If living, walking, and breathing among tall trees sounds like your kind of weekend adventure, Redwood National and State Parks delivers exactly that. We camped among the redwoods and spent two days exploring forests, beaches, rivers, and fern-covered canyons, often looking so far upward that I started wondering whether neck spray should be part of the standard packing list.
The destination is officially called Redwood National and State Parks because it combines Redwood National Park with three California state parks: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Together, they stretch for roughly 50 miles along the northern California coast.
This is a vast park system, and two days will not cover every grove and trail. But a weekend is enough to understand the landscape, walk among some extraordinary trees, and experience the mix of forest and coastline that makes this place so different. If you’re looking for a quick guide, here are Top 10 Things to Do in Redwood National Park 👇
How to reach the Redwoods?
Redwood National and State Parks sits along California’s northwestern coast, close to the Oregon border. Driving is the easiest option if you are coming from Oregon or California, and I have also seen people make the longer road trip from Seattle and other parts of Washington.
If you prefer to fly, the most practical airport depends on which section of the parks you plan to explore. Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) is around 100 miles from Hiouchi Visitor Center. A great option for people flying in from Washington, Montana, etc. However, the drive time can vary with road and weather conditions.
Redding is the closest airport to the southern entrance, about 140 road miles east of the Highway 101 and Arcata area, followed by roughly another 30 miles north to the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center.
If you have additional time, you could extend a Medford trip to include Crater Lake National Park or a Redding trip to include Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Our flight details were simple:
- SEA to MFR: 8:09 AM – 9:52 AM
- MFR to SEA: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Where to Stay in Redwood National and State Parks
Unlike a national park contained within one compact boundary, Redwood National and State Parks is spread across federal and state lands, small communities, forests, and coastline. Crescent City, Klamath, and Orick are useful bases, depending on whether you want to stay near the northern, central, or southern parts of the parks.
We decided to camp because we wanted to know what it felt like to sleep surrounded by redwood trees. If camping is not your thing, there are also motels, cabins, lodges, and other accommodations outside the park boundaries.
Hotels, motels, and lodges:
- Hiouchi Motel near Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Elk Meadow Cabins
- Roosevelt Base Camp
- Holiday Inn Express Klamath – Redwood National Park Area by IHG
- Oceanfront Lodge
There are four developed campgrounds within Redwood National and State Parks, all operated by California State Parks:
- Mill Creek Campground
- Jedediah Smith Campground
- Elk Prairie Campground
- Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
We stayed at Mill Creek Campground, surrounded by trees. Gold Bluffs Beach Campground is close to Fern Canyon and puts you right near the coast, but we found that area quite windy, so keep that in mind when choosing between the forest and beach campgrounds.
Campground availability and seasonal operations can change, so check current conditions and reservation requirements before planning the trip.
What’s special about the Redwoods
Walking beneath a coast redwood can make the usual scale of a forest feel completely irrelevant. These trees begin from seeds about the size of tomato seeds, yet some can live for as long as 2,000 years.
Relatives of modern coast redwoods thrived during the Jurassic Period around 160 million years ago, which explains why these forests can feel like a scene from a dinosaur movie. Dinosaurs, however, did not create or transport the trees. Today’s coast redwoods are uniquely native to a narrow range along the Pacific coast, where cool air, rain, and coastal fog provide the moisture they need.
This landscape also has a human history extending far beyond the national park designation. Indigenous peoples have lived with these forests since time immemorial, and the ancestral territories of the **Yurok and Tolowa peoples** overlap parts of what are now Redwood National and State Parks. Their relationships with the forests, rivers, coastline, and redwood itself remain part of this living landscape.
Commercial logging changed the region dramatically. By the 1960s, roughly 90% of the original old-growth redwoods had been removed. Redwood National Park was established in 1968 and expanded in 1978, while the National Park Service and California State Parks began cooperatively managing the four parks in 1994.
