Redwood

Overview

Redwood National and State Parks protect the tallest trees on Earth — coast redwoods that soar over 350 feet, taller than the Statue of Liberty. These ancient giants, some over 2,000 years old, create a forest cathedral where shafts of light filter through canopy gaps hundreds of feet above the fern-covered floor. Hyperion, the tallest known living tree at 380 feet, grows somewhere in the park (its exact location is kept secret to protect it from foot traffic damage). The parks stretch along 40 miles of Northern California coast, combining national and state park lands into a continuous corridor of old-growth forest, prairies, and rugged coastline. Tall Trees Grove requires a free permit and a steep hike but puts you among the tallest specimens. Lady Bird Johnson Grove, accessible via an easy 1.5-mile loop, offers an excellent old-growth experience with minimal effort. Fern Canyon, where five-story walls dripping with ferns create a primeval scene, was used as a filming location for Jurassic Park 2. The parks also protect 37 miles of wild coastline where Roosevelt elk graze on coastal prairies, tidepools cluster in rocky coves, and gray whales pass during migration. The combination of towering forest, wild coast, and abundant wildlife makes the Redwood parks one of the most diverse natural experiences on the West Coast.

Things to Do

• Walk through Fern Canyon's walls of ferns
• Hike the Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop through old-growth
• Visit the Tall Trees Grove (permit required)
• Watch Roosevelt elk on Gold Bluffs Beach
• Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
• Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail to a hidden waterfall
• Explore tidepools at Enderts Beach

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Cool and foggy year-round with temperatures of 50-65°F. Rain is heavy from October through April. Summer fog keeps the coast cool and provides moisture the redwoods need to thrive.