Parks / Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National and State Parks
National and State Parks · CA
Renowned for the world’s tallest trees, Redwood’s landscapes span from open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline. This ancient home has supported people for thousands of years. The National Park Service and California State Parks now work to safeguard and rejuvenate these lands for everyone’s enjoyment, learning, and inspiration.
Official NPS page →Current Alerts (3)
DeMartin Trail and Campground
As part of CalTrans work to develop a new highway route that is more stable and safer, they will be undertaking geotechnical drilling this fall and winter. Hikers and campers in the area will likely see and hear heavy equipment at work and hear noise associated with the drilling, which may be 24 hours/day at times. Redwood National and State Parks has worked with CalTrans to minimize the impacts to users of this area while keeping the trail and campground open and accessible.
44 Creek Bridge Failure
44 creek bridge is closed due to damage identified by a Federal Highway inspection team. This bridge is north of 44 Camp, approximately 7 miles south of the Redwood Creek trailhead and about 1 mile north of the Tall Trees river crossing. All trails remain open in the area, but crossing this ravine is dangerous and not advised. Hikers should plan to take alternative routes to 44 Camp, which will add at least 3.5 miles from Redwood Creek Trailhead. Stop by a visitor center for more information.
Delays along Highway 101
There are multiple traffic stops along Highway 101 from Orick, CA to Crescent City, CA due to road construction. Extra time may be needed to travel throughout the park. Delay times may vary. Please stay alert and drive cautiously.
Entrance Fees
This park is fee-free.
Campgrounds (4)
Elk Prairie Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Enjoy ancient coast redwoods, grazing Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer in Elk Prairie, easy access to over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails, and seasonal ranger-led programs. Cabins available. Located in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, 6 miles north of Orick, CA.
Details →Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Experience the wild Pacific coastline and grazing Roosevelt elk in this campground, with easy access to a secluded stretch of beach, Fern Canyon, and 70 miles of hiking and biking trails. Located on the coast within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in the southern part of the parks. Access is via a narrow, single lane, dirt road. Recreational vehicles are not advised, and trailers are prohibited.
Details →Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Situated in a magnificent old-growth redwood grove on the banks of the wild and scenic Smith River, this campground offers hiking trails, swimming, fishing, and seasonal campfire programs. Cabins available.
Details →Mill Creek Campground - Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Sleep beneath towering maples and young redwoods. Access to Mill Creek, miles of varied hiking trails, and summer programs. Located in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. 7 miles south of Crescent City, CA turn east on the campground road. The camp is 2 miles east of the highway.
Details →Upcoming Events
Ranger-led Afternoon Walk: Prairie Creek (South end of the park)
Aug 31, 2026 · Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Night Sky Program at Dolason Prairie
Aug 31, 2026 · Dolason Prairie located along Bald Hills Road. Limited parking and a pit toilet are available.
Ranger-Led Morning Walk: Simpson-Reed (North end of the park)
Aug 31, 2026 · Simpson-Reed Trailhead located off Walker Road. A pit toilet bathroom is available at the trailhead. This trail is gravel.
Ranger-led Afternoon Walk: Simpson-Reed (North end of park)
Aug 31, 2026 · Simpson-Reed Trailhead located off Walker Road. A pit toilet bathroom is available at the trailhead. This trail is gravel.
Big Tree Pop-Up Program
Aug 31, 2026 · Big Tree Wayside in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Parking and a pit toilet are available at this location. A paved path is available from the parking lot to Big Tree. Access to Big Tree is also available by hiking the Karl Knapp to Foothill Trail loop, starting right next to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center.
Junior Ranger Program
Sep 1, 2026 · Elk Prairie campfire center is located near Prairie Creek Visitor Center. Easiest access to the center is on the Revelation or Redwood Access Trail located right behind the visitor center. Parking, flush toilets, and a water refill station available near visitor center.
Campfire Program: Jedediah Smith Campground
Sep 1, 2026 · Located in the campfire center within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Campground.
Campfire Program: Elk Prairie Campground Amphitheater
Sep 1, 2026 · Located at the Elk Prairie Campground Amphitheater within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Night Sky Program at Jedediah Smith Day-Use Area
Sep 2, 2026 · Jedediah Smith Day-use Area located near Jedediah Smith Campground (in Hiouchi, CA). Parking and flush toilets are available.
Campfire Program: Mill Creek Campground
Sep 2, 2026 · Located in Mill Creek Campground.
Night Sky Program at Jedediah Smith Day-Use Area
Sep 9, 2026 · Jedediah Smith Day-use Area located near Jedediah Smith Campground (in Hiouchi, CA). Parking and flush toilets are available.
Junior Ranger Program
Sep 12, 2026 · Elk Prairie campfire center is located near Prairie Creek Visitor Center. Easiest access to the center is on the Revelation or Redwood Access Trail located right behind the visitor center. Parking, flush toilets, and a water refill station available near visitor center.
Campfire Program: Elk Prairie Campground Amphitheater
Sep 12, 2026 · Located at the Elk Prairie Campground Amphitheater within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Night Sky Program at Dolason Prairie
Sep 13, 2026 · Dolason Prairie located along Bald Hills Road. Limited parking and a pit toilet are available.
Freshwater Beach Trash Bash
Sep 26, 2026 · Redwood Creek Day-Use Area Orick, California 95555 41.2837, -124.0918
America 250 Walk at Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Sep 27, 2026 · Limited parking available. Pit toilets in parking lot.
Things to Do
Bike Lost Man Creek Trail
Lost Man Creek flows through a landscape greatly changed from the 1960s when much of this area was clearcut logged. What used to be a logging road has been converted into a hike and bike trail. Lost Man Creek trail is now a narrow single-track mountain-biking trail. The first couple of miles is in old-growth redwood groves.
Bike Redwoods to Beach on the Ossagon Trail Loop
Follow a 19-mile loop through old-growth redwood forests to the Pacific coast and back. The route combines Ossagon Trail, Coastal Trail (Gold Beach Section), Davison Road and Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
Bike the Davison/Streelow Creek Loop
Start at a meadow where elk gather before biking through dense, Douglas-fir forests that have grown back since the old-growth redwoods were logged here in the 1960s. Along this trail you will pass old logging mill buildings and will see stumps of giant redwood trees set amongst the skinny, young and crowded second-growth trees.
Drive Howland Hill Road
A ten-mile dirt road where the redwoods are so close they'll almost kiss your car.
Drive the Bald Hills Road
Scenic drive into the high hills and open prairies of the parks. Sweeping views, and opportunities for hikes, birding, wildlife viewing, and seeing historic barns and orchards.
Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
A ten mile drive through the heart of the redwoods. You have to exit HWY 101 to see the big redwoods.
Go Tide Pooling at Enderts Beach
Tidepooling at Enderts Beach will bring you experience some incredible coastlines and give you a glimpse into life at the edge of the ocean. For some, its like seeing science fiction come to life. Check the tides, and take a few hours to make the hike to the tide pools and back.
Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail
A moderate hike with some steep grades and switchbacks.
Hike the James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon Loop
One of the longest hikes in Redwood National and State Parks, this 12-mile loop will take you from Redwoods, through spruce forests to the ocean - and back.
Hike to the Grove Of Titans
A trail in the north that has an elevated metal boardwalk to protect the forest floor. Interpretive waysides explore the area's human and natural history. There is no parking for recreational vehicles or vehicles towing trailers.
Hike to the Tall Trees Grove
A half-day hike in the southern part of the parks for those ready for an adventure. A free reservation is needed. This trail is one the more strenuous hikes in Redwood National and State Parks.
Hike to Trillium Falls
Located in the southern end of the parks this is arguably one of the best family-friendly walks. It also has plenty of parking, picnic tables and restrooms.
Hike Zig Zag Loop
Walk along flowing Prairie Creek before ascending to ridgetop views in Prairie Creek State Park.
Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail
An easy walk through beautiful old-growth redwood forests in the northern part of the parks. Limited parking, RV's and trailers not permitted.
Stroll to the Big Tree Wayside
For those short on time then this 5-minute walk will lead to some amazingly large trees.
Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail
A unique, beautiful, and popular location in the park. Getting here does require some planning, reservations are required May 15th through September 15th (available online), there are two (2) stream crossings that you have to drive through, and your feet will get wet. Definitely an adventure!
Walk the Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) to Foothill Trail Loop
Located in the southern third of the parks, this family-friendly loop trail takes you under some of the tallest trees in the world and follows along a beautiful creek. There is parking, restrooms, and picnic tables located near Prairie Creek Visitor Center.
Walk the Lady Bird Johnson Grove
An iconic redwood grove in the southern end of the parks that is easy to walk. RVs and trailers are not advised on the narrow mountain road leading to this trailhead.
Walk the Stout Memorial Grove Trail
A majestic grove of redwoods next to the Smith River in the northern part of the park. This trail requires some planning about how you will access it. Hours can be spent on a summer's day relaxing on the banks of the Smith River.
Watch Wild Elk
Watch Roosevelt elk at Redwood National and State Parks
Visitor Centers
- Crescent City Information Center
- Hiouchi Visitor Center
- Jedediah Smith Visitor Center
- Prairie Creek Visitor Center
- Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
Webcams
Source: National Park Service.