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Redwood National and State Parks
Outdoor Activities
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outdoor activities includes: | Hiking
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| NPS | | Ranger-led tidepool program. Find volcano-shaped limpets, orange and purple ochre sea stars, and the flower of the sea — a giant green anemone! Bring boots with soul! |
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Ranger-led programs are offered during the summer season (mid-June to Labor Day). Check at a park visitor center for details. Weekly schedules for the programs are posted in the state park campgrounds and at visitor centers. Topics for various activities may include bears, tidepools, American Indian cultures, and redwood ecology.
Campfire programs are held at the following campgrounds:
- Jedediah Smith
- Mill Creek
- Gold Bluffs Beach
- Elk Prairie
California State Parks Junior Ranger programs for children ages 7-12 are held at:
- Jedediah Smith campground
- Mill Creek campground
- Gold Bluffs Beach campground
- Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Nature walks:
- Redwood walks - Join a ranger to learn more about natural communities in the redwood ecosystem. Check posted schedules for times, topics, and locations.
- Tidepool walks - All tidepool walks meet at the Enderts Beach parking area. The walk takes about 2-½ hours. Check at a visitor center for times and dates.
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| NPS | | Bicycling in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. |
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Bicycling in Redwood National and State Parks can be a challenging and an awe-inspiring experience as you pass through the redwood forest or along the coastline. Although most national parks prohibit biking in the backcountry, we offer a few—often on rehabilitated logging roads where tires cause less erosion damage and where routes are wide enough to safely accommodate multiple uses. Help limit impacts on other trails by respecting areas where bicycles are not permitted. Pick up a park brochure with map at any visitor center. Mileage is one way.
- Little Bald Hills Trail on Howland Hill Road: 5 miles open during the summer only. Steep.
- Coastal Trail, Last Chance section, located at the end of Enderts Beach Road or at milepost 15.6 on Highway 101: 6 miles. Some steep areas.
- Ossagon Trail Loop starts at milepost 132.9 on Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway: 19-mile loop when combined with Coastal Trail, Gold Beach section, and Davison Road. Steep, easy, easy, steep, respectively.
- Coastal Trail, Gold Bluffs Beach section, accessed via Ossagon Trail or Davison Road: 3 miles. Easy.
- Davison Trail, start at Elk Meadow Day Use Area or at the south end of Elk Prairie campground: 2¼ miles. Easy. Combine with Streelow Creek Trail and Davison Road for a 7½ loop. Easy to moderate. Carry on to Lost Man Creek trailhead for another 2½ miles. Moderate.
- Lost Man Creek Trail located 3 miles north of Orick or 6½ miles up Bald Hills Road off Hwy 101: 11 miles. Combine with Bald Hills Road and Highway 101 for a 20½-mile loop. Add on four miles by going to Elk Meadow Day Use Area. Moderate with some steep grades.
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| NPS | | Tolowa renewal dance. |
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American Indian dance demonstrations presented by members of the Tolowa and the Yurok tribes are performed in RNSP every summer season.
The Tolowa conduct a renewal dance demonstration at the Jedediah Smith picnic area, off Highway 199 just west of the community of Hiouchi.
Yurok demonstrate the traditional brush dance at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, one mile south of Orick on Highway 101.
Each demonstration begins with an introduction explaining the dance's significance to each American Indian culture. Both dance demonstrations are open to the public and free of charge.
Call for dates and times, (707) 465-7304 or (707) 465-7765.
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| NPS | | Freshwater Lagoon Spit patrol. |
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Horses
- Redwood Creek Horse Trail comprises four possible loops and two stock-ready camps. Several days of riding are possible. The Redwood Creek Horse Trail begins in Orick next to the Orick Rodeo Grounds off Highway 101, about 1 mile (1½ km) north of the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center. Ask at a visitor center regarding trailhead access. Brochure.
- Little Bald Hills Trail off Howland Hill Road (within RNSP's Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park) is horse-accessible with a stock-ready camp.
- Mill Creek Horse Trail is available for day use. Access Mill Creek Horse Trailhead from Bertsch Avenue off Howland Hill Road. Brochure.
- For guided horseback rides, contact RNSP concessions, , 265 Idlewood Lane Trinidad, CA 95570 (707) 498.4837 or a local chamber of commerce.
Please be aware of the following regulations:
- Permits are required for overnight use and can be obtained at visitor centers
- Camp only in designated sites
- Carry only pellets or certified weed-free feed to camps and on trails
- Animals may not graze park vegetation
- Animals must be hobbled or tied to a hitching post when unattended
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Scenic Drives
If you’ve only got time for a quick drive or two at RNSP, check below for some exciting opportunities. Choose from a variety of lengths, road conditions, and environments to suit your tastes.
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| NPS | | Howland Hill Road. |
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Unpaved Scenic Roads
- Howland Hill Road (45 minutes one way). Discover the heart of the redwoods along this 6-mile (9½ km) improved gravel road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. A narrow and windy corridor, this route has numerous pullouts for you to stand beside an ancient one and offers many trailheads for exploration. Located at the northern end of the parks, Howland Hill Road is accessible from Highway 101 south of Crescent City by turning onto Elk Valley Road or from Highway 199, two miles east of the Hiouchi Information Center. Motorhomes and trailers not advised.
