This park is home to the tallest trees on earth and it protects vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways, and over 40 miles of coastline. For thousands of years, people have lived in this landscape, and you can explore it today still. Get inspired and educated here.
Current Park Alerts
Live from the National Park Service · Official park site →
Plan Your Visit
Hours & Season
The national and state parks are always open to enjoy. Roads, trails and public access remain open year round. Some campgrounds and visitor centers are closed - or have reduced hours - in the off-season (October-May)
Weather
Visitors should be prepared for cooler and damp weather. Dress in layers and expect to get wet. Year-round temperatures along California's redwood coast: mid-40s°F (7°C) to mid-60s°F (18°C). Summer can be foggy, with highs occasionally reaching low 70s°F (20°C). Winters are cooler with considerable rain. October through April averages 60-80 inches of rain over the region.
Things to Do
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.
Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail
Reservation requiredA 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 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.
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.
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.
Getting There
Address: 1111 Second Street Crescent City CA 95531
Redwood National and State Parks is located in northernmost coastal California - almost on the Oregon border. The parks are about 60-miles long, with four visitor centers from north to south. We are a six to seven-hour drive (325 miles) north of San Francisco, a six-hour drive (330 miles) south of Portland, OR and a four-hour drive (170 miles) west of Redding, CA.
Get driving directions → Official NPS directions →Where to Stay – Campgrounds
Elk Prairie Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
75 sites · $35/night
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 seasona…
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
26 sites · $35/night
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 …
Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
86 sites · $35/night
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, an…
Mill Creek Campground - Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
145 sites · $35/night
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…
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation or permit to visit Redwood National Park?
Some entry windows or activities at Redwood National Park require a reservation or permit. Check the Current Park Alerts and Things to Do sections above, and confirm on the official NPS site before you go.
When is Redwood National Park open?
The national and state parks are always open to enjoy. Roads, trails and public access remain open year round. Some campgrounds and visitor centers are closed - or have reduced hours - in the off-season (October-May)
What are the best things to do in Redwood National Park?
Popular things to do in Redwood National Park include Bike the Davison/Streelow Creek Loop, Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail, Walk the Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail. See Things to Do above for photos and details.
Are there campgrounds in Redwood National Park?
Yes — Redwood National Park has 4 campgrounds, including Elk Prairie Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. See Campgrounds above for site counts, fees, and booking links.