Timeless, awe-inspiring, and mystical. These are a few ways to describe Redwood National Park. Home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, this park protects ancient old-growth forests and a peaceful river valley. Together with three neighboring state parks, it forms the greater Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP). Here you can hike beneath 300-foot giants, drive through misty redwood groves, and explore an otherworldly landscape with a deep history.
We spent four days visiting all of Redwood National and State Parks, with our final day dedicated to Redwood National Park itself. Our day started with the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, a serene hike through both old-growth and second-growth redwoods. From there, we followed Bald Hills Road, the park’s main scenic drive, linking many of the best viewpoints and trailheads. We also hiked the Tall Trees Grove Trail, getting the chance to walk amongst some of the tallest trees not only in the park, but in the entire world.
In this guide, we’ll share the best things to do in Redwood National Park, including top hikes, how to make the most of your visit, and how to include a visit to the Redwood State Parks.
One thing worth clarifying up front: ‘Redwood National Park’ is technically just one of these four parks. The other three: Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek, are state parks, and many of the most iconic redwood experiences (Fern Canyon, Big Tree Wayside, and Grove of the Titans) are actually found there, not in the national park itself. This guide covers what’s specific to Redwood National Park; for the full complex, see our Redwood National and State Parks guide.
The Essentials
WHERE | Northwestern California, about 2 hours south of the Oregon border
DON’T MISS | Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, Tall Trees Grove, Trillium Falls Trail
HOW MUCH TIME | Half a day to see the highlights; full day for everything
BOOK IN ADVANCE | Tall Trees Grove access permit (free, required)
STAY | Klamath, Crescent City, or Eureka
Saving the Last of the Giants
Redwood National Park was founded in 1968 to protect some of the last old-growth coastal redwoods left standing. Logging throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries had wiped out nearly 90% of these ancient forests. Today, the national park and its three neighboring state parks together protect roughly half of the world’s remaining old-growth coastal redwoods.
These trees are giants in every sense. Many stretch hundreds of feet into the air. The tallest, Hyperion, reaches 380 feet, though it’s not accessible to visitors. They’re just as remarkable for their age: most old-growth redwoods here are 500 to 700 years old, and some have stood since the days of the Roman Empire.
Things to Do in Redwood National Park
Bald Hills Road is the park’s main scenic drive, connecting nearly every stop on this list. It winds through sections of redwood forest and is a pleasant drive, but don’t expect it to compare to Howland Hill Road or the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway (two incredibly scenic drives in the nearby state parks). We drove the entire road and, looking back through our photos afterward, didn’t take a single one of it, which tells you all you need to know. It’s a functional, scenic drive, not a destination in itself.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove: An Easy Walk Among Giants
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is the easiest way to get up close with old-growth redwoods, and it’s the most popular trail in the park for good reason. The crowds do take away from the experience a bit, though, so go early or late to have it to yourself.
Take a stroll past both old-growth and second-growth redwood trees on the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. At 1.4 miles, this trail is the most popular hike in Redwood National Park. It’s an easy hike and the best way for national park visitors to get close to ancient redwoods.
The trail was dedicated to Lady Bird Johnson, a former First Lady of the United States, in 1969 for her conservation efforts. Before the national park’s founding, these redwood forests were heavily logged through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a result, roughly 90% of the old-growth redwoods had been logged.
Today, hikers can see both remaining old-growth redwoods along with new, second-growth trees that were planted after logging. There’s a stark difference between the two forests, but one that highlights the area’s history and just how unique and breathtaking old-growth redwoods are.
The trail forms a loop through the forests, starting in a section of second-growth before heading deeper into old-growth. The trail is pretty much flat the entire way, making the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail a great thing to do for all visitors.
Parking for the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail is along Bald Hills Road, the main road that runs through the national park. There’s a small parking lot with bathrooms. We visited at 12:00 pm in September and were lucky to get one of the last few open spaces. Since this is arguably the most popular thing to do in the national park, we recommend getting here either in the morning or the evening to avoid the crowds.