- Davison Road (30 minutes one way). This narrow 8-mile (13 km) road goes through a young redwood forest to the gray sands of Gold Bluffs Beach. Explore this isolated area: endless trailheads enter Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, take a solar shower while staying at Gold Bluffs Beach campground, traverse the path and bridges along Fern Canyon with its 30-foot walls of ferns. Located on Highway 101 south from Crescent City 30 miles (48 km) or north two miles (3 km) from Orick. Vehicles and trailers with a combined length of more than 24 feet (7½ m) not permitted. State park day-use fee is charged.
- Cal-Barrel Road (30 minutes one way) Travel this 3-mile (5 km) road through old-growth forest in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The narrow, winding road allows you time to look upon colossal redwoods. As pillars in the sky, see if your neck doesn't hurt! The turnoff is located north of the Prairie Creek Visitor Center on Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Trailers or motorhomes prohibited.
- Bicycles are welcome on all roads.
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| NPS | | Crescent Beach Overlook at the end of Enderts Beach Road. |
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Paved Scenic Drives
- Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway (15-30 minutes one way). Ten-mile (16-km) drive through old-growth redwood forest in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Along the way, look for access to numerous trailheads and spy the brawny Roosevelt elk. This scenic alternate to Highway 101 begins six miles north of Orick or four miles south of Klamath. No commercial vehicles permitted.
- Enderts Beach Road (5 minutes one way). This 2-mile (3-km) route offers excellent views of the ocean, whale watching opportunities, and access to tidepools and the Coastal Trail. The turnoff is two miles (3 km) south of Crescent City along Highway 101.
- Requa Road (15 minutes one way). Drive 4-miles (6-½ km) paved along the Klamath River up a steep grade to the Klamath River Overlook. Excellent whale and seabird watching. Bring your camera! Located two miles (3 km) north of the Klamath River on Highway 101.
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| NPS | | High Bluff Overlook off Coastal Drive. |
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Paved/Unpaved Scenic Road
- Coastal Drive (1-2 hours one way). Mostly gravel 8-mile (13-km) road offers magnificent views of the ocean and the Klamath River with its estuary. Whales, sea lions, and pelicans are often seen from overlooks. Offers access to the Coastal Trail, Flint Ridge section. From the north, take Highway 101 to Klamath Beach Road, then follow the Coastal Drive signs. From the south, travel Highway 101 to the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, then drive nine miles (14½ km) to the Coastal Drive turnoff. Trailers and motor homes prohibited.
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| NPS | | Tall Trees Grove on Redwood Creek. |
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Tall Trees Grove:
- Permits to visit the Tall Trees Grove are available for no charge at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, located on Highway 101, one mile (1½ km) south of Orick, at the Crescent City Information Center at 1111 Second Street, and at Prairie Creek Visitor Center on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Visitors should plan to spend three to four hours for this hike. Limited to 50 cars per day.
Special events are offered throughout the year, call for dates and times, (707) 465-7306. These events may include:
- National Park Service Founder’s Day
- Eco fun festival
- Candlelight celebration of the redwoods
- An organized bike ride in the park
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| Mike Rivers, Oregon State Parks | | Gray whale calf. Follow the gray whale's annual migration of more than 10,000 miles from Alaska to Baja, CA and back. |
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Wilife Viewing:
- Whale watching! Peak migration months for viewing gray whales are November - December and March - April. A resident population may be seen any month of the year at the Klamath River Overlook. Pick a clear, calm day. Bring your binoculars and watch for their spouting. Other good viewing spots include: Crescent Beach Overlook, Wilson Creek, High Bluff Overlook, Gold Bluffs Beach, Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center.
- Roosevelt elk, one of the largest members of the deer family, are the most easily observed wildlife in the parks. They are seen throughout the parks, but primarily south of the Klamath River in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Gold Bluffs Beach, along the Bald Hills Road, and in the Orick area. Males sport large antlers in late summer through winter. Females are smaller in stature and have no antlers. The rut, or mating season, occurs in fall. Calves are born in grassy, open areas in May and June. Be careful: elk are wild and unpredictable animals. They are particularly dangerous during calving and the fall rut. Always observe them at a safe distance.
- Tidepool marine life and seabird viewing! Enderts Beach, ½-mile (1 km) walk down the Coastal Trail from the Crescent Beach Overlook; Lagoon Creek/Yurok Loop, 1-mile (1½ km) hike to Hidden Beach; Wilson Creek along Highway 101; pick up a tides schedule at a visitor center.
Guided Tours
- Pride Enterprises, 1401 East Avenue, Eureka, CA, provides fully narrated 5 1/2-hour tours to the most spectacular stands of ancient redwoods north or south of Eureka; 130 miles round trip includes additional points of interest and picnic lunch of local products. $60 per person, group size 2-15. Originates from Eureka, CA (800) 400-1849.
Redwood Field Seminars
- Redwood Field Seminars pair subject-matter experts with small groups of amateur naturalists for concentrated and personal day-long field trips. Redwood Park Association, a non-profit partner in the parks' education programs, directs the seminars. Seminar subjects may include: photography, wildflowers, tidepools, Roosevelt elk, and astronomy. Pre-registration is required. A fee is charged for each course. Contact (707) 465-7325.
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| Kayak Zak's | | Paddling past ocean seastacks: greenstone and chert rock left standing after erosion. |
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Experience kayaking on North Coast rivers, lagoons, harbors, coves, and in the ocean. Contact permittee to dance on water!
PO Box 68 Orick, CA 95555-0068.
(707) 498-1130
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