What To Do
In a DayRanger-Led ProgramsJunior Ranger Programs (1 hour)
Children ages 7-12 have fun while learning about the people, plants, animals, and life systems of the redwood region. Allow one hour for scheduled programs. Guided Kayak Tours For a limited time in summer, Redwood National and State Parks conducts kayak tours of the Smith River—a crown jewel of the National Wild & Scenic River System and the largest free-flowing river system in California. Led by experienced park rangers, visitors will explore a variety of topics, including the unique geology of the Smith River watershed and how it contributes to the growth of the world’s largest trees, all while paddling pristine waters and enjoying unparalleled scenery. Tidepool Walks (2 hours, as tides permit) Get your hands (and feet!) wet while discovering delicate tidepool creatures. A park ranger-naturalist leads this investigation into the hidden world beneath the waves. Come prepared: dress for the weather; bring drinking water and a snack; wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots (no sandals!) with non-slip soles-they will get wet! Campfire Programs (1 hour) As darkness descends on the North Coast, the Jedediah Smith, Mill Creek, and Elk Prairie campgrounds are ideal settings for an informative and inspiring night cap. Programs may include narrated slide shows, storytelling, music, and/or games. Campfire circles and outdoor amphitheaters are wheelchair accessible. Dress for cool summer evenings. Nature Walks (1/2 to 1 hour) Immerse yourself in the forest, shore, or prairielands. Join a park ranger-naturalist for a down-to-earth exploration of the natural communities that contribute to one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.Come prepared: dress for the weather; bring drinking water and a snack; wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots with non-slip soles. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ranger-programs.htm Go For a Drive!Howland Hill Road
Mostly unpaved; Motorhomes/RVs and trailers not advised. Distance & Duration: 10 miles, one way (from Crescent City, Calif. to junction with U.S. 199 near Hiouchi, Calif.); 45 minutes. Directions: From Crescent City, Calif.: drive south 1 mile on U.S. 101 and turn left (east-northeast) onto Elk Valley Road; continue 1 mile and turn right (east) onto Howland Hill Road; after ~1½ miles the road becomes unpaved as it enters Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park; continue another 5½ miles on Howland Hill Road until it becomes Douglas Park Road (paved); after ~1½ miles turn left onto South Fork Road; after ½ mile South Fork Road junctions with U.S. 199 just east of Hiouchi, Calif. Requa Road Paved; Motorhomes/RVs and trailers not advised-road very steep and narrow. Distance & Duration: ~2¼ miles, one way (to Klamath River Overlook); 15 minutes. Directions: Signed exits off of U.S. 101 located ~2¼ miles north of Klamath, Calif. or ~18½ miles south of Crescent City, Calif. Description: Pass historic Requa, Calif. en route to the Klamath River Overlook perched 650 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy breathtaking views, whale watching, and bird viewing at the mouth of the Klamath River, where freshwater merges with seawater after a journey of over 250 miles that begins high in the snow-laden Cascade Mountains of Southern Oregon. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/drives.htm Take a Hike!
Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop Trail
Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off Walker Road, 0.4 miles from Hwy 199 junction Mileage: 2.6-mile loop Difficulty Level: Non-level, some grades, not steep Simpson-Reed Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Exit Walker Road off U.S. 199 and proceed north ~.1 mile to marked trailhead on right (east) side of road. Mileage: 1-mile loop Difficulty Level: Easy, level (Rated: barrier free) Hatton Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is on south side of Hwy 199, across from Simpson-Reed trailhead. Mileage: 0.3 Difficulty Level: Non-level, some grades, not steep. Hatton-Hiouchi Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Accessed via forks on Hiouchi Trail or Hatton Trail Mileage: 1.2 Difficulty Level: Non-level, some grades, not steep Hiouchi Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is just before west end of Hiouchi Bridge on Hwy 199. Summer seasonal footbridge allows access from Jedediah Smith Campground. Trail can also be accessed via Hatton Trail off Hwy 199. Mileage: 2 Difficulty Level: Moderate, non-level grades, not steep. River Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off Howland Hill Road, across from Little Bald Hills Trail access road. Mileage: 1 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some non-level grades Little Bald Hills Trail (bikes andhorses allowed) Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is on the east end of Howland Hill Road. Mileage: 3.3 to primitive campsite and 4.8 to park boundary. From there, an additional 5 miles on the Paradise Flat Trail (Smith River National Recreation Area) to South Fork Road. Difficulty Level: Strenuous, steep grades and switchbacks, 1,800 foot rise in elevation. Stout Memorial Grove Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Paved access road is on east end of Howland Hill Road. Summer seasonal bridge allows access from Jedediah Smith Campground. Mileage: 0.5-mile loop Difficulty Level: After the initial descent from the parking lot, the trail is easy and flat. Mill Creek Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: East trailhead can be accessed via summer seasonal footbridge from Jedediah Smith Campground. West trailhead is midway up Howland Hill