Go Deep into the Redwood Forest at Tall Trees Grove
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ There’s real effort involved (a permit, plus a longer, tougher hike), but once you reach the grove, it’s a five-star experience. This is the best way to walk among the redwoods in solitude, at least within the national park.
DISTANCE: 4.5 miles round-trip (lollipop) | ELEVATION GAIN: 1,600 feet | DIFFICULTY: Moderate | TIME: 2 to 2.5 hours
Note: The stats above are from the National Park Service website. Our Garmin GPS got 3.5 miles round trip with 740 feet of total ascent. We did the hike in 1 hour 30 minutes.
Tall Trees Trail elevation profile
Hike deep into an old-growth redwood forest, descending through switchbacks and past fallen giants on your way down to Redwood Creek. This is the most challenging hike on our list, but also the most rewarding. The walk down passes through the most impressive stretch of redwood forest in the entire park. We felt like ants next to trees that stretched hundreds of feet overhead.
This is also the quietest way to experience the redwoods. Since a permit is required just to drive to the trailhead, daily visitor numbers stay low. This is as close to solitude as you’ll get in the national park section of Redwoods.
From the trailhead, the trail switchbacks steadily downhill toward Redwood Creek. When we hiked in 2025, several massive redwoods had fallen across the trail, forcing us to climb up and over them, making for one of the more memorable parts of the hike.
The best part of the trail is the flat, mile-long loop through Tall Trees Grove itself, home to past and current record-holders for the tallest tree in the world. It’s every bit as scenic as that reputation suggests. Be ready to stop for photos at nearly every bend.
GETTING HERE: To get here, drive along the Tall Trees Access Road, which is off of Bald Hills Road. The access road is 6 miles downhill along a gravel road. This is a somewhat scenic drive as you head deep into the forest and pass a few old-growth redwoods. There are a handful of parking spaces along with bathrooms at the trailhead.
PERMIT: You will need a permit to drive the access road to the trailhead. Permits are free, but you are required to reserve them online in advance. Once reserved, you’ll be emailed a combination code the day before your reservation, used to unlock the entrance gate on the access road. You cannot drive to the Tall Trees Grove Trailhead without this code. You can learn more about reservations on the National Park Service website.
Get a Panoramic View from Redwood Creek Overlook
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️ A nice view over rolling hills of redwood forest, but nothing like actually walking through a grove of redwoods.
This scenic overlook provides a panoramic view out over miles of redwood forest. From here, you can see the thick canopies of both old-growth and second-growth redwoods, with forested hills rolling out toward the horizon. Redwood Creek Overlook is along Bald Hills Road, so you’ll most likely pass this vista on your way through the park.
We found this overlook just okay. It does give you a sense of how vast the redwood forest is, but compared to actually driving or hiking through the trees themselves, looking down at a sea of canopy is far less interesting. The real magic of redwoods is up close, where you can appreciate their sheer size — so if you’re short on time, we’d prioritize a hike or scenic drive over this stop.
That said, Redwood Creek Overlook is frequently mentioned as a great spot to watch the sunset, so it’s worth a quick look if you’re already passing by in the evening.
Escape the Crowds on the Trillium Falls Trail
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A very nice walk with plenty of redwoods, a couple of creek crossings, and a waterfall at the turnaround point. We liked this one a lot.
DISTANCE: 2.6-mile loop | TOTAL ASCENT: 525 feet | DIFFICULTY: Moderate | TIME: 1 to 1.5 hours
Trillium Falls Trail elevation profile
Hike through an old-growth redwood forest to a small waterfall. This a great way to get close to giant redwoods without the crowds at Lady Bird Johnson Grove. The trail is more rugged too, following a root-covered dirt path that can be slippery when wet.
Trillium Falls itself sits about a half mile in. It’s a small waterfall (there wasn’t much to it when we were here), more peaceful than dramatic, with a stronger flow in winter and early spring during the wet season.
We’d recommend it as an out-and-back to the falls rather than the full loop. We hiked the whole thing and were underwhelmed by what came after. The redwoods thin out, the forest feels less impressive, and road noise starts to break the immersion. Turning around at the falls keeps you in the best section and cuts the hike roughly in half, leaving more time and energy for the other trails on this list.
