Imagine a place where trees touch the sky, sunlight filters through a golden canopy, and the air is filled with a sense of ancient wonder. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s Redwood National and State Parks, home to the tallest trees on Earth. If you’re asking “Where Are The Redwoods?”, you’re about to embark on a journey to one of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the United States.
Redwood National and State Parks isn’t just one park, but a collaborative marvel. Managed jointly by the National Park Service and California State Parks, it encompasses four distinct yet interconnected parks: Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Together, they protect an astounding 45% of the world’s remaining old-growth coast redwood forests. This extraordinary place is so significant that UNESCO has designated it a World Heritage Site, placing it alongside iconic landmarks like Stonehenge and the Great Barrier Reef.
Millions of visitors worldwide are drawn here each year, seeking solace and inspiration among these colossal trees. While travel restrictions temporarily reduced visitor numbers, the allure of the redwoods as a safe, outdoor haven is stronger than ever.
Save the Redwoods League has been instrumental in preserving this natural treasure. In the early 20th century, rampant logging decimated California’s ancient redwood forests. The League, along with dedicated supporters and partners, intervened to protect the remaining groves. This commitment continues today through Redwoods Rising, a partnership between the League, National Park Service, and California State Parks. This ambitious project aims to restore over 70,000 acres of previously damaged forest, returning it to its primeval grandeur.
Visiting Redwood National and State Parks is more than just witnessing tall trees. It’s an immersive experience. You’ll explore pristine coastlines, encounter diverse wildlife, gaze at star-filled night skies, and, most importantly, walk among the giants.
These parks reside on the ancestral lands of the Yurok and Tolowa peoples. A visit here offers a chance to connect with nature and learn about the rich cultural heritage of these Indigenous communities. Let this guide be your starting point as you plan your adventure into the heart of redwood country and answer your question: where are the redwoods and how can I experience them best?
Exploring the Must-See Spots in Redwood Parks
Discovering the best locations, as recommended by park experts.
Spanning nearly 132,000 acres, Redwood National and State Parks offers an inexhaustible array of natural wonders. Towering redwoods, tranquil meadows, dramatic coastlines, and abundant wildlife await at every turn. Here are some of the most highly recommended destinations within the parks, ensuring you experience the very best of where the redwoods are.
Sunlight streams through the misty canopy of a redwood forest
DAMNATION CREEK TRAIL
DEL NORTE COAST REDWOODS STATE PARK
The Damnation Creek Trail in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is a relatively short but intense two-mile descent into natural beauty. This trail winds steeply down from an old-growth redwood forest, rich with ferns and lush undergrowth, to the rugged coastline and dynamic tidepools of the Pacific Ocean. The late afternoon fog enhances the dramatic atmosphere of the forest, making it a particularly enchanting time to hike this trail. It’s a perfect example of where redwoods meet the sea.
GROVE OF TITANS
JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS STATE PARK
Located in the northernmost section of California’s coast redwood range, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a rainforest paradise. It shelters ancient redwoods of truly colossal size, most notably within the Grove of Titans. This extraordinary grove faced environmental stress due to years of unrestricted visitor access. To protect these magnificent trees and enhance visitor experience, a new elevated boardwalk has been constructed. This boardwalk provides ecologically responsible access, allowing everyone to marvel at the titans in their protected sanctuary. When considering “where are the redwoods giants?”, the Grove of Titans is a prime destination.
The emerald waters of the Smith River meander through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, framed by towering redwoods. Photo: Jon Parmentier
SMITH RIVER
JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS STATE PARK
The Smith River, located in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, is a unique Californian treasure. It’s one of the state’s last undammed rivers, flowing freely from its source to the Pacific. Its stunning green hue comes from the serpentine bedrock beneath its clear waters, making it a visual spectacle. The park offers numerous easily accessible points along the Smith River, each providing breathtaking views of both the river itself and the surrounding majestic coast redwoods. For those seeking where redwoods thrive alongside pristine rivers, the Smith River area is unparalleled.
A group of people stand in awe among the towering redwoods of Stout Grove
Visitors are dwarfed by the immense scale of redwoods in Stout Grove, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Photo: Robert Shea, Flickr Creative Commons
STOUT GROVE
JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS STATE PARK
Stout Grove, also within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and close to the Smith River, is often hailed as one of the most picturesque redwood groves anywhere. Its compact size allows for easy exploration, yet it’s packed with immense beauty and classic redwood scenery. The grove’s accessibility and stunning redwood density make it a must-visit location for anyone asking “where are the most beautiful redwoods?”.