Road. Mileage: 2.6 Difficulty Level: Moderate, non-level grades. Not steep. Boy Scout Tree Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead and parking area is on north side of Howland Hill Road. Mileage: 2.8 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades and switchbacks. Nickerson Ranch Trail Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off west end of Howland Hill Road. Mileage: 1 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some non-level grades Mill Creek Horse Trail Location: Redwood National Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is on Bertsch Avenue off west end of Howland Hill Road. Partial closure in winter to protect salmon spawning habitat. See link below. Mileage: 7.75 Difficulty Level: Strenuous, numerous steep grades and switchbacks Rellim Ridge Trail Location: Redwood National Park and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Trailhead: South trailhead is just beyond gate on Hamilton Road. North trailhead is at locked gate approximately 0.2 miles beyond end of pavement on west end of Howland Hill Road. Rellim Ridge merges with Mill Creek Horse Trail. Mileage: 4.3 Difficulty Level: Moderate, non-level grades, not steep Enderts Beach - take Coastal Trail, Last Chance section Location: Redwood National Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is at the end of Enderts Beach Road off Hwy 101. Mileage:0.6 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades. **Mill Creek Campground is open seasonally. A gate on Mill Creek Campground Rd. restricts vehicle access to the following trailheads during the off-season. During closure, you can park along Hwy 101 to utilize these trails. **Mill Creek Campground Trail Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Adjacent to entrance road at Mill Creek Campground Mileage: 0.7 Difficulty Level: Easy, flat **Hobbs-Wall Trail Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off Mill Creek Campground access road. Trail can also be accessed via Nature Loop trail or Saddler Skyline trail. Mileage: 3.75 Difficulty Level: Moderate, non-level grades, not steep. **Nature Loop Trail Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is across from Mill Creek Campground entrance station. Mileage: 1-mile loop Difficulty Level: Non-level, some steep grades **Saddler Skyline Trail Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is between campsites 7 and 8 in the Mill Creek Campground. Trail can also be accessed via Nature Loop Trail or Hobbs-Wall Trail. Mileage: 1.5 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades and switchbacks **Trestle Loop Trail Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is across from campfire center in Mill Creek Campground. Mileage: 1-mile loop Difficulty Level: Non-level, some steep grades **Alder Basin Trail Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Accessed via Mill Creek Campground Trail, across from Mill Creek Campground entrance off Hwy 101 Mileage: 1 Difficulty Level: Easy, flat Damnation Creek Trail Location:Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Trailhead:Milepost 16.0 on Hwy 101 Mileage: 2.2 Difficulty Level:Strenuous, numerous steep grades and switchbacks. Trail drops 1,000 feet (16 percent grade. Yurok Loop Trail Location: Redwood National Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is on north side of Lagoon Creek picnic area parking lot. Mileage: 1-mile loop Difficulty Level: Non-level, some grades, not steep. Carruthers Cove Trail Location: Redwood National Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off Coastal Drive, approximately 1 mile from the junction with Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Trail can also be accessed via the Coastal Trail at low tide. Mileage: 0.8 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is on east side of Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, at mile marker 133.50. Mileage: 0.3 Difficulty Level: Moderate, non-level grades, not steep Ossagon Trail (bikes allowed) Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off west side of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, at mile marker 132.74. Trail can also be accessed via the Coastal Trail. Mileage: 1.8 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades Ten Taypo-Hope Creek Loop Trail Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off east side of Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, opposite Ossagon Creek trailhead (mile marker 132.74). Mileage: 4-mile loop Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades Friendship Ridge Trail Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off West Ridge Trail. Trail can also be accessed via James Irvine Trail and Fern Canyon Loop Trail. Mileage: 3 Difficulty Level: Moderate, some steep grades and switchbacks Rhododendron Trail Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Trailhead: Marked trailhead is off east side of Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, at mile marker 130.54. Trail can also be accessed via the Brown Creek Trail, South Fork Trail, Cal Barrel Road, CREA Trail, or Cathedral Trees Trail. Mileage: 6.3 Difficulty Level: Moderate, non-level grades, not steep |
In a few daysGo Camping!Name of Park...............................Name of Campground
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.......Jedediah Smith Campground Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park........Mill Creek Campground Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park...........Elk Prairie Campground or Gold Bluffs Beach Campground To learn more, visit http://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm Do any activities listed on the left! |
For the official Redwood Visitor Guide, click here!