17 Incredible Things to do in Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks seems like a whole different world in Northern California with towering old-growth redwood forests, scenic drives, and coastal beauty.

On my recent visit to Redwoods National Park during the September long weekend, I packed as much as possible into my days exploring these incredible parks.

In our 3 day Redwoods National and State Parks itinerary, we did some amazing hikes, saw plenty of giant trees, drove on some scenic and challenging roads, and even saw some wildlife! Even during a holiday weekend, it was not as crowded as some of the other popular California National Parks.

Based on my experiences, here’s a breakdown of the best things to do in Redwood National and State Parks.

Things to do in Redwood National and State Parks

Redwoods National and State Parks is a collection of four parks: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park.

The parks are spread out between the coastal cities of Cresent City in the North and Tridindad in the South. We spent 3 days exploring the entire region and some nearby attractions, and this list covers my top picks from the trip.

1. Hike the Fern Canyon

Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Fern Canyon Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods was one of my favorite hikes in Redwood National and State Parks. Walking along a flowing stream between those canyon walls covered in lush green ferns was like stepping into a different world.

Did you know that the movie Jurrasic Park: The Lost World was shot in this canyon? The scenery here looks so unreal that you can imagine dinosaurs stomping down the trail at any time!

Reaching the trailhead is an adventure of its own! To get here, we had to drive 7 miles one way on the very narrow, unpaved, mountainous Davison Road, and let me tell you, this drive was not for the faint of heart! It took us around 30 minutes one way. The last mile, which is parallel to the beach, has several huge potholes too.

If that is not all, there are three stream crossings in the last mile to reach the Fern Canyon trailhead. We visited in late summer, so the streams did not have much water, although the first stream had the most water. We parked at Gold Bluffs Beach Day Use Area and walked the last mile to the trailhead.

The actual Fern Canyon hike is only a 1.1-mile loop, but we just went to the canyon and back and did not do the full loop. The trail is more like walking along a stream between the canyon and not a real trail path.

There was so much beauty everywhere, with the lush green ferns, the trickling waterfalls, and the flowing stream.

There are a lot of fallen trees that we had to cross to get around and sometimes walk in the stream, so make sure to wear water proof shoes here.

2. Drive on Newton B Dury Scenic Pkwy

Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Newton B Dury Scenic Pkwy runs parallel to Highway 101 between the towns of Klamath and Trinidad. If you are driving between these two towns in either direction, I highly recommend you take this scenic route.

This 10-mile scenic parkway winds through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, showcasing some of the park’s most stunning old-growth redwoods. If you don’t stop along the way, it doesn’t add much time to the route.

It’s an easy drive, with several pullouts where you can stop, take photos, or explore short trails. I loved how quiet and scenic this road was, and it was our favorite drive in the parks.

3. Look for elk in Elk Meadow

Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

At the southern end of Newton B Dury Scenic Pkwy is Prairie Creek Visitor Center. We stopped here to pick up a park map and get the latest information about the trail conditions.

Just south of the visitor center is a large meadow where we saw a herd of elk grazing. There is a trail next to the meadow, but I didn’t go too far in as there was no fence to keep the elk away in case they came my way. Remember that elk are wild, and it’s best to keep your distance from them.

There is another meadow at the start of the Davison Road near Hwy 101. We stopped there as well but didn’t see any elk here.

Reservations: During the summer months, online reservations are needed to visit the Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, which can be made here.

4. Visit Gold Bluffs Beach

Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Gold Bluffs Beach and campground are 1 mile away from the Fern Canyon trailhead. We parked in the Gold Bluffs Beach Day Use Area as we didn’t want to cross the streams in our car and walked to the trailhead.

After the Fern Canyon hike, we sat for a while at Gold Bluffs Beach. Such a remote and beautiful beach that stretched for miles with hardly anyone. To reach here you have to cross the same narrow and windy Davison Road, which makes it very secluded.

5. Stout Grove Memorial Trail

Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Stout Grove is one of the most impressive redwood groves I visited. It has some of the tallest and oldest redwoods in the park, as well as many fallen redwood trees, which looked equally spectacular.

The trail here is only a 0.5-mile loop and takes you through a peaceful grove of these giants. It’s an easy walk along a well-maintained path. This is where we saw the most crowds as we visited on a holiday weekend.

The parking lot is small here, so we parked at the Jedediah Smith Campground Day Use Area and used the footbridge on Smith River to reach the Stout Grove Memorial Trail. That added around 2 miles to our hike. Note the footbridge is only available during the summer months.

6. Simpson Reed Trail

Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Simpson Reed Trail was an easy one-mile flat loop through towering redwoods and beautiful fern-covered ground. It was one of the most scenic groves.

Parking was extremely limited here, but we parked further up on Walker Road and walked to the trailhead.

7. Drive on Howland Hill Road

Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Howland Hill Road was one of the more adventurous drives in our Redwood trip. It is unpaved and narrow, similar to the Davison Road for the Fern Canyon hike.

This 10-mile unpaved road takes you right through the heart of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. It is narrow, windy, bumpy, and meant for two-way traffic.