GETTING HERE: The trailhead for Trillium Falls is located near the entrance of Davison Road, at the north end of the national park. You’ll find bathrooms and plenty of parking spaces at the trailhead. Davison Road continues through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and features both Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon. Trillium Falls is very easy to include with a visit to Prairie Creek.
One Day in Redwood National Park
There are a few key highlights of Redwood National Park, all within close proximity along Bald Hills Road. Because of this, you can easily spend half a day seeing the best of the national park, and still have time left to visit one of the three Redwood State Parks.
Morning
Start your day with the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. This is the most popular hiking trail in the park, so it can get crowded as the day goes on, so get here early if you can. The hike will take no longer than an hour, even going slow and stopping for pictures.
Midday
Drive south along Bald Hills Road, stopping at Redwood Creek Overlook along the way. It’s a quick, easy stop for a panoramic view over the redwood forest. It’s not a must-see in our opinion, but since you’ll be driving right past it anyway, it’s worth the two-minute detour. If you’d rather catch it later, it’s also a popular spot to watch the sunset.
Early Afternoon
From here, choose between two hikes: Tall Trees Grove Loop Trail or Trillium Falls Trail.
Tall Trees Grove is the longer, more strenuous option: 3.5 to 4.5 miles round trip but the most rewarding, taking you down to Redwood Creek and a grove of some of the tallest trees in the park. You’ll need a free permit reserved in advance, since you can’t get the access road’s gate code without one.
Trillium Falls is the easier choice: a shorter out-and-back hike to a small waterfall through old-growth forest, and a good alternative if you don’t have a Tall Trees permit or want to save your energy.
Mid-Afternoon
After all this, you’ll still have time to visit one of the three Redwood State Parks. Trillium Falls’ trailhead sits right at the entrance to Davison Road, which continues straight into Prairie Creek Redwoods, making Prairie Creek a natural next stop if that’s the hike you chose. If you hiked Tall Trees instead, Prairie Creek is still just a 10-minute drive away. Jedediah Smith, though the furthest at just over an hour north, is our favorite of the three and worth the drive if you have the time.
How to Get to Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park sits in the far northwest corner of California, about two hours south of the Oregon border via US-101. Of the four parks that make up Redwood National and State Parks, it’s the southernmost. Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods sit north of here, in that order, with Jedediah Smith just under an hour’s drive away. All four parks border one another, making it easy to combine several in a single trip.
US-101 runs through the park and connects it to Crescent City to the north and Eureka to the south, the two largest towns for lodging and services in the area.
If you’re combining Redwood with a longer trip, see our 10-day Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake & Redwood road trip itinerary, which covers the drive north through Oregon as well.
Tim and Tyler on the Trillium Falls Trail
Best Time to Visit Redwood National Park
We visited Redwood National Park in September and had a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day. Highs topped out in the low 70s, comfortable hiking weather no matter what the sky was doing.
Spring and fall are generally the sweet spots for visiting. You’ll avoid peak summer crowds while still getting solid hiking weather.
Redwood National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in April, May, July, and September.
- Spring (April–May): Lush, green forest coming out of the wet season; mild temperatures and lighter crowds
- Summer (June–August): Warmest and driest conditions, with the most reliable weather for the park’s drives and hikes — but also the most crowded
- Fall (September–October): Excellent hiking weather, fewer tourists, and moody, photogenic light in the forest
- Winter (November–March): Quiet and uncrowded but rainy; trails can be muddy
Where to Stay
There’s no camping or lodging within Redwood National Park itself; see the NPS website for confirmation. Camping is available in the neighboring Redwood State Parks instead, and a handful of nearby towns make good home bases depending on which other parks you’re visiting.
Eureka
We stayed at the Home2 Suites by Hilton Eureka, a relatively new hotel that gets very good reviews. Other solid options include Carter House Inns and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Eureka.
