From Towering Redwoods to Fern Covered Canyons, This California Region Turns Every Hike Into an Ancient Forest Adventure

Some places feel familiar the moment you arrive yet stay with you long after you leave. Towering landscapes, quiet forest light, and endless horizons create a sense of stillness that makes time feel slower and more meaningful.

In Northern California, Redwood National and State Parks capture this atmosphere with ancient tree groves, misty canyons, and coastal scenery that feels almost otherworldly. This listicle shares the most unforgettable spots that show how this remarkable region turns a simple getaway into an awe filled journey through one of the most powerful landscapes in the country.

Table Of Contents

1. Revelation Loop Trail

A close-up of moss-covered branches in a dense forest, showcasing the rich greenery along the Revelation Loop Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 0.3 mile
Elevation Gain: 6 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Revelation Trailhead located inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (near Prairie Creek Visitor Center)

The Revelation Loop Trail offers a sensory experience with interpretive signs that guide you through the redwood forest’s sights, sounds, smells, and textures. Along the trail, you can touch intertwined redwood roots, count tree rings, smell the fresh air from nurse logs, and hear the creek’s wildlife. Don’t miss the chimney tree, a coast redwood that survived a fire thanks to its thick bark and tannic acid.

2. Big Tree Circle Trail

A series of colorful signs pointing towards different trails and landmarks, emphasizing the variety of trails available among the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 0.3 mile
Elevation Gain: 19 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Big Tree Wayside Trailhead located inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (near Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway)

The Big Tree Circle Trail is an easy, short hike in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park that lets you marvel at one of the park’s tallest redwoods, standing 286 feet high. The trail also offers a 0.3-mile loop where you can see multiple cathedral trees, making it a quick yet breathtaking nature walk. Parking is available near the trailhead, with additional parking along Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.

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3. Stout Memorial Grove Trail

A view of towering redwood trees bathed in sunlight, highlighting the grandeur of the Stout Memorial Grove Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 0.5 mile
Elevation Gain: 32 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Stout Grove Trailhead located inside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

If you’re visiting Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, the Stout Memorial Grove is a must-see, featuring towering old-growth redwoods up to 300 feet tall in a 44-acre grove. The trailhead is accessible via Howland Hill Road, which only allows smaller vehicles, but during summer, larger vehicles can park at the nearby campground for an $8 fee, with a short walk to the grove. Many visitors also enjoy swimming and picnicking by the Smith River in the summer.

4. Simpson-Reed Trail

A hiker balances on a log surrounded by vibrant green ferns and towering redwoods, exploring the Simpson-Reed Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 0.9 mile
Elevation Gain: 52 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Simpson-Reed Trailhead near Walker Road located inside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

The Simpson-Reed Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is an easy hike perfect for kids, offering a jungle-like atmosphere filled with diverse plants and forest creatures. This short trail features huckleberries, nurse logs, and giant trees at both ends, making it unique among redwood hikes. The trailhead is a bit hidden off HWY 199 on Walker Road, and parking is limited, especially for larger vehicles.

5. Lady Bird Johnson Grove Loop Trail

A wooden bridge leading into a dense redwood forest, offering a peaceful entry into the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Loop Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 75 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trailhead located inside Redwood National Park

The Lady Bird Johnson Grove Loop Trail is a peaceful hike through redwood trees and misty air, making you feel like you’re walking in the clouds. Dedicated to First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, this noise-free trail takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Use the NPS app for a self-guided tour. To reach the trailhead, drive 3 miles from HWY 101 to Bald Hills Road, but be aware that parking is limited, especially during peak times.

6. Fern Canyon Loop Trail

The towering walls of Fern Canyon covered in lush green ferns, showcasing the unique beauty of the Fern Canyon Loop Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 1.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 118 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Fern Canyon Trailhead located inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

The Fern Canyon Loop Trail is a must-see in the Redwoods, featuring a fern-covered canyon and towering conifers. It’s very popular, especially since a scene from The Lost World: Jurassic Park was filmed here, so arrive before 10 am to secure parking. The trail is 0.8 miles long, takes about 1-1.5 hours, and requires a $12 entry fee unless you have an annual national park pass.

7. Yurok Loop Trail

A foggy coastal landscape with cliffs and greenery, representing the serene coastal views found along the Yurok Loop Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 2.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 121 feet
Intensity: Easy
Location: Start at Yurok Loop Trailhead located in Redwood National Park

If you want a break from redwood hikes, try the Yurok Loop Trail, where you can see False Klamath Rock and walk among wildflowers, Sitka spruce, and Douglas-fir trees. Nearby, you can picnic at Wilson Creek Beach or the Lagoon pond. Allow 1-2 hours for the hike, and if you’re up for more adventure, continue 4 miles to the Klamath River Overlook and Hidden Beach.

8. Drury-Chaney Trail

A lush carpet of clover and ferns blankets the forest floor beneath towering redwoods on the Drury-Chaney Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, perfect for those seeking a tranquil and picturesque walk through nature. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

There are some great hikes you can enjoy just outside of Redwood National Park boundaries. And several to choose from that have different difficulty ratings, distance, and views. Drury-Chaney Trail is an easy hike that’ll take 1-2 hours to experience the forest floors filled with redwood sorrel and ferns. This hike is located in the Avenue of the Giants. The hike is 2.5 miles in length.

