Redwood National Park

The coast redwood is the tallest tree species in the world, with the current known champion, a tree named Hyperion in Redwood National Park, standing 380.1 feet tall. The exact location of Hyperion is not publicized to protect it from damage, and visitors who approach it risk a significant fine. Coast redwoods grow only in a 450-mile strip along the Pacific coast from southern Oregon to Big Sur, and they depend on the summer fog that rolls in from the ocean, which provides moisture during the dry season and can contribute 25–50% of their water intake. The tallest trees are found in alluvial flatlands along creeks and rivers, where deep soils and consistent moisture allow them to reach their full height. Redwoods are also remarkable for their resistance to fire and disease, thanks to bark up to a foot thick and high tannin content. The Tall Trees Grove, accessible by a 4-mile round-trip hike that descends 800 feet to the Redwood Creek floodplain, was once home to the tallest known tree and remains one of the most impressive groves, though it requires a permit for parking at the trailhead. The Lady Bird Johnson Grove, dedicated in 1969 by President Nixon, is a flat, easy 1-mile loop through old-growth on a ridge.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, one of the three state parks within the partnership, contains some of the most accessible and spectacular groves. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, a 10-mile alternative to Highway 101, passes the Elk Prairie, where a resident herd of Roosevelt elk is often grazing, and leads to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center. The Fern Canyon Trail, a 1-mile loop through a 50-foot-deep canyon draped in ferns, is a unique feature — the canyon walls are covered with seven species of fern, and the creek that flows through it creates a primeval atmosphere that was used as a filming location for Jurassic Park 2. The trail requires wading through shallow water in summer. The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, in the northernmost section of the parks, contains the Stout Grove, considered one of the most scenic groves, with tall trees on a flat, mossy floodplain along the Smith River. It is accessible by a 0.5-mile loop and by the Simpson-Reed Trail, a 1-mile loop through dense old-growth along Walker Road. The Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park includes the Damnation Creek Trail, a 4.8-mile round trip that descends through redwoods to a rugged coastline, and the Mill Creek Trail, which follows a salmon-spawning stream.

Redwood National and State Parks protect 37 miles of wild coastline, which offers a stark contrast to the dense forest interior. The Coastal Trail, a section of the California Coastal Trail, runs along the bluffs for roughly 15 miles within the park, with shorter segments accessible from trailheads at Klamath, Crescent Beach, and the Klamath River Overlook. Tide pools at Enderts Beach and Crescent Beach reveal sea stars, anemones, and hermit crabs, and the park's offshore waters are part of the migratory route of gray whales, which can be seen from shore during their December and April migrations. Roosevelt elk are the park's most visible large mammal; the elk at Prairie Creek are a resident herd that can often be seen from the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, and the Gold Bluffs Beach herd grazes on the coastal prairie near the Fern Canyon trailhead. The park's rivers and streams, including Redwood Creek and the Smith River — the longest wild and scenic river in California — support runs of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout, though populations have declined due to past logging and are the subject of ongoing restoration. Black bears, mountain lions, and bobcats are present but rarely seen.

The parks are located in a remote part of far northern California, roughly 300 miles north of San Francisco and 6 hours by car. The nearest airports are in Eureka/Arcata (about 1 hour south) and Crescent City (within the park). The parks are spread across a 50-mile stretch of coast, and visiting multiple groves requires driving between them; there is no single central entrance or fee station, though the state parks charge day-use fees and the national park is free to enter. The parks can be visited year-round, as the coastal climate is mild, with winter temperatures rarely below freezing and summer temperatures often in the 60s and 70s. However, the wet season, from November through March, can bring heavy rain, and trails may be muddy; summer fog is common and is essential to the redwood ecosystem. Reservations for the four developed campgrounds — including Jedediah Smith, Elk Prairie, and Gold Bluffs Beach — can be made through the state park system, and they fill quickly in summer. Most trails are open year-round, but the seasonal bridge across Redwood Creek on the Tall Trees Grove Trail is removed in winter, requiring a creek crossing. Visitors should bring layers, as temperatures can vary dramatically between the coast and inland areas.