Home to the tallest trees in the world which can reach staggering heights of over 360ft and weigh more than 500 tons, Redwood National Park is like any place on the planet. Here’s a roundup of my favorite activities after a decade exploring all the great things to do in Redwood National Park National Park.
Things to Know Before Visiting Redwood National Park
- This is my favorite map, guidebook, and hikes guidebook for Redwood National Park.
- During the summer months (June – August) expect to find mosquitoes at varying levels in the Redwoods. I recommend this bug spray which has worked for me in the park and is environmentally friendly.
- If you’re into national park tees, this is a great Redwood National Park t-shirt.
Best Things To Do in Redwood National Park
Table of Contents: Best Things to Do in Redwood National Park
Table of Contents: Redwood National Park Things to Do
- Things to Know Before Visiting Redwood National Park
- Best Things To Do in Redwood National Park
- 1. Stout Grove
- 2. Lady Bird Johnson Grove
- 3. Fern Canyon
- 4. Jedediah Smith Redwoods
- 5. Gold Bluffs Beach
- 6. Avenue of the Giants
- 7. Redwood Creek Overlook
- 8. Tall Trees Grove
- 9. Boy Scout Tree Trail
- 10. Elk Meadow
- 11. Crescent Beach Overlook
- 12. Bald Hills
- 13. Find a Banana Slug in the Redwoods
- 14. Stargazing
- 15. Humboldt Redwoods
- Watch the Award Winning Redwood National Park Video
- More Helpful Tips for Visiting Redwood National Park
- Redwood National Park Map of Best Things To Do
- Photos of Things to Do in Redwood National Park
- About My Travels to Redwood National Park
- Summary of the Best Things to Do in Redwood National Park
Visiting Redwood National Park? Here’s my favorite hotel.
1. Stout Grove
The Stout Grove is one of the most magnificent and highly photographed groves of old-growth Redwoods in Redwood National Park. Located in Jedediah Smith Redwoods North of Crescent City, the Stout Grove features a relatively small (but oh so stunning) grove of giant, 300ft tall redwoods.
Distance: .7 mile roundtrip
Time: 45mins – 1.5 hours
This grove is located in the northernmost section of the park in Jedediah Smith Redwoods. The road leading to the Stout Grove is unpaved but passable with 2WD vehicles. Mosquitoes here can be pesky in early to mid summer but even still this is one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park.
2. Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Named for the former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson Grove is one of the most spectacular groves of ancient, old-growth Redwoods in the world. This grove is located near the town of Orick in Redwood National Park at about 1,000ft above sea level and is one of the most popular hikes in the park.
Distance: 1.3 miles roundtrip
Time: 1-2 hours
The trail itself is only about 1.3miles long with little elevation gain making one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park folks with kids or folks with mobility issues. If you’re visiting Lady Bird Johnson Grove be sure to check out Redwood Creek Overlook just down the road for the best sunsets in the park (more on that below)!
3. Fern Canyon
Fern Canyon is a stunning, world-renowned destination, made famous by it’s appearance in the Jurrasic Park movie franchise. Dripping with ferns from wall to wall with a creