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Scenic Drives
Coastal Drive.
This 8-mile, narrow and mostly unpaved road is closed to trailers and RVs and takes about one hour to drive. The slow pace alongside stands of redwoods offers close-up views of the Klamath River and expansive panoramas of the Pacific. From here you’ll find access to the Flint Ridge section of the Coastal Trail. Recurring landslides have closed sections of the original road; this loop is all that remains. | 1 mile south of Klamath on U.S. 101 | Klamath | Take the Klamath Beach Rd. exit and follow signs to Coastal Dr.
Scenic Stops
Plants and Wildlife in Redwood Forests
Coast redwoods, the world’s tallest trees (a new record holder, topping out at 379 feet, was found within the park in 2006) grow in the moist, temperate climate of California’s North Coast. These ancient giants thrive in an environment that exists in only a few hundred coastal miles along the Pacific Ocean. They commonly live 600 years—though some have been around for 2,000 years.
A healthy redwood forest is diverse and includes Douglas firs, western hemlocks, tan oaks, and madrone trees. The complex soils of the forest floor support a verdant profusion of ferns, mosses, and fungi, along with numerous shrubs and berry bushes. In spring, California rhododendron bloom throughout the forest, providing a dazzling purple and pink contrast to the dense greenery.
Redwood National and State Parks hold 45% of all California’s old-growth redwood forests. Of the original 3,125 square miles (2 million acres) in the Redwoods Historic Range, only 4% remain following the logging that began in 1850; 1% is privately owned and managed, and 3% is on public land.
In the park’s backcountry, you might spot mountain lions, black bears, black-tailed deer, river otters, beavers, and minks. Roosevelt elk roam the flatlands, and the rivers and streams teem with salmon and trout. Gray whales, seals, and sea lions cavort near the coastline. And thanks to the area’s location along the Pacific Flyway, more than 400 species of birds have been recorded in the park.
Crescent Beach Overlook.
The scenery here includes ocean views and, in the distance, Crescent City and its working harbor. In balmy weather this is a great place for a picnic. From the overlook you can spot migrating gray whales going south November through December and returning north February through April. | 2 miles south of Crescent City off Enderts Beach Rd.
Fodor’s Choice | Fern Canyon.
Enter another world and be surrounded by 30-foot canyon walls covered with sword, maidenhair, and five-finger ferns. Allow an hour to explore the ¼-mile-long vertical garden along a 0.7-mile loop. From the north end of Gold Bluffs Beach it’s an easy walk, although you’ll have to wade across a small stream several times (in addition to driving across streams on the way to the parking area). But the lush surroundings are otherworldly, and worth a visit when creeks aren’t running too high. Be aware that motorhomes/RVs and all trailers are prohibited here. | 10 miles from Prairie Creek Visitor Center, via Davison Rd. off U.S. 101 | Orick | www.nps.gov/redw.
Best Campgrounds in Redwood National and State Parks
Within a 30-minute drive of Redwood National and State Parks there are nearly 60 public and private camping facilities. None of the four primitive areas in Redwood—DeMartin, Flint Ridge, Little Bald Hills, and Nickel Creek—is a drive-in site. You will need to get a free permit from any visitor center except Prairie Creek before camping in these campgrounds, and along Redwood Creek in the backcountry. Bring your own water, since drinking water isn’t available in any of these sites. These campgrounds, plus Gold Bluffs Beach, are first-come, first-served.
If you’d rather drive than hike in, Redwood has four developed campgrounds—Elk Prairie, Gold Bluffs Beach, Jedediah Smith, and Mill Creek—that are within the state-park boundaries. None has RV hookups, and some length restrictions apply. Fees are $35 in state park campgrounds. For details and reservations, call | 800/444–7275 or check www.reserveamerica.com.
Elk Prairie Campground. Roosevelt elk frequent this popular campground adjacent to a prairie and old-growth redwoods. | On Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy., 6 miles north of Orick in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park | 800/444–7275.
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground. You can camp in tents or RVs right on the beach at this Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park campground near Fern Canyon. | At end of Davison Rd., 5 miles south of Prairie Creek Visitor Center off U.S. 101 | 707/465–7335.
Jedediah Smith Campground. This is one of the few places to camp—in tents or RVs—within groves of old-growth redwood forest. | 9 miles east of Crescent City on Hwy. 199 | 800/444–7275.
Mill Creek Campground. Mill Creek is the largest of the state-park campgrounds. | East of U.S. 101, 7 miles southeast of Crescent City | 800/444–7275.
Nickel Creek Campground. An easy hike gets you to this primitive site, which is near tide pools and has great ocean views. | On Coastal Trail ½ mile from end of Enderts Beach Rd. | 707/465–7335.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove.
This section of the park was dedicated by, and named for, the former first lady. A 1-mile nature loop follows an old logging road through a mature redwood forest. Allow 45 minutes to complete the trail. | 1 mile north of Orick off U.S. 101 onto Bald Hills Rd. | Orick | Turn onto Bald Hills Rd. for 2½ miles to trailhead | www.nps.gov/redw.
Tall Trees Grove.
From the Kuchel Visitor Center, you can get a free permit to make the steep 14-mile drive (the last 6.5 miles, on Tall Trees Access Road, are unpaved) to the grove’s trailhead (trailers and RVs not allowed). Access to the popular grove is first-come, first-served, and a maximum of 50 permits are handed out each day. | 1 mile north of Orick off U.S. 101 | Orick | Turn right at Bald Hills Rd. and follow signs about 6.5 miles to access road, then drive 6.5 miles on unpaved road to trailhead. From there, take the approximately 4-mile round-trip hike to the grove.