Crescent City
Crescent City is about an hour’s drive north of Redwood National Park, and close to both Jedediah Smith and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Parks. Hotels here get decent reviews. Top-rated options include Oceanview Inn and Suites, the Lighthouse Inn, and the Hiouchi Motel. For beachfront, try the Crescent Beach Motel.
Klamath
Klamath sits centrally within RNSP, a convenient option if you’re splitting time between several Redwood parks. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Klamath. It gets decent reviews, but our room was dark and dreary and the WiFi cut out one night. Restaurant options are thin in Klamath too, so plan to eat in Crescent City some nights. The Historic Requa Inn, on the Klamath River just north of town, gets better reviews.
Plan Your Visit
Cost: Free
Hours of Operation: Redwood National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Before you go, check the National Park Service website for park conditions and updates on road closures and trail closures.
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
We took this photo while hiking the Trillium Falls Trail
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redwood National Park worth visiting?
Yes, but be honest with your expectations: compared to the other three parks in RNSP, Redwood National Park wasn’t our favorite. Lady Bird Johnson Grove is lovely, and walking through Tall Trees Grove was one of the more memorable experiences of the whole trip, but overall, we liked the state parks more. Driving Howland Hill Road and hiking Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith, wading through the creek at Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek, and hiking out to hidden beaches and through the morning fog on the Damnation Creek Trail in Del Norte Coast all stood out more to us. If you only have time for one park, we’d point you toward one of those first. But if you’re doing RNSP properly, Redwood National Park still earns its spot on the list.
Is one day enough for Redwood National Park?
Yes, one day is enough to visit Redwood National Park. In one day, you can hike the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, drive Bald Hills Road, and complete another hike or two. You’ll also have time to visit one of the three Redwood State Parks, which have equally if not more impressive redwood experiences.
Should I visit Sequoia or Redwood National Park?
Visit both if you can as they’re very different experiences. Redwood National Park feels more remote and quiet; hikes like the Trillium Falls Trail and Tall Trees Grove Loop Trail let you leave the crowds behind and have the forest mostly to yourself. Sequoia National Park has truly massive trees that are a must-see in their own right, but the park can be a lot more crowded, feeling more like Disneyland than a wilderness escape at times. If you can only pick one: go with Redwood for solitude among old-growth coastal forest, or Sequoia to stand next to the single largest trees on Earth.
Are there restaurants in Redwood National Park?
No, there are no restaurants within Redwood National Park. Pack your own food for a picnic, or plan to eat in nearby Crescent City, Klamath, or Eureka. One exception is the Historic Requa Inn near Klamath, which serves a prix fixe dinner Wednesday through Sunday from April through October, even if you’re not staying there.
Is there cell service in Redwood National Park?
Cell service is limited throughout most of the park. Coverage is decent along Highway 101 near Crescent City and Klamath, but it drops off quickly once you’re inside the park. There’s little to no signal at the Tall Trees Grove trailhead, for example. Download offline maps before you go.
Is Redwood National Park dog-friendly?
Dogs are allowed in some parts of the park: on roads, in parking areas, at scenic viewpoints like Redwood Creek Overlook, and in picnic areas , but they’re not permitted on any hiking trails. If you’re traveling with a dog, plan your visit around the scenic drives rather than the hikes.
Explore the Redwood State Parks
Redwood National Park is just one of four parks that make up Redwood National and State Parks. Three neighboring California state parks — Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek — also protect coastal redwoods and round out the full RNSP experience. For the complete picture, see our Redwood National and State Parks guide.
We found there was not only more to do in the state parks, but what you see there is also better than in the national park. We recommend spending at least two days in Redwood to see the highlights of these state parks.
All three state parks are close to Redwood National Park. Prairie Creek, the closest, is just a 10-minute drive away. Jedediah Smith, the furthest, is a little over an hour’s drive north.
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park — Our favorite of the four parks. Jam packed with amazing redwood experiences, all within a 5 to 10-minute drive of each other, tied together by the scenic Howland Hill Road. You can see the highlights in half a day.
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park — Pairs ancient redwood forests with dramatic, rocky coastlines.