Today, only about 5% of the original old-growth coast redwood forest remains. That fact changes the experience of walking here. You are not simply visiting a collection of very tall trees; you are stepping into the surviving pieces of an ecosystem that once covered a much larger part of the coast.
Weekend itinerary to the Redwoods
This itinerary starts in the northern section, travels south, and then returns north to Mill Creek Campground. If you are staying near Klamath, flying into the southern area, or driving from another part of California, it may make more sense to follow the itinerary in reverse. Either way, leave room for unplanned stops. Some of our favorite moments, including an unexpected hour of tide pooling, were never part of the original plan.
Day 1: Reach Medford and Exploring the top spots
We landed at Medford in the morning, collected our rental car, and began the drive toward the Hiouchi, the first visitor center near north entrance. We had requested an SUV but received a sedan instead, which became relevant later when we reached the road to Fern Canyon.
Stop 1: Hiouchi Visitor Center
Hiouchi is the northernmost park visitor center and the nearest one to the Jedediah Smith State Park area. It is a useful first stop for maps, current trail information, road conditions, and a general introduction to the parks.
We liked the tree-ring display there because it gave us a visual sense of just how old these trees can be. We also watched the park film before continuing south. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Jedediah Smith Campground are nearby, making Hiouchi a practical orientation stop if you are entering from Oregon or Medford.
Stop 2: Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
We decided to drive all the way to the southernmost point marked on our Day 1 route. Along the way, we stopped at a couple of roadside pullouts to take in the ocean views.
The Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center sits directly beside the beach. We explored the coastal trail, took in the ocean air, and used the stop for a quick water and bathroom break before heading back north.
Stop 3: Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail
The Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail is one of the better-known walks in the parks and an approachable introduction to the redwood forest. The trail passes beneath tall trees and through the quieter understory, giving you time to slow down after a long stretch of driving.
Stop 4: Elk Prairie
On our way toward Fern Canyon, we saw a herd of elk casually grazing at Elk Prairie. We did not get out of the car, but simply seeing them together in the meadow became one of the most memorable moments of the day.
If you stop, stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) away. Give elk even more space during the late-spring calving season and the fall rut, when they can become especially defensive. Do not stop in the road; use designated pullouts and viewing areas.
Stop 5: Fern Canyon
Fern Canyon was used as a filming location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and it is easy to understand why. The canyon walls are covered in layers of ferns, with a shallow creek running through the narrow passage below.
Reaching the trailhead by car involves driving along Davison Road, a single-lane gravel road with two stream crossings. High clearance is recommended, and low-clearance vehicles can get stuck depending on water levels and road conditions.
Since the rental company had given us a sedan instead of the SUV we requested, we did not want to risk the rough crossings. We parked safely and walked about the final mile. I still do not know whether our sedan would have made it, but taking the walk was better than finding out halfway through a stream.
From May 15 through September 15, a free online vehicle reservation is required to drive to the Fern Canyon trailhead. The Gold Bluffs Beach area also charges a $12 day-use fee, although qualifying federal and California State Parks passes are honored. These requirements apply to vehicle access; check current park guidance if you plan to hike into the area by another route.
The hike itself includes walking in the creek, so wet feet are part of the experience rather than a rare accident. Waterproof shoes, hiking sandals, or Crocs will make the walk much more comfortable.
Base for the day: Mill Creek Campground
After driving from north to south and back again, we returned to Mill Creek Campground for the night. Camping among the redwoods was one of the main reasons we chose a campground instead of a hotel. There is something very different about ending the day beneath the same trees you have spent hours craning your neck to see.
There was a total fire ban during our stay, so cooking dinner at the campsite was not an option. That changed our evening plan and sent us looking for food in Crescent City, which is how Ladybirds entered the story.
Day 2: Crescent City and
Stop 1: Breakfast at The Good Harvest Cafe in Crescent City
We started the day with breakfast at The Good Harvest Cafe. Crescent City is one of the main communities you will pass while exploring the northern part of the parks, and it is a useful place for meals and supplies.