The drive passes through some stunning old-growth forests. Several popular trails, such as the Stout Memorial Trail, Boy Scout Tree Trail, and Grove of Titans, are on this road.

It took us an hour to drive the 10 miles one-way on this road, and we drove from east to west, exiting near Crescent City.

8. Stop at Hiouchi Visitor Center

Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

We explored Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in a loop by going east on Hwy 199 and then coming back west via Howland Hill Road. We stopped at the Hiouchi Visitor Center on Hwy 199.

The Hiouchi Visitor Center is a great place to stop for trail information, maps, current events, and ranger advice. Plus, it is beautiful, with the redwoods as a backdrop.

They have exhibits and displays that are worth checking out before heading into the park. Good stop for restrooms as well.

9. Click a picture at the Redwood National Park Sign

If you are anything like me, you would want a picture at the National Park Sign. We came across several of these signs scattered all over the region.

This sign, in particular, is on Hwy 199, further east of Hiouchi Visitor Center near Hiouchi Cafe. There is a pull-up area near the sign to park safely along the highway.

10. Take in the views from Crescent Beach Overlook

Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

Crescent Beach Overlook offers one of the most stunning coastal views in the park. To reach here, you have to take Enderts Beach Rd, which runs parallel to Hwy 101. It is around 5 miles south of Crescent City. We stopped here on the way to Klamath, where we were staying at the historic Requa Inn.

The overlook is easy to access, with a short walk from the parking area. The views of the Crescent Beach and Pacific Ocean from here are really spectacular.

There is a trail from the parking lot that goes down to Crescent Beach, although we didn’t have time for the hike. The beach is miles long and secluded, with hardly anyone there.

11. Trees of Mystery

Location: Klamath, CA (near Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park)

Trees of Mystery is a unique stop located just off US 101, and while it’s more of a tourist attraction, I found it to be a fun addition to the trip. You can’t miss this while driving north of Klamath on Hwy 101 with the 40+ foot statues of Paul Bunyan, folk hero and giant lumberjack, and Babe the ox.

When we visited, the entrance fee was $30 per person. However, several unique things to do here were worth the price.

I loved the Redwood Canoy Trail here, which involved walking among the redwoods on suspension bridges. It was unique and fun. The Skytrail Gondola, which takes you up the mountain between redwood trees, was also cool. There is a nice observation deck at the top.

The redwood forests and trails here were well-preserved, with several unique trees to look at. Towards the exit, there is a section with redwood artwork depicting the tales of Paul Bunyan.

12. Hike Trillium Falls

Location: Redwood National Park

Trillium Falls is a beautiful 2.5-mile loop trail that takes you through an old-growth forest and past the small but scenic Trillium Falls.

The trail starts near the Elk Meadow Day Use Area at the start of Davison Road, and you might spot elk at the trailhead. This hike can be combined with the Fern Canyon hike.

13. Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Location: Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Grove is one of the park’s more popular trails. The 1.5-mile loop takes you through a beautiful redwood grove with interpretive signs along the way. The trail is flat, easy, and doable by most.

Although the Bald Hills Road to reach here is quite steep, unpaved, and bumpy. There is a small parking lot here, but parking along the side of the road is allowed.

14. Tall Trees Grove

Location: Redwood National Park

Tall Trees Grove Has some of the tallest redwood trees in the park. Hiking this trail requires a bit more planning since you’ll need a permit to access the trailhead, which can be obtained here.

This 3.6-mile roundtrip hike has an elevation gain of around 800 feet (you descend first to reach the grove and then climb back up). Plus, you have to drive around 10 miles on the unpaved and windy Bald Hills Road to reach the trailhead. We skipped this one as it would require around half a day, including the driving time.

More Things To Do Nearby

As the Redwood National and State Parks are scattered between Trinidad and Crescent City, we visited some other cool places nearby during our trip, like Battery Point Lighthouse, Sue-Meg State Park, and Avenue of the Giants Drive.

15. Battery Point Lighthouse

Located in Crescent City, this historic lighthouse is accessible during low tide and offers tours.

When we stopped in Crescent City for dinner, we decided to stop by Battery Point Beach to take a picture of the lighthouse. To our surprise, we saw that the path to the lighthouse was accessible, and many folks were making their way there or exploring tidepools among the rocks. We felt incredibly lucky!

Although the lighthouse was closed, it was a beautiful building, and the panoramic ocean views from there were amazing. It was a great place to watch the sunset.

16. Sue-Meg State Park

Formerly known as Patrick’s Point, Sue-Meg State Park is a beautiful compact park that offers dramatic coastal views, rocky bluffs, and hiking trails. It is south of Redwood National Park and north of Trinidad.

We made a quick stop to check out the Wedding Rock Overlook and the Sue-Meg Village. Other popular activities here are tidepooling, Agate Beach, and hiking the Rim trail that follows the perimeter of the park.