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park — A compact, visitor-friendly park with a great mix of scenic drives, old-growth groves, and Fern Canyon.
- Avenue of the Giants — A famous 31-mile scenic drive through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, worth adding if you’re road-tripping south.
Planning a longer road trip? Our Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake & Redwood road trip itinerary ties it all together. And if you’re exploring more national parks, check out our US National Parks guide.
If you have any questions about things to do in Redwood National Park, let us know in the comment section below.
Explore More of California
Damnation Creek Trail: Photos, Trail Stats & Step-By-Step Guide
Pinterest Facebook Flipboard The Damnation Creek Trail is our favorite hike in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. It’s a short but challenging hike, with a trail running through old-growth redwood forests out to a picturesque beach. We hiked the Damnation Creek Trail on a September morning, and it quickly became one of our favorite […]
A Walk through the Stout Memorial Grove in Photos
The Stout Memorial Grove Trail is a top-rated hike in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. It’s short, easy to access, and winds through an impressive section of old-growth redwood forest. Just 0.6 miles long, the trail offers plenty of sights and photo opportunities. Among the park’s trails, this one provides the biggest “bang for your […]
California Travel Guide: Places to Visit in California
California Travel Guide California is home to some of the world’s tallest trees, breathtaking mountains, stunning desert landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and bustling cities. There are countless adventures worth having here, whether it be wine-tasting in Napa, hiking to the top of Half Dome, or exploring its long list of national parks. California is a favorite […]
One Day Itinerary for Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks sit side by side in central California. Filled with alpine peaks, deep canyons, and the largest trees in the world, you could spend several days here. However, if you only have one day, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of both parks. We visited Kings Canyon […]
The Ultimate Guide to Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park With steaming fumaroles, boiling hot springs, and volcanoes galore, Lassen Volcanic is an underrated gem amongst Californian national parks. Here you can hike to the summit of active volcanoes, wander through bubbling hydrothermal basins, and explore landscapes carved by lava flows. Lassen Volcanic is a paradise for hikers, photographers, and road […]
30 Epic Things to Do in Yosemite for First-Timers
Yosemite National Park is packed with famous landmarks, awesome hikes, and breathtaking views. If you are planning your first trip to Yosemite, how do you know what to do? I am a big fan of lists (and photos!). In this post, I list the best things to do in Yosemite: the best landmarks to visit, […]
25 Best Things to Do in San Francisco
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of San Francisco? The Golden Gate Bridge? The legend and the stories of Alcatraz? Cable cars climbing up and down the steep hills of the city? San Francisco is a big city, filled with lots of things to do. It has a colorful […]
Death Valley National Park Travel Guide
Death Valley National Park Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the United States. But don’t let its mysterious name and seemingly barren landscape discourage you from planning a trip here. This park is full of wonderful surprises. With barren salt flats, towering mountains, mysterious sailing stones, shifting sand dunes, rainbow-colored mountains, […]
Best of Pinnacles: 5 Thrilling Things to Do in Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is one of the smallest and least visited national parks in the United States. The list of things to do in Pinnacles National Park is relatively short and unexpectedly awesome. We loved this park, with its thrilling, unique hiking trails, its gorgeous reservoir and caves, and a chance to spot California Condors. […]
US National Park Itineraries & Road Trip Ideas
National Park Itineraries The national parks are best experienced as a road trip and with 56 parks visited between us, we’ve done a lot of them. Whether you’re dreaming of a two-week American Southwest loop, a classic Yellowstone and Grand Teton combo, or a deep dive into Utah’s Mighty 5, we’ve put together detailed itineraries […]
United States Travel Guide: Places to Visit in the USA
Plan your visit to the United States. Learn about the best things to do, how to plan your time, road trip ideas, and sample itineraries.
10 Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park on Your First Visit
With its desert scenery, hiking trails, rock climbing routes, hidden oases, scenic drives, and trees that look like they have been plucked from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book, Joshua Tree National Park is a joy to explore. In this guide, learn about the best things to do in Joshua Tree National Park on […]
Leave a Comment