The Stout Memorial Grove Trail is a top-rated hike in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Itโs 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 parkโs trails, this one provides the biggest โbang for your buck.โ
We spent four days hiking the trails in Redwood National and State Parks. The Stout Memorial Grove Trail is our favorite hike not only in Jedediah Smith but in all of the Redwood parks. Itโs a very short trail, but the views of the towering redwoods and taking photos next to the enormous roots were highlights for us.
Itโs best experienced early in the morning, when few hikers have entered the park, and you might have the trail to yourself. This trail is flat, easy, and only takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many pictures you decide to take.
Stout Memorial Grove Trail Stats
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km) round trip (lollipop)
Difficulty: Easy
Total Ascent: 50 feet (15 meters)
Elevation: 175 feet (50 meters)
Time: 30 to 60 minutes
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.
Stout Memorial Grove Trail
Step-By-Step Trail Guide
Getting to the Trailhead
The trailhead for Stout Memorial Grove is located on Howland Hill Road, a narrow, unpaved road that winds through the state park.
This scenic drive narrowly squeezes past towering redwood trees, and many of the parkโs top trails lie along this road. Stout Memorial Grove is a 30-minute drive from the nearby Crescent City, a popular place to stay on a visit to Jedediah Smith Redwoods.
Thereโs a small parking lot with bathrooms at the trailhead, but spaces are limited. Due to this, we recommend starting this hike early in your day, preferably no later than 10 am.
We did this hike early on a September morning, starting at 8 am. At this time, there were plenty of parking spaces, and we only saw one other couple along the trail. Being one of the few hikers along the trail only added to the incredible experience we had on this hike.
Stout Memorial Grove Trail
The Stout Memorial Grove Trail follows a short, flat loop through a section of old-growth redwood forest. Many of the redwood trees youโll pass reach heights of over 250 feet tall, and range between 500 and 1000 years old. Talk about taking a walk through history!
The trail itself is a wide dirt path that loops along the forest floor. From the trailhead, itโs a short walk down to the start of the loop. We took the path to the right and looped around the grove counterclockwise.
The start of the loop
The trail is lined with large, lush green ferns, which made it feel like we were wandering through Jurassic Park. However, do not wander off the trail! The forest floor is very fragile, and the National Park Service strongly encourages hikers to stay on the trail to protect this ancient ecosystem.
Massive redwood trees hundreds of feet tall line the trail. Itโs hard to wrap your head around just how tall these giants are when youโre standing up close with one. Get ready to have a sore neck as youโll be looking up a lot!
Youโll also find plenty of fallen redwood trees along the trail. Standing next to their bases and seeing how extensive their root structure are provides an incredible sense of scale. Some that have fallen and blocked the trail have even been sawed in half, giving hikers an up-close look at a treeโs rings.
We loved hiking the Stout Memorial Grove Trail. It ended up becoming our favorite thing we did not only in Jedediah Smith but in all of Redwoods National and State Parks. This section of old-growth forest is breathtaking the entire way, and we stopped for photos at every bend in the trail.
Stout Memorial Grove Photos
Here are the highlights of the Stout Memorial Grove Trail in photos:
PRO TRAVEL TIP: We walked out to Mill Creek. It is just a short detour off of the loop trail but the Mill Creek Trail is not nearly as interesting as the Stout Memorial Grove. If you want to save time for other parts of Jedediah Smith, we recommend just hiking the main loop trail and later doing a separate hike (there are several more great ones in this state park).
Views of massive redwood trees never got old for us. Since we were hiking early in the morning, we pretty much had the trail to ourselves. This allowed us to escape into this ancient landscape and immerse ourselves within it. It felt like we were wandering around the forest moon of Endor from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. I half expected to see Ewoks around a bend in the trail!
Stout Tree
One of the top sites along the trail is Stout Tree, the 9th largest redwood tree in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park at a height of 325 feet. Thatโs taller than the Statue of Liberty! Youโll find a wooden platform here that makes for a great photo spot.
Stout Tree is not far from the start of the loop. If you only wanted to see Stout Tree, follow the loop left from the trailhead, and itโll be a short 2-minute walk away. Of course, since the entire trail is so short but jam-packed with great views, we recommend hiking the full thing.
Finishing the Hike
It took us 30 minutes to walk the full trail, and we stopped a LOT for photos. This short hike is great for families and those who want a quick introduction to old-growth redwood forests.
After Your Hike
There are plenty of other great hiking trails within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park that are worth your time. Continue your scenic drive along Howland Hill Road and hike either the Boy Scout Tree Trail or through the Grove of Titans.
The Boy Scout Tree Trail is a rugged, underrated hike leading deep into an old-growth forest, providing one of the most secluded experiences in Jedediah Smith Redwoods. The trail leads out to Boy Scout Tree, a giant redwood that was formed from the fusion of two smaller trees.
Grove of Titans is great for those who want a short hike through redwood forests and want to learn along the way. Follow a boardwalk trail lined with lush ferns, giant redwoods, and informative signs highlighting the history of the forest.
To learn more about the best things to do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, see our article here (coming soon).
Tips to Have the Best Experience
Best Time of Day: We recommend hiking the Stout Memorial Grove Trail in the morning, no later than 10 am. With limited parking, spots can fill up fast throughout the day, making it a challenge to walk this short trail in the afternoon. Plus, we found the experience to be extra special when we were the only ones on the trail in the early morning.
Cell Service: Cellular service along the trail is spotty. Donโt rely on your phone to send texts, emails, or pictures. The same goes for other trails within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
What to Bring: The number one item to have with you is a camera. This small section of old-growth forest was the most impressive area we walked through in all of Redwoods National and State Park. Youโre guaranteed to take plenty of photos here. We also recommend bringing a light jacket, as temperatures are mild within the park throughout most of the year.
If you have any questions about how to hike the Stout Memorial Grove Trail, let us know in the comment section below.
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