Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is our favorite of the Redwood National and State Parks. In this guide, we’ll share our must-do hikes and scenic drives, plus how to see the best of the park with a one day itinerary.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods is one of the four parks that make up Redwoods National and State Parks (RNSP). This section of old-growth forest is stunning, with many short trails through what we consider the most scenic groves in RNSP. Everywhere you look, you’re surrounded by these ancient giants, many of which are between 500 and 2,500 years old. And no, the views never get old.
Jedediah Smith was the first of the four parks we visited, and it blew us away. Maybe it’s because this was our intro into the Redwood parks, but more likely, it’s just because these ancient forests are so much fun to explore.
Our day started on Howland Hill Road, a dirt road that twists and turns through the redwood forest. Our very first hike was through the Stout Memorial Grove. We arrived first thing in the morning and had the trail to ourselves, which was magical. And the trees, oh how we love the trees!
From easy walks along the forest floor to rugged hikes deep into redwood groves, combined with a scenic drive that ties it all together, this small state park is definitely worth a visit.
In this guide, we cover the very best things to do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, along with helpful tips to ensure you have the best experience.
The Essentials
WHERE | Northern California, near Crescent City
DON’T MISS | Stout Memorial Grove, Howland Hill Road, Grove of the Titans
HIDDEN GEM | Simpson-Reed Trail
HOW MUCH TIME | Half to a full day
FEE | $8; America the Beautiful and California State Parks passes accepted
What is Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park?
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is located in northwestern California, near the border with Oregon. The state park is only a 10-minute drive from Crescent City, making it quite easy to reach.
The state park preserves a little over 10,000 acres of land, most of which is old-growth redwood forest. A park ranger informed us that many of the trees in this forest are over 1,500 years old, with some reaching heights of over 230 feet.
Among the four parks that make up Redwoods National and State Parks, Jedediah Smith is the northernmost. It’s also one of three Californian state parks established to protect some of the last remaining coastal redwoods in the world.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods offers several hiking trails that pass through old-growth forests. Many of these trails run along Howland Hill Road, a scenic 5.2-mile drive that winds narrowly through redwoods. This makes it easy to visit the park’s main sights. You can see the highlights of Jedediah Smith Redwoods in half a day to a full day.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Map
Things to Do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Our list below details the top things to do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. From a scenic drive to numerous hiking trails, visitors will have plenty of ways to experience these beautiful redwood forests.
If you are short on time or only want to see the highlights, here are our top 3 must-have experiences within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
- Drive Howland Hill Road – This scenic drive winds through old-growth forests of towering redwoods and features many of the park’s top trailheads.
- Stout Memorial Grove Trail – This short but sweet hike loops around towering redwoods and fallen trees. Hikers get an incredible sense of scale for how massive these giants really are.
- Simpson-Reed Trail – This easy, flat trail passes by fallen redwoods and an impressive section of old-growth forest. This is a great pick for those who want a short hike with great views.
Drive the Amazing Howland Hill Road
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is our favorite scenic drive in the Redwood parks. This is a very unique drive, as the road twists and turns through the redwood groves.
Take a scenic drive along Howland Hill Road, a narrow road that snakes around giant redwood trees. Only 5.2 miles one-way, this scenic road is one of the few routes through the state park and features many of Jedediah Smith’s top attractions.
This unpaved, narrow road creeps through groves of towering redwoods. It’s barely wide enough for 2-way traffic at times, so take your time driving this route.
Allow 30 to 50 minutes to drive the full length of Howland Hill Road (if you’re like us, you’ll be stopping along the way for lots of photos), but your day is best spent by stopping and completing a few hikes along the way. Trailheads for Boy Scout Tree, Grove of Titans, and Stout Memorial Grove all lie along Howland Hill Road.
The main draw for driving Howland Hill Road is how close you can get to the redwood trees. At times, you can extend your hand out the window and touch the trunks of these giants.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Since this road connects many of the park’s top trails, it can get crowded early in the day. When visiting Jedediah Smith Redwoods, we recommend getting an early start to beat the crowds.
