About Redwood National and State Parks
Renowned for the world’s tallest trees, Redwood’s landscapes span from open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline. This ancient home has supported people for thousands of years. The National Park Service and California State Parks now work to safeguard and rejuvenate these lands for everyone’s enjoyment, learning, and inspiration.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: California. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
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)
Activities
Current Alerts
As part of CalTrans work to develop a new highway route that is more stable and safer, they will be undertaking geotechnical drilling this fall and winter. Hikers and campers in the area will likely see and hear heavy equipment at work and hear noise associated with the drilling, which may be 24 hours/day at times. Redwood National and State Parks has worked with CalTrans to minimize the impacts to users of this area while keeping the trail and campground open and accessible.
44 creek bridge is closed due to damage identified by a Federal Highway inspection team. This bridge is north of 44 Camp, approximately 7 miles south of the Redwood Creek trailhead and about 1 mile north of the Tall Trees river crossing. All trails remain open in the area, but crossing this ravine is dangerous and not advised. Hikers should plan to take alternative routes to 44 Camp, which will add at least 3.5 miles from Redwood Creek Trailhead. Stop by a visitor center for more information.
There are multiple traffic stops along Highway 101 from Orick, CA to Crescent City, CA due to road construction. Extra time may be needed to travel throughout the park. Delay times may vary. Please stay alert and drive cautiously.
Getting There
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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Hike to the Tall Trees Grove
A half-day hike in the southern part of the parks for those ready for an adventure. A free reservation is…
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…
Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail
A unique, beautiful, and popular location in the park. Getting here does require some planning, reservations are required May 15th…
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…
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…
Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail
A moderate hike with some steep grades and switchbacks.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
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…
Walk the Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) to Foothill Trail Loop
Located in the southern third of the parks, this family-friendly loop trail takes you under some of the tallest trees in the…
Hike Zig Zag Loop
Walk along flowing Prairie Creek before ascending to ridgetop views in Prairie Creek State Park.
Watch Wild Elk
Watch Roosevelt elk at Redwood National and State Parks
Bike Redwoods to Beach on the Ossagon Trail Loop
Follow a 19-mile loop through old-growth redwood forests to the Pacific coast and back. The route combines Ossagon Trail, Coastal Trail (Gold…
Bike Lost Man Creek Trail
Lost Man Creek flows through a landscape greatly changed from the 1960s when much of this area was clearcut logged. What used…
Walk the Lady Bird Johnson Grove
An iconic redwood grove in the southern end of the parks that is easy to walk. RVs and trailers are not advised…
Hike to the Grove Of Titans
A trail in the north that has an elevated metal boardwalk to protect the forest floor. Interpretive waysides explore the area's human…
Hike the James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon Loop
One of the longest hikes in Redwood National and State Parks, this 12-mile loop will take you from Redwoods, through spruce forests…
Stroll to the Big Tree Wayside
For those short on time then this 5-minute walk will lead to some amazingly large trees.
Hike to Trillium Falls
Located in the southern end of the parks this is arguably one of the best family-friendly walks. It also has plenty of…
Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
A ten mile drive through the heart of the redwoods. You have to exit HWY 101 to see the big redwoods.
Showing 18 of 20 NPS Things to Do records available for Redwood National and State Parks.
Visitor Centers
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
Southern-most visitor center in the park and located right on the beach. Exhibits about Yurok culture, art and history, redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger…
Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Located just off the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway - in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Exhibits about the Civilian Conservation Corps…
Hiouchi Visitor Center
Northern-most park visitor center located 9-miles east of Crescent City on Hwy 199. Exhibits about Tolowa culture and art, redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger…
Crescent City Information Center
Located in the bottom floor of park headquarters. Picnic area and retail sales.
Jedediah Smith Visitor Center
Located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground, near the amphitheater. Small visitor center with information, exhibits, junior ranger program, bookstore, and retail sales.…
Campgrounds
Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
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, and…
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
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…
Mill Creek Campground - Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
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…
Elk Prairie Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
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…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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