Ever wondered where you can spot the tallest trees on earth? Head to the northwestern corner of California, US, where you have the Redwood National Park. The Redwood National Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park together form the Redwood National and State Parks. The National Park Service, with the help of California State Parks, preserves the vast prairies, oak woodlands, wildlife and wild rivers that are spread over 53,000 hectares.
People from all over the world visit the majestic forest, which is also famous for its appearance in significant movies. The forest also features exciting activities for its visitors to enjoy every bit of the natural wonder of Redwood.
Timings & Ticket Info
The Redwood National Park is open all year-round and 24 hours a day. You can visit anytime to experience the beauty of the redwood forest. The roads and trails are always available. However, the visitor centers and campgrounds have seasonal operating hours. Some of these centers are closed during the off-season, from October to May.
There is no best season to visit the park as the experiences vary from season to season. However, all-season, the forest is misty and damp; hence expect to get wet and wear proper layers.
The ocean influences the weather of the redwood coast all year round. For instance, in summer, the forest is covered with fog, and the inland is warmer and sunnier. In winter, the weather is cool with mild precipitation. During the off-season, the forest gets heavy rain and a series of storms onshore from October through April.
Entry to the Redwood National and State Park is free for every visitor. However, the day-use area within the park needs day passes at a minimal cost. The day-use areas include Prairie Creek Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park. The Fern Canyon or Gold Bluffs Beach is within the Prairie Creek Redwoods, requiring a day pass to enter. The ticket costs $12 per car. To enter the Jedediah Smith Campground and to park a vehicle next to the Smith River, you need to buy an $8 pass. America the Beautiful Pass and California State Park passes are valid in the day-use areas. There are also five entrance fee-free days on national holidays.
How to Reach
The Redwood National Park is located in northernmost coastal California on the Oregon border. The 60 miles long forest is spread from north to south and can be accessed from different areas. The nearest airport is Crescent City, which is only a 30 minutes drive to the park. It takes about six-seven hours to drive from San Francisco and Portland. The closest drive is from Redding, CA, which takes around four and a half hours.
You can take your car, or you can also hire shared cabs to the Redwood forest. Public transportation includes bus services from major cities like California and Oregon. The Redwood Coast Transit Route bus operates twice daily between Crescent City and Arcata.
Things to Do in and Around
When in Redwood, you cannot afford to miss the famous groves of the forest. Drive or hike up to Stout Grove and Lady Bird Johnson Grove to get a stunning view of nature and take amazing pictures. On a similar trail, Fern Canyon is another must-visit destination in Redwood Forest that is famous for its appearance in the Jurassic Park movie franchise.
Apart from this, you can have a beautiful camping experience in Gold Bluffs Beach or catch a spectacular sunset at the Redwood Creek Overlook. Redwood is also a great place to spot wildlife. For instance, see the Roosevelt Elk and watch the whale migration in the state parks.
How to Contact
The office that manages the Redwood park is located at 1111 Second Street, Crescent City, California 95531. For queries or feedback, you can also call the helpline on 707 464-6101.