We entered the park at 7:30 am, and the roads and trails were nearly empty at that time. This is a park where an early start is definitely worthwhile.
IMPORTANT! This road is too narrow for RVs, motorhomes, and trailers.
Walk Amongst Giants in the Grove of Titans
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is the most popular hike in Jedediah Smith. It’s an interesting, easy hike, but expect large crowds and difficulty finding parking, especially midday.
Distance: 1.7 miles (2.7 km) round trip | Total Ascent: 320 feet (90 meters) | Difficulty: Easy | Time: 45 to 90 minutes
The Grove of Titans is great for those who want a short hike through redwood forests and want to see some of the largest trees in the park.
From the parking lot, follow signs for Mill Creek Trail. This dirt path leads deeper into the forest before connecting with the Grove of Titans Trail, which is where the boardwalk path begins.
The Grove of Titans leads through an impressive section of old-growth forest; however, we found this trail to be less exciting than the other hikes on this list. With its boardwalk trail, the experience feels less natural than walking a dirt trail that winds along the forest floor. It’s also the most popular trail in the park, so expect more crowds here.
Do not wander off of the boardwalk trail. The boardwalks were put in place to protect the fragile forest floor, and the National Parks Service asks all visitors to respect this ancient environment.
PARKING FOR THE GROVE OF TITANS: Parking is limited at the trailhead. The earlier in the day you arrive, the better. We did this hike around 9 am and the parking lot was most full. When we drove past the parking lot at noon, it was completely packed. There is a bathroom at the trailhead.
Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It’s a long hike, but you head deep into the redwood forest and get to see one of the largest, oldest trees in the park.
Distance: 4.8 miles (7.8 km) roundtrip | Total Ascent: 920 feet (280 meters) | Difficulty: Moderate | Time: 2 to 4 hours (our time was 2 hours 10 minutes)
Boy Scout Tree Trail Elevation Profile
This rugged, off-the-beaten-path hike leads deep into an old-growth forest, providing one of the most secluded experiences in Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Hike through breathtaking redwood groves, along a fern-lined trail, and out to one of the largest redwoods in the state park.
This is the longest hike on our list and is a great pick for those who want to explore deeper into the redwood forest. You’re far from the road, it’s incredibly quiet, and the only sounds you hear are the occasional bird calls, the rustling of leaves, and a distant stream.
You’ll find some variety along the trail, but one of our favorite segments was at 1.3 miles. A forested valley full of massive redwoods opens up in front of you, extending deep into the forest. Even though you’re hiking high in the valley, the canopies of these trees still sit high above your head. For us, it felt like we were walking amongst thousands of these giants.
At 2.3 miles, there’s a small wooden sign that marks the trail up to Boy Scout Tree. You’ll see this to your right. The trail is roughly defined and is pretty steep, but it’s only a few steps to the base of the tree. It’ll become obvious which tree is Boy Scout Tree.
This massive tree resulted from the fusion of two smaller redwoods that, as they grew larger, merged into one enormous tree. Today, the tree stands over 230 feet tall and more than 23 feet wide at its base. What’s most remarkable is that Boy Scout Tree is estimated to be over 2,500 years old, so it’s been on this planet before Aristotle, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar.
Fern Falls
The trail officially stops at Fern Falls, which is an extra 15-minute hike from Boy Scout Tree. Adding on Fern Falls adds 0.7 miles (1.1 km) and 115 feet (35 meters) of ascent to the hike.
We don’t believe it’s worth the extra distance out to Fern Falls. We found it to be underwhelming, and Boy Scout Tree is much more impressive, with a phenomenal view of one of the largest redwood trees you’ll lay eyes on. Here’s what Fern Falls looks like.
Fern Falls
Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Our Favorite Hike
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was our favorite experience, not just in Jedediah Smith, but throughout all of Redwoods National and State Parks.
