Redwood National and State Parks
Home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, Redwood National and State Parks protect some of the last remaining groves of old-growth coastal redwoods. Wallking amongst these giants feels like stepping into another world. Trees reach heights over 300 feet tall and some are more than 2,000 years old. Talk about a walk through history!
Walk along the forest floor, take a few scenic drives, hike through a lush canyon, and even enjoy stunning coastal viewpoints and time on the beach. Redwood National and State Parks provides an unforgettable and timeless way to reconnect with nature.
Redwood National Park Stats
Founded: October 2, 1968
Annual Visitors: 622,000 visitors in 2024
Size: 139,000 acres
Location: California
Entrance Fee: Free
Top Experiences in Redwood National and State Parks
Howland Hill Road. Take a scenic drive along a narrow road that snakes past giant redwood trees. This road connects many of the top attractions within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
Stout Memorial Grove. Walk amongst giants on this flat, breathtaking trail along the forest floor. This trail was our favorite thing we did in all of Redwoods, and has phenomenal views for such a short hike.
Boy Scout Tree Trail. This rugged, off-the-beaten path hike leads deep into an old-growth forest and out to one of the largest trees in Jedediah Smith Redwoods.
Simpson-Reed Trail. Enjoy a short, easy walk through a beautiful old-growth redwood forest. There are plenty of fallen trees that offer perspective as to how large these redwoods truly are.
Endert Beach. Take a break from giant trees and instead hike down to a sandy beach complete with stunning coastal views. This is one of the best coastal experiences within Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park.
Damnation Creek Trail. Enjoy a challenging hike down through an old-growth redwood forest and out to a secluded rocky beach.
Big Tree Wayside. This is one of the tallest redwood trees you’ll see within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Big Tree is easily accessible with several hiking trails that lead to it.
Fern Canyon. Enjoy a short but fun adventure hike as you carefully navigate stream crossings in a lush, fern-filled canyon.
Tall Trees Grove. Hike past towering redwoods on one of the best and also less-popular trails within Redwoods National Park.
Did You Know?
Redwoods National and State Parks consists of four parks, each of which was founded to preserve old-growth redwood forests. Today, the parks are home to nearly half of the world’s remaining old-growth coastal redwood forests.
The parks are home to trees that are over 2,000 years old. These ancient giants reach hundreds of feet into the air, with heights maxing out around 370 feet tall.
The otherwordly nature of these forests have led them to become popular filming sites. Movies such as Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and The Lost World: Jurassic Park have been filmed here.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
From easy walks along the forest floor, rugged hikes deep into old-growth forest, and a scenic drive that ties it all together, this small state park features many of our favorite redwood experiences.
5 Amazing Things to Do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
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 […]
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 […]
When To Visit Redwood National and State Park
The best time to visit Redwood National and State Parks 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, you’ll also avoid peak tourist season, which runs during the summer.
Visiting in the spring will offer a more lush forest experience as you exit the wet season. The fall offers similar temperatures but a drier visit.
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 for coastal hiking and beach time at Del Norte Coast Redwoods.
You can also visit Redwood 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.
Redwood National and State Parks appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in April, May, July, and September.
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15 Best US National Parks to Visit in May 2026
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14 Best US National Parks to Visit in September 2026
September is one of the best months of the year to visit the national parks. The weather is fantastic across much of the USA, the busy summer season is coming to an end, and, in some parks, you can see the first of the fall colors. In this guide, we list 14 of the best […]
How Many Days Should You Spend in Redwood?
At a minimum, you need two full days in Redwood National and State Parks to see the highlights and bounce between different parks.
On the quickest of visits, with only one day, spend your time in Jedediah Smith Redwoods. This state park is jam packed with amazing redwood experiences, and you can see it all in a busy half day. You’ll still have enough time to visit one other park, albeit brief.
Four days gives you enough time to thoroughly see all four parks that make up Redwood National and State Parks.
Two Days in Redwood
With two days in Redwood, spend your first day in Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Complete a few short hikes and drive Howland Hill Road. In the afternoon, see a few highlights within Del Norte Coast Redwoods.
On day two, split your time between Prairie Creek Redwoods and Redwood National Park. This will be another busy day, but you’ll have time to do a hike or two, enjoy a scenic drive, and stand amidst some of the tallest trees in the park.
Redwood National and State Parks Map
US National Parks List
In our US National Parks List, get information on all of the US national parks, including interesting facts, the most and least visited national parks, and a FREE printable national parks checklist with map.
Ultimate US National Parks List for 2025 (+ Printable Checklist)
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