A car drives down a narrow dirt road lined with towering redwoods
HOWLAND HILL ROAD
JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS STATE PARK
For an immersive driving experience amidst towering redwoods, Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is unmatched. This narrow, winding dirt road once served as a stagecoach route and offers a slow-paced journey directly through the heart of a dense redwood forest. It’s unsuitable for RVs due to its narrowness, adding to its secluded charm. Numerous trailheads branch off Howland Hill Road, including access to the newly reopened Grove of Titans Trail, making it a central artery for redwood exploration. If you’re wondering “where are the redwoods I can drive through?”, Howland Hill Road is your answer.
A giant redwood tree labeled "Big Tree" stands beside a paved path
The aptly named “Big Tree” at Big Tree Wayside, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, a testament to the redwood’s immense size. Photo: Kirt Edblom, Flickr Creative Commons
PRAIRIE CREEK TRAIL-CATHEDRAL TREE TRAIL LOOP
PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS STATE PARK
Starting near the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park headquarters, the Prairie Creek Trail-Cathedral Tree Trail Loop is an easy and rewarding hike. This loop delivers on its promise of spectacular coast redwood views with minimal effort. The route follows the Prairie Creek Trail to the impressive Big Tree Wayside, home to a particularly massive redwood, before looping back via the Cathedral Tree Trail. This loop is perfect for those who want to quickly access and appreciate “where are impressive redwoods easily accessible?”.
Roosevelt elk peacefully graze in Elk Meadow, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, a common sight in the park’s meadows. Photo: League staff
ELK MEADOW
PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS STATE PARK
Elk Meadow in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is more than just a scenic stop; it’s prime wildlife viewing territory. As its name suggests, Elk Meadow is a favored grazing area for Roosevelt elk, magnificent creatures often seen throughout the park’s meadows. Keep a watchful eye as you enjoy the scenery – you’re likely to spot these resident elk. For wildlife enthusiasts asking “where are redwoods and wildlife?”, Elk Meadow provides a fantastic opportunity.
A waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff in a redwood forest
Trillium Falls gracefully descends in Redwood National Park, framed by the surrounding redwood forest. Photo: Max Forster, @maxforsterphotography
TRILLIUM FALLS TRAIL
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
Not far from Elk Meadow in Redwood National Park lies the enchanting Trillium Falls Trail. This trail offers captivating views of old-growth redwoods and leads to one of the area’s most charming waterfalls, Trillium Falls. The combination of towering trees and cascading water creates a magical atmosphere. For those interested in “where are redwoods with waterfalls?”, Trillium Falls Trail is a beautiful destination.
Redwood Creek Overlook in Bald Hills, Redwood National Park, offering a vista of redwood forests and the legacy of conservation. Photo: Max Forster, @maxforsterphotography
BALD HILLS
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
After spending time immersed within the dense redwood forests, the Bald Hills area in Redwood National Park provides a contrasting perspective. Elevated above the forests, Bald Hills offers panoramic views of the redwood landscape, revealing the scale of both the ancient forests and areas impacted by past logging. From the Redwood Creek Overlook in Bald Hills, you can learn about Redwoods Rising, the ambitious restoration project aimed at revitalizing over 70,000 acres of coast redwood forest. Bald Hills answers the question “where are redwoods best viewed from above?” and provides context on the area’s conservation story.
A lush canyon with walls covered in ferns and a stream flowing through it
The verdant walls of Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, draped in ferns and mosses, create a unique and unforgettable landscape. Photo: Kirt Edblom, Flickr Creative Commons
FERN CANYON
PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS STATE PARK
Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is an iconic location, instantly recognizable from countless photographs. Its towering walls are completely draped in lush green ferns, creating a tranquil and almost otherworldly canyon environment with a small creek bubbling through its rocky floor. Fern Canyon is often at the top of the list of sights to see within the parks. To make the most of your visit, it’s recommended to learn about the best times to visit Fern Canyon, ensuring you experience its full splendor. Fern Canyon is the answer to “where are the most unique and lush redwood environments?”.
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