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km) round trip (lollipop) | Total Ascent: 50 feet (15 meters) | Difficulty: Easy | Time: 30 to 60 minutes
The Stout Memorial Grove hike is a short, easy-to-access trail that goes through an old-growth forest. At only 0.6 miles long, the trail is packed with sights to see and spots for photos. Of all the trails in the park, this has the biggest “bang for your buck.”
The Stout Memorial Grove Trail is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s a flat trail that loops along the forest floor. Hikers walk in one of the most impressive redwood groves we’ve seen. There are also plenty of overturned trees that provide an incredible sense of just how massive these redwoods are. It’s awesome looking at how widespread a redwood’s root structure is when seeing one overturned.
One of the top sites here is Stout Tree, the 9th largest redwood tree in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, at a height of 325 feet. You’ll find a wooden platform here that makes for a good photo spot.
There’s a small parking lot here with bathrooms. We recommend doing this hike first, as parking can fill up fast throughout the morning.
We liked this trail so much (and took so many photos), that we wrote up this guide to the Stout Memorial Trail ↓
The Underrated Simpson-Reed Trail
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This trail is less popular than the hikes already listed. We loved this very short, easy, flat walk, with more fantastic views of upright and fallen redwoods.
Distance: 0.9 miles (1.45 km) loop | Total Ascent: 100 feet (30 meters) | Difficulty: Easy | Time: 30 to 60 minutes
Simpson-Reed was a close second to Stout Memorial Grove. Both trails are pretty similar. They feature a short walk through a beautiful redwood grove, with overturned trees that offer perspective.
There’s a lot of “wow” moments along this trail, especially when you get the chance to stand next to a fallen redwood’s root structure. However, we favored Stout Memorial Grove, as that section of old-growth forest was slightly more impressive.
WHERE IS IT: This is the only trail on our list that’s not along Howland Hill Road. It’s along U.S. Route 199, a larger highway that cuts through the north end of the state park. Also along this road is Jedediah Smith Campground, and just outside the park, the Historic Hiouchi Cafe, which makes a great spot for lunch.
How to Spend One Day in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
With one busy day you can see everything on our list. It is a lot of walking (about 8.5 miles), but many of the trails are flat, which makes it easy to stack a few hikes into your day.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods is a compact state park, with most of its attractions located along Howland Hill Road. We recommend starting early, no later than 8 am, because parking lots and trails can fill up quickly. Not only is parking limited, but exploring a redwood grove alone is also an unforgettable experience.
This is how we planned our day, and it worked great:
Start your day along Howland Hill Road. We entered the park at 7:30 am. Most likely you’ll enter from the south if you’re staying in Crescent City or Klamath.
Drive Howland Hill to the Stout Memorial Grove. If you started early, chances are both Howland Hill and Stout Memorial Grove are empty. Enjoy a peaceful morning stroll through this beautiful old-growth forest before heading back south along Howland Hill Road.
If you hike fast, you’ll have time to hike both the Grove of Titans and the Boy Scout Tree Trail before lunch at the Historic Hiouchi Cafe. However, if you prefer to take your time, pick your favorite between these two trails, or skip lunch and hike them both.
End your day with an afternoon walk along the Simpson-Reed Trail. This short trail will take most hikers 30 minutes to complete.
If you complete everything on this list and stop for lunch, you’ll be done with your day around 3 to 4 pm. Either enjoy the extra downtime or visit some of the sites in the nearby Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, another park that makes up Redwoods National and State Parks (we hiked out to Endert’s Beach in the afternoon). Del Norte Coast is only a 10-minute drive south of Crescent City.
How to Get to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods is easy to get to, just a 10-minute drive from Crescent City. Most visitors stay in either Crescent City or the town of Klamath, which is about 40 minutes away by car.
Of the four parks that make up Redwoods National and State Parks, Jedediah Smith Redwoods is the furthest north. This state park is roughly an hour’s drive from Redwoods National Park, which is the southernmost of the four.
