth forest, creek crossings, fern-draped slopes, and quiet interior woodland. 

More mileage and elevation variety than Karl Knapp alone, without committing to a full half-day. Starting from the visitor center means easy restroom access, ranger information, and current conditions on hand. A reliable first recommendation for visitors who want meaningful mileage without the pressure of a longer trail.

How to Pair These Trails for a Multi-Day Trip?

You do not need to choose between these trails — you can intelligently combine them based on location and time.

Day 1 — South End (Orick Area)

• Morning: Lady Bird Johnson Grove (1.5 miles, easy — great warm-up)
• Midday: Trillium Falls Trail (2.8 miles — same parking area as Fern Canyon road)
• Afternoon: Fern Canyon Loop (1 mile — arrive early enough for the permit window)

Day 2 — Prairie Creek Area

• Morning: Prairie Creek Foothill Loop (3 miles — great elk sighting odds early)
• Full day option: James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon (10.3 miles — commit to this one)

Day 3 — North End (Jedediah Smith Area, near Crescent City)

• Morning: Stout Grove Trail (1 mile — do it at golden hour)
• Late morning: Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.2 miles — give yourself 3 hours)
• Afternoon: Explore Howland Hill Road scenic drive

For more on where to stay, what to eat, and what else to do across the full park system, browse the National Parks section at CA Travel Times.

Tips for Planning Your Visit to the Trails

The best hikes in Redwood National and State Parks are spread across a wide geographic area — from Orick in the south to Crescent City in the north, a distance of about 50 miles on Highway 101. Do not underestimate the driving time between trailheads. A few practical pointers to make your trip run smoothly:

• Book permits early. Fern Canyon parking reservations and Tall Trees Grove permits both have limited daily availability. Book weeks in advance in peak summer months.
• Visit in shoulder season. Late September through early November brings fewer crowds, beautiful light, and no permit requirements for most trails.
• Pair trails strategically. Stout Grove and Boy Scout Tree Trail are both on Howland Hill Road — do them together. Trillium Falls and Fern Canyon share the same parking area starting point.
• Respect the Leave No Trace principles. Stay on marked trails, step over exposed roots (stepping on them harms the trees), and pack out everything you bring in.
• Dogs are not allowed on trails in the national or state park sections. They can accompany you on paved roads and in campgrounds on a 6-foot leash.

Final Thoughts

The best hikes in Redwood National and State Parks are not just good trails — they are experiences that rearrange something inside you. There is a quality to this place that photographs cannot capture and words can only gesture at. It is the feeling of being genuinely small in the presence of something genuinely ancient.

Whether you have one day or one week, this park will give you exactly as much as you are willing to put in. Start with the short and easy ones if you are new to hiking. Work your way to Boy Scout Tree and James Irvine if you want solitude and depth. Do Tall Trees if you want to understand why people have spent their entire careers trying to protect this place.