17. Avenue of the Giants drive

Location: Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Avenue of the Giants is a 31-mile scenic drive that runs parallel to Highway 101 and takes you through some of the most giant redwood trees in California. It’s located further south from the main parks but is worth the detour if you have time.

I did this drive on my way back home to the San Francisco Bay Area and loved stopping at the various redwood groves and unique trees.

My favorite redwood groves here are Founders Grove, which has some really impressive trees, and Grieg-French-Bell Grove, which has some really pretty ground cover beneath the redwoods.

Immortal Tree and Chimney Tree are quick stops for seeing unique trees. We also took a detour here to explore the scenic Mattole Rd and the Big Trees area.

Overall, it is a really cool drive to see ancient redwood trees if you are passing along this stretch of Highway 101.

Travel Tips for Visiting Redwood National and State Parks

Based on my own experiences, below I have listed some travel tips for your visit to the redwoods:

Where to stay in Redwood National Park?

Are you wondering about the best place to stay for exploring the Redwood National Parks region?

Redwood National and State Parks are scattered between Crescent City and Trinidad, making either place a good base for exploring the parks. Klamath is in between the two, but has limited options. We stayed in Klamath, but I’ve listed options for all three towns.

Historic Requa Inn, Klamath

We stayed at the Requa Inn in Klamath in a cozy cottage with a full kitchen and king and queen beds, perfect for a group of four. The location was ideal for exploring the parks, and the inn offers made-to-order breakfast (for an extra fee).

The Inn has rooms that are ideal for couples. The Requa House, which sleeps 10, has great ocean views and is perfect for families or larger groups.

Trinidad

Trinidad is a great option if you’re coming from the south. Here are my top recommendations in Trinidad:

• View Crest Lodge: Cottages with full kitchens near Sue-Meg State Park.
• Trinidad Bay B&B: Located in town, within walking distance of restaurants and beaches, with a 3-course breakfast included.
• Lost Whale Inn Oceanfront B&B: This boutique hotel has ocean trails, a spa, and a seven-course breakfast. This hotel is a great romantic getaway for couples.

Crescent City

Crescent City has more hotels than Trinidad, but most of them are basic. Here are two decent options:

• Oceanview Inn: Centrally located, close to restaurants and Battery Point Lighthouse.
• Best Western Plus Northwoods Inn: Convenient location with free breakfast.

Campgrounds

Most of these parks have campgrounds, which are very popular and require advance online reservations. Some popular campgrounds are listed here:

• Jedediah Smith Campground in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Elk Prairie Campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Gold Bluffs Beach Campground is located right on the beach in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Mill Creek Campground in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

Best Time to Visit?

Late spring, summer, and fall are the best times to visit the redwoods.

Spring is lush and green, but trails can be muddy. Summer is busier, and some popular trails like the Fern Canyon require reservations.

Fall has fewer crowds and drier trails, but the forests are less green. Winter can be rainy, making some roads tricky to navigate.

How Many Days Do You Need?

Three days are ideal to see the highlights of each park, and that is how much time we spent and were able to explore quite a bit. If you have four days, you can explore more hikes in the parks.

How to Get There?

Redwood National and State Parks are along Highway 101 between Crescent City and Trinidad. If flying, the closest major airports are San Francisco, Sacramento, and Portland, about 5.5–6 hours away by car.

To explore the parks, which are quite spread out, you will need a car from the airport. There is no public transport to the trailheads in these remote areas.

Do You Need Reservations?

You’ll need reservations for Fern Canyon trail (May 15 to Sept 15) and Tall Trees Grove. Reservations are also required for campgrounds if you are planning to camp. Fern Canyon has a $12 fee, which is waived with an America the Beautiful pass.

Is Redwood National Park Free?

Yes, visiting the Redwood National and State Parks is free, but Fern Canyon has a $12 fee unless you have an annual ‘America the Beautiful’ National Park pass.

What to pack for the redwoods?

The weather can be cool and foggy in the redwood forests, so dress in layers. Here’s what I recommend packing:

• Full hiking pants, lightweight t-shirts
• Hoodie or sweater, waterproof jacket
• Beanie (I always need one near the coast)
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Water, snacks, and even lunch (Except for the nearby towns, there was no food available anywhere in the parks)
• First-aid kit
• Camera or phone for photos
• Hiking poles, if you use them
• Download offline maps as the cell signal was very spotty

Final Takeaways: What to do in Redwood National Park

I found Redwood National and State Parks to be much more remote, peaceful, and unspoiled than the rest of California. There is plenty to do here, like marveling at ancient and towering redwoods, admiring scenic coastal views, enjoying peaceful hiking trails, or just getting lost in forest scenery.

Whether you’re wandering through the mystical Fern Canyon, driving along scenic roads or adventurous ones (looking at you, Davison Road!), or taking in the ocean from an overlook, there’s something here for every type of traveler.

My trip was packed with adventure and rejuvenation, and I hope this guide helps you plan your own unforgettable experience in these incredible parks.

➡️Up next, check out my perfectly planned Redwood National Park itinerary, which we used ourselves. It includes all these hikes and drives grouped by region to minimize driving.