The city also has open coastal views and is a good place to watch the sunset if your itinerary brings you back later in the day.
Stop 2: B Street Pier
We went to B Street Pier for views across the water toward Battery Point Lighthouse and the Crescent City shoreline. The water was calm, and what began as a quick stop turned into an hour of tide pooling.
Tide pooling was not on our itinerary, but this is exactly why I leave space for impromptu activities. A schedule should help you see a place, not prevent you from noticing what is directly in front of you.
Stop 3: Battery Point Lighthouse and Museum (Crescent City Lighthouse)
Access to Battery Point Lighthouse is controlled by the tide. The route crosses an exposed stretch that can become unsafe or completely inaccessible as the water rises, so check local tide tables before walking out.
Museum and tour availability follows its own schedule and is not guaranteed simply because the tide allows access. Check both the tide forecast and the current museum or tour schedule before visiting.
We noticed the tide rising while returning toward shore around noon. The surrounding rocks can offer tidepooling opportunities when conditions are appropriate, and shorebirds are often visible along the coast. Stay alert to the ocean and never turn your back on the waves.
Stop 4: Stout Grove Trailhead
On our way back, we made another quick stop at the Hiouchi Visitor Center before heading to the final destination of our trip: Stout Grove Trailhead.
The trail lets you walk among tall redwoods before reaching the Smith River, where we could slow down, enjoy the view, and dip our feet in the water. The grove is also connected to the Jedediah Smith campground area.
Other popular walks in this part of the parks include the Grove of Titans Trail and Boy Scout Tree Trail. Check current trail and road conditions before setting out, especially if rain or seasonal closures may affect access.
Where to eat
Food options are spread across the communities surrounding the parks, so it helps to plan meals around your driving route. These were the names on our list:
- Historic Hiouchi Cafe
- Ladybirds Food Garden – We picked up dinner here because the campground was under a total fire ban. The barbecue chicken came with three sides, and we loved both the portion size and what we got for the price. It was an unplanned dinner, but a very useful reminder that campsite restrictions do not have to ruin the evening.
- Woodland Villa Cabins Restaurant & Market
- Chart Room Restaurant
- Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya
Other spots worth visiting
Two days gave us a meaningful introduction to Redwood National and State Parks, but there are many more trails, overlooks, and historic sites to add if you have extra time. Verify current road, trail, permit, and operating status before visiting, since access can change seasonally.
- Tall Trees Grove – This hike requires a free online trailhead reservation year-round. Allow at least four hours for the roughly 4.5-mile, moderate-to-strenuous hike, including the drive to the trailhead.
- Redwood Creek Overlook – A possible stop while traveling toward the Tall Trees Grove area.
- Trillium Falls
- Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery
- Lost Man Creek Trail
- Big Tree Wayside – Accessible from the Cathedral Trees and Foothill trail area.
- Klamath River Overlook
- Trees of Mystery – A recreational attraction outside the park.
- Klamath Tour Thru Tree
- Old Douglas Memorial Bridge Site
Overall thoughts
This is not just another forest. Redwood National and State Parks is a reminder of how old the Earth is and how briefly we occupy it compared with trees that can live for thousands of years.
Their sheer scale is enough to reset your perspective, so arrive with curiosity and perhaps some neck spray because you will be looking upward far more than you anticipated.
It is one of the most impressive national park landscapes we have explored. It may look manageable on a map, but the combination of trails, separate park units, rivers, beaches, and long stretches of forest makes it much larger than it first appears.
A weekend will not show you everything, and that is the honest downside of trying to cover the Redwoods in two days. But it will give you enough time to camp beneath the trees, walk through a fern-covered canyon, stumble into an unexpected hour of tide pooling, and leave with a much clearer sense of what has survived here.