9. Founders Grove Nature Trail Loop

Bright green foliage contrasts with the towering redwoods on the Founders Grove Nature Trail Loop, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, offering an accessible and scenic route through a historic part of the forest. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

The Founders Grove Nature Trail Loop is an easy 0.5-mile hike with just 25 feet of elevation gain. The highlight is the Founder’s Tree, standing 346.1 feet tall and 40 feet around, along with the fallen Dyerville Giant. Since it’s close to Hwy 101, this is one of the park’s most-visited trails. Allow about an hour to explore.

10. Redwood Creek Trail

A panoramic view of rolling green hills and dense forests under a clear blue sky, highlighting the expansive views from the Redwood Creek Trail, one of the best hikes in. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 15.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 75 feet
Intensity: Moderate
Location: Start at Redwood Creek Trailhead located inside Redwood National Park

The Redwood Creek Trail is a long, easy hike along the creek with minimal elevation gain, making it perfect for an 8-hour or full-day hike. While the trail has fewer redwoods, you’ll enjoy the sound of the creek and cross it via seasonal bridges in the summer. Alternatively, you can drive to the Redwood Creek Overlook for stunning views of old-growth redwoods and, on clear days, the Pacific Ocean.

11. Last Chance Coastal Trail

Footprints in the sand leading to the ocean, representing the peaceful and scenic shoreline of the Last Chance Coastal Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 1.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 196 feet
Intensity: Moderate
Location: Start at Last Chance Trailhead located at Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park

The Last Chance Coastal Trail is a short but challenging hike with switchbacks and steep grades. Starting at the end of Enderts Beach Road near Crescent City, you’ll enjoy ocean views before entering a redwood forest with old-growth trees. Allow 1-2 hours for the hike, and check the NPS page for current conditions due to possible landslides.

12. Klamath River Overlook Trail

The sun sets over the misty Klamath River, with forested hills in the distance, as seen from the Klamath River Overlook Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park for capturing breathtaking river and mountain views. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 1 mile
Elevation Gain: 360 feet
Intensity: Moderate
Location: Start at Klamath River Overlook Trailhead located in Redwood National Park

The Klamath River Overlook Trail offers a steep hike down from the parking lot, with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and Klamath River. The views can be hit or miss due to fog, but walking through the mist can be magical. On clear days, it’s a perfect spot for sunsets and wildlife watching. Allow 1-2 hours for the hike, and enjoy the picnic tables near the parking lot.

13. Trillium Falls Trail

A small waterfall trickles over moss-covered boulders, surrounded by dense ferns and towering trees on the Trillium Falls Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, perfect for waterfall enthusiasts and nature lovers. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 2.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 433 feet
Intensity: Moderate
Location: Start at Trillium Falls Trailhead located inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

The Trillium Falls Trail is a great hike for families, featuring a small waterfall and a variety of redwoods, fir trees, and ferns. Located near an old sawmill site where elk often graze, the trail offers a 0.5-mile walk to Trillium Falls, with redwoods appearing further along. Allow 1-2 hours for the full hike, or about 30 minutes just to see the falls. There’s plenty of parking and picnic tables available.

14. Boy Scout Tree Trail

Tall, ancient redwoods reach skyward, surrounded by a lush green understory on the Boy Scout Tree Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, known for its awe-inspiring old-growth forest. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 938 ft
Intensity: Moderate
Location: Start at Boy Scout Tree Trailhead located inside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

The Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park offers a moderate hike with plenty of big old-growth redwoods, similar to the Stout Grove Trail but quieter and longer. The trail can be tiring due to its ups and downs and exposed tree roots, but it rewards you with a small waterfall called Fern Falls. Allow about 4 hours to complete the hike, and visit on a sunny day to see the sunlight streaming through the trees. Parking at the trailhead is limited.

15. Tall Trees Grove Loop Trail

Sunlight filters through the dense canopy of towering redwoods, highlighting the vibrant green leaves on the Tall Trees Grove Loop Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, where hikers can marvel at some of the tallest trees in the world. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 748 feet
Intensity: Strenuous
Location: Start at Tall Trees Grove Trailhead located inside Redwood National Park

The Tall Trees Grove Loop Trail in Trinidad requires an online permit to access the trailhead, which you can get 2-7 days before your hike. The trail features a steep 800-foot drop in the first 1.5 miles, so plan for about 4 hours to complete the hike and drive. Located inland, this trail is quieter and usually warmer and sunnier than coastal trails.

16. Damnation Creek Trail

Fog drifts through the towering redwoods on the Damnation Creek Trail, one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, offering a mystical journey through ancient forests down to the rugged coastline. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1190 feet
Intensity: Strenuous
Location: Start at Damnation Creek Trailhead located inside Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park

Located in Klamath, the Damnation Creek Trail may be short, but it is strenuous! Even though you can’t access the beach from this trail, you will come across a junction where you can access the Coastal Trail where you can access the beach. Allow 4 hours to walk this trail surrounded by a fresh forest of redwood trees with spouts of fog during the summer.

17. James Irvine Loop Trail

Sunlight streams through the thick canopy, casting a warm glow on the forest floor of the James Irvine Loop Trail, considered one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park for its diverse and stunning landscapes. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Trail Distance: 10.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1404 feet
Intensity: Strenuous
Location: Start at James Irvine Trailhead (also where the Revelation Trailhead is) located inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

The James Irvine Loop Trail is a challenging hike that takes you through redwood forests, along creeks and ends at the ocean. The trail starts near the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and passes through Fern Canyon before reaching Gold Bluffs Beach. Plan for 6-8 hours and bring plenty of water. Parking is available at the visitor center or on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.