When Should I Visit Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park?
The best time to visit Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to November. Not only will you have pleasant temperatures to wander the redwood groves, but you’ll also avoid peak tourist season, which runs during the summer.
Visiting in the spring will offer a lush forest experience as you exit the wet season. The fall offers similar temperatures but a drier visit. Our visit was in mid-September. We predominantly had sunny skies, no rain, with some fog on several mornings, but the weather was perfect (hiking through redwood forests in the fog is magical).
The summer months from June through August are another popular time to visit. Temperatures will be warm with plenty of sun and little rain. This is the best time to visit if you’re also visiting nearby national parks such as Lassen Volcanic or Crater Lake.
You can also visit Jedediah Smith Redwoods in the winter. You’ll have a cooler, quieter experience with few tourists. Winter is the rainiest part of the year, so make sure to bring a rain jacket. With its coastal location, snow is rare and temperatures typically don’t drop below 40.
Where to Stay
Camping
The Jedediah Smith Campground is located inside of the state park. There are 89 campsites, some of which have hookups for RVs. There are also cabins that can accommodate up to six people. Learn more and make your reservation on the Jedediah Smith website.
Crescent City
Crescent City is the closest town to Jedediah Smith. This small town has several hotels to choose from, a grocery store, and several restaurants. We ate dinner twice at SeaQuake Brewing, a restaurant that really fills up by 5:30 pm on weekdays, at least in our experience.
Hotels in Crescent City get decent reviews. Several of the highest-rated options include Oceanview Inn and Suites, the Lighthouse Inn, and the Hiouchi Motel. The Crescent Beach Motel has a nice setting right on the beach.
Hiouchi
The Redwood Meadows RV Resort is a good option for those traveling by RV. They also have family bungalows.
Klamath
We stayed in Klamath, since it is more centrally located between the state and national parks.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Klamath, which receives decent reviews. The hotel is quite dark and dreary, and the WiFi went out one night while we were there. Regarding restaurants, there aren’t many in Klamath. There is a restaurant in the nearby casino, but it was closed one evening during our visit, so we ate in Crescent City a few times. I know I’m not selling this place, but the location is conveniently central to the parks.
The Historic Requa Inn gets better reviews. It is located on the Klamath River, just north of Klamath.
Plan Your Visit
Cost: It costs $8 per vehicle to visit Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park for the day. Entrance fees are collected at campground entrance stations. The America the Beautiful and California State Parks passes are accepted.
Hours of Operation: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is open year-round.
Before you go, check the California State Parks 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hike in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park?
In our opinion, the best hike in Jedediah Smith is the Stout Memorial Grove Trail. This short, flat trail loops through an old growth forest with redwoods towering 400 feet tall. Fallen redwoods line the trail, which gives hikers an incredible sense of scale. There’s plenty of fantastic photo spots throughout, and this is a great hike for families.
Which Redwoods park is the best to visit?
This depends on your interests, but if you’re looking for the best up-close experience with redwoods, we recommend Jedediah Smith. This state park features some fantastic, short, and easy hikes through towering redwood groves. Trails like Stout Memorial Grove and Simpson-Reed became some of our favorites out of all four of the Redwood National and State Parks. Plus, it’s easy to reach, only a short 10-minute drive outside of Crescent City.
Is there cellular service in the park?
Yes, although we often found service to be spotty. Don’t expect to have cell service along any of the hiking trails through Jedediah Smith, and don’t depend on your phone to send texts, emails, or pictures.
Can you drive through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park?
Yes, you can. The Howland Hill Road is a scenic drive through redwood groves that cuts through the state park (be aware that it is too narrow for RVs and trailers). Many of the top trailheads sit along this road, and the drive itself is a thing to do within the park. Redwood Highway also travels through the northern section of Jedediah Smith, where you’ll find the Simpson-Reed Trailhead.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, let us know in the comment section below.
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