Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks are home to some of the world's tallest trees: old-growth coast redwoods. They can live to be 2000 years old and grow to over 300 feet tall. Spruce, hemlock, Douglas-fir, berry bushes, and sword ferns create a multiple canopied understory that towers over all visitors. The parks' mosaic of habitats include prairie/oak woodlands, mighty rivers and streams, and 37 miles of pristine Pacific coastline. Cultural landscapes reflect American Indian history. The more recent logging history has led to much restoration of these parks.

Three California state parks and the National Park Service unit represent a cooperative management effort of the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation. They are Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park, comprising 45 percent of all the old-growth redwood forest remaining in California.

Together these parks are a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, protecting resources cherished by citizens of many nations.

Redwood National and State Parks
1111 Second Street
Crescent City, CA 95531
707-464-6101 - Headquarters

By Plane
Crescent City Airport, 202 Dale Rupert Road, Crescent City, (707) 464-7311, United Express. Eureka-Arcata Airport, Arcata, United Express, 1-800-241-6522 or Horizon, 1-800-547-7660.

By Car
Redwood National and State Parks are along US Highways 101 and 199. From 101, access additional park sites via the Bald Hills Road, Davison Road, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, Coastal Drive, Requa Road, and Enderts Beach Road (south to north). From 199, take South Fork Road to Howland Hill Road.

By Plane
Greyhound Bus Lines, 1-800-231-2222. Redwood Coast Transit travels from Crescent City to Klamath, (707) 464-9314.

Getting Around
Drive to Redwood National and State Parks' many sites. Nearly 200 miles of walking and hiking trails await you. Horses are welcome on Little Bald Hills Trail, Mill Creek Horse Trails, and Orick Horse Trails. Bicycle on designated trails only: Lost Man Creek Trail, Last Chance Section of the Coastal Trail, Little Bald Hills Trail, and Ossagon Trail Loop. Pick up a Visitor Guide or stop by one of the five visitor centers and talk to a ranger about rules and regulations. *NOTE* There is no longer a shuttle bus that operates anywhere in the parks.

Temperatures range from 40-60 degrees year round along the redwood coastline. Redwoods rely on the fog that envelops the coast in the summer. Summers are mild with warmer temperatures inland. Winters are cool with considerable precipitation. Call (707) 443-7062 for current weather conditions. Always pack your rain gear and good walking shoes for the slippery rain forest. Wear layers to accommodate cool to warm temperatures.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Auto Touring
• Biking
• Boating
• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Swimming
• Wilderness Area
• Wildlife Viewing
• Backpacking
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks
• Kayaking
• Whitewater Rafting
• Scuba Diving
• Snorkeling

Recommended Activities
Visit one of the five visitor centers to find out about ranger-led programs. Pick up an official map and look for these place names. Suggestions are given north to south.

Howland Hill Road/Stout Grove - 6-mile scenic drive through old-growth redwoods; 1/2-mile walk through river bottom grove of tremendous trees. Enderts Beach/Crescent Beach - Outstanding Pacific Ocean view from the overlook; 1-mile walk to Enderts Beach provides access to tidepools. Check low tide times.

Lagoon Creek/Yurok Loop - Fishing and birdwatching; 1-mile trail loop offers ocean views. Klamath River Overlook - Watch for gray whales, other marine mammals, and seabirds; hike 1/4-mile steep trail to lower overlook.

Coastal Drive - 8-mile rough road winds past expansive Pacific Ocean views and descends into redwoods at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway/Big Tree Wayside - 10-mile scenic drive through old-growth redwoods; 1/8-mile walk to Big Tree Wayside; Roosevelt elk viewing in the prairie.

Davison Road - Roosevelt elk viewing; 1-mile Trillium Falls Trail loop. Gold Bluffs Beach - Go beyond Davison Road to access this isolated Pacific beach; hike Fern Canyon with 30-foot walls full of ferns; birdwatching and hiking.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove - Ridgetop old-growth redwoods on 1-mile easy walk. Lyons Ranch - 4-mile round-trip trail along prairies to a homesteader's site; spring wildflowers. Kayak the Smith or Klamath Rivers.

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