10 Best Things to Do in Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood is home to the tallest trees on Earth, a wild stretch of the California coast, and herds of Roosevelt elk — and it's free to enter. The trick is knowing which stops are worth your time along a 60-mile stretch of Highway 101. This is how I'd rank them.

Best Time of Year to Visit, and Why

I'd go from May through September, with June and September as my favorites. The summer fog keeps temperatures mild, and it's rare for the trails to be hot, but you do get the longest daylight and the best chance of clear skies on the coast. Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon require reservations in the summer season, so book as soon as the window opens.

Winter is a different trip: it's quiet, green, and wet. Expect rain, muddy trails, and shorter days, but also fewer people and permit-free access to some places. Roosevelt elk are visible year-round, and the fall rut in September and October is memorable.

How Redwood Compares to Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Both parks are about giant trees, so here's how I'd decide.

	Redwood	Sequoia & Kings Canyon
Tree type	Coast redwoods — the tallest trees on Earth	Giant sequoias — the largest trees by volume
Setting	Fog-draped coastal forest and wild beaches	High Sierra granite and mountain roads
Cost	Free to enter	$35/vehicle
Crowds	Light, spread across four parks	Moderate, concentrated at a few groves
Best for	Forest walks and the coast in one trip	Sheer size and mountain scenery

If I had to pick one, I'd choose Redwood for the atmosphere — the fog, the ferns, and the quiet — and Sequoia for sheer scale. They're so different that I'd try to see both.

Hiking Checklist — Redwood National and State Parks

This is a damp, cool, coastal forest, so my kit is about staying dry and warm:

1. A waterproof rain shell — it drizzles here year-round and fog soaks you even when it's not raining.
2. Waterproof shoes — Fern Canyon and many trails have wet crossings.
3. Layers — the coast is rarely warm, even in July.
4. A full tank of gas — fuel is scarce between Crescent City and Arcata.
5. A printed permit or screenshot — cell service is limited at trailheads.
6. A wide-angle lens or a phone with a wide camera — the trees are too big for a normal frame.

The 10 Best Things to Do in Redwood National and State Parks

1. 1. Walk Lady Bird Johnson Grove

   A gentle old-growth loop with rhododendrons in spring. It's the most accessible place in the park to feel the quiet. 1 mi loop, easy, 45 min–1 hr.

2. 2. Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

   A 10-mile old stretch of Highway 101 that runs straight through old-growth redwoods, with short trails and pullouts. 20–30 min plus stops.

3. 3. Hike Fern Canyon

   Walls draped in ferns, with a stream you walk through. Requires a free summer reservation for the Gold Bluffs Beach road. 1 mi loop, moderate, 45 min.

4. 4. See the Roosevelt elk at Elk Prairie

   Large herds graze in the meadow near the Prairie Creek visitor center, especially at dawn and dusk. Keep your distance. 20–30 min.

5. 5. Walk Stout Grove

   One of the most beautiful old-growth groves in the park, on the Smith River, reached via Howland Hill Road. 0.5 mi loop, easy, 30 min–1 hr.

6. 6. Hike Boy Scout Tree Trail

   A quiet walk through deep forest to a tree with a hollow large enough to shelter in. 5.5 mi RT, moderate, 3–5 hrs.

7. 7. Walk Gold Bluffs Beach

   A long, wild beach below golden bluffs, usually empty. 30–60 min.

8. 8. Visit Trillium Falls

   A gentle loop through old-growth and a small waterfall midway. 2.5 mi loop, moderate, 1.5–2 hrs.

9. 9. Drive the Coastal Drive to the Klamath River Overlook

   A scenic drive and short overlook trail above the river mouth, where you can often spot whales in migration season. 30–45 min.

10. 10. Hike Tall Trees Grove

    A permit-only trail that descends about 1,000 feet to a grove of some of the tallest trees on Earth. Plan for half a day. 4.5 mi RT, strenuous, 3–6 hrs.

Trail stats, permit rules, and road conditions are accurate as of publication but change — always confirm current conditions, road status, and reservation rules at nps.gov/redw before you go.