Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have probably seen photos of the redwoods of California on the internet. Although the photos are beautiful, I personally have never seen one that do these majestic trees justice. There really is nothing like standing in the presence of the some of the largest and oldest living things on Earth. It’s both humbling and awe-inspiring, and in fact is underrated as an attraction in California.

To give you a little background info, there are 2 species of redwoods trees which are native only to California. One is the coastal redwood and is found in the northwestern corner of the state (ok, ok…they do naturally grow a few miles into Oregon). You can find the other species of redwoods on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains in eastern California. The eastern trees are larger in volume and also way more accessible due to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The coastal California redwoods are taller and larger in number, even though an estimated 96% of the old-growth has been destroyed by past logging.

This guide will focus on the coastal redwoods, and the things to do and see in that corner of California. It can get a little confusing when you’re talking about visiting the redwoods, for instance you will come across Redwoods National and State Parks. What is that? Why is it not just a national park? A number of California State Parks were made in order to rescue the magnificent trees, and a few of them were absorbed when they established the National Park. There are still a few state parks, and some of them even share borders with the National Park. Basically, they share operations and work together to preserve the trees and their environment.

What does this guide cover?

There are a lot of areas of redwoods in this part of California, and a lot of state parks. In fact, the “state parks” of Redwoods National and State Parks are as follows: Prarie Creek Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. Although they all have unique and incredible things to do and see, this guide primarily focuses on the National Park area just south of Klamath, California. I mention Humboldt Redwoods State Park (80 miles south of the National Park) here and there, but only because it’s worth a mention in any redwoods guide.

Confused yet? Let’s go!

How to Get to the California Redwoods?

Getting to the coastal redwoods is not for the faint of heart. It is far from basically everywhere, which is part of the reason it’s not as popular as other National Parks in California. The closest sizeable town is Eureka (about an hour drive), which operates a small regional airport. The flights there are limited and may be expensive, however. Redding, California is one other option, but it also has limited commercial flights.

If you fly into Portland, the parks are about a 7-hour drive south from there. San Francisco isn’t much closer, clocking in at about 6 hours. However, you will come across redwood trees earlier if you drive north from San Francisco. If that is the route you choose, you will be rewarded with driving through groves of redwood trees and kitschy tourist traps hours before you even make it to the national park.

Either way you drive in, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful scenery. Nature abounds in this part of California and you’ll be treated to the deep green of temperate rainforest (one of only 7 in the world!).

Where to Stay?

The best town for lodging options is Eureka. It is about halfway in between Humboldt Redwoods State Park and the parks to the north, with either of them being about an hour away. While there aren’t any luxury options in Eureka, the rest of the accommodations run the gamut so you should be able to find something that fits your needs. If you need an actual bed to sleep in, Eureka is your best bet as there are no hotels or lodges inside the national park. Plus, it’s a historic coastal town with tons of beautiful Victorian homes and no shortage of charm.

Here are some options for lodging in Eureka:

–Best Western Plus Humboldt Bay Inn

–Carter House Inns

–Best Western Plus Bayshore Inn

–Bayview Motel

If it’s camping you’re after, there are 4 established campgrounds inside the National and State Park available for drive-up camping. They do offer some facilities, but if you’re bringing your RV you might be disappointed to know that there are no hook-ups. Also, check beforehand to see if your RV will fit; when they established the campgrounds, RVs were shorter! Some of today’s behemouths may be too long. Please note that if you like to use a camping hammock, you should leave that at home. The main attraction of the parks are the trees, so hanging hammocks from them is a big no-no. These are the campgrounds located in the parks

Jedediah Smith Campground (also offers 4 cabins with electricity; no kitchen or bathroom)

Mill Creek Campground

Elk Prarie Campground (also offers 4 cabins with electricity; no kitchen or bathroom)

Gold Bluffs Beach Campground

The standard fee is $35USD per night, and reservations are required and should be made well in advance. Make your reservations at Reserve America. If you need more details, click here!

If you’re south in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, there are several campgrounds available as well. Once again, bring your smaller trailers as the campgrounds cannot accommodate more than 24 feet, also with no hookups.

What to Do?

See the Redwood trees, of course! There are a few ways to do this, you can hike, bike, or even just do a scenic drive. California Highway 101 winds up through all the parks, including Humboldt Redwoods State Park in the south. It’s very easy to navigate and there’s basically only one way north, so there’s no chance of getting lost.

Redwoods Hiking

Walking and/or hiking is a great way to get to see these beautiful trees up close. Many trails are flat, easy, peaceful, and right off the road. There are more challenging day hikes for the more adventurous, as well as backcountry hikes if you want to go that route. You can see more beautiful redwood groves, hike along rivers or to the beach, or even to waterfalls in the woods. There is a hike for everyone! Instead of listing all the hikes and details, I will send you to the National Park Service page that has a great comprehensive list with lots of info. Click below for the deets!

Redwoods Hikes

One of the my favorite hikes is Fern Canyon, which is a loop trail that’s about a mile. It’s near Orick, California, out a dirt road. The canyon is literally a scene out of Jurassic Park (it was used for the second movie), with prehistoric-looking greenery climbing high up the walls of the canyon. As a word to the wise, if the streams are high, you might get your shoes wet! Keep in mind that there is an $8 day use fee to park in the lot. It’s a great hike and definitely a highlight of the redwoods parks!

Redwoods Biking

One other way to see the trees is biking! While most national parks don’t allow backcountry mountain biking, there are a few trails to try out in Redwoods National and State Parks. Most of the trails are on old logging roads, and with many bike rentals available in the surrounding towns it’s ridiculously easy to get on 2 wheels to enjoy the trees. There are a total of 51 miles of trail to enjoy, so there’s no excuse to be bored! Click below for info on biking in the Redwoods.

Biking in Redwoods National and State Parks

With the Smith River and Pacific Ocean right at your fingertips, watersports are a must-do. There is worldclass kayaking, SUP, and river rafting. Rafting can be anything from a gentle float to Class IV rapids. The best adventure outfitter in the area is definitely Redwood Rides. They have amazing rafting tours and rentals for every level!

There are a few unique things to do just outside the boundaries of the parks, some call them tourist traps but I call them silly and fun. Just north of the parks in the town of Klamath, California, there are 2 gigantic statues, one of Paul Bunyan and one of his ox Blue. They stand outside the Trees of Mystery, which is a paid attraction ($18USD/person) on private land. You can walk through extra groves, learn about the local history, and take an aerial tram to see the trees from a higher perspective. The Paul Bunyan statue is out front and is free to see, if you don’t want to pay the entrance fee to see the rest.

Klamath is also home to one of the 3 trees you can drive your car through, for the ultimate redwoods souvenir photo. The “Tour-Thru Tree” costs $5 per car and may involve a wait in a line of cars. It may just be worth it so that you can say that you drove through a tree! The exit off of Highway 101 is just north of the Klamath River Bridge.

Why visit Redwoods National and State Parks?

Well, the trees, duh! But seriously, aside from the amazing plant life, there is a bevy of reasons to visit. For one, this is a national park that doesn’t charge you for entry. You can put that money toward a fun tour or a drive through a tree! Although it rains buckets in the winter, the summer is foggy with cool temperatures. It’s the perfect place to beat the heat in the dead of summer. Having said that, thinking of national parks in the summer brings about visions of traffic jams and throngs of people. Not so in Redwoods! We were there in the middle of July and we often had the road and hiking trails to ourselves. It’s refreshingly underrated as a destination, and its remoteness provides a wonderful lack of crowds.

No matter what you choose to do in Redwoods National Park, your biggest reward is the amazing natural scenery. Plus, there are less people to contend with than in other parks. The unspoiled nature and quietness surrounding you will bring about a sense of calm in even the most stressed-out traveler. I highly recommend you move this surprising national park to the top of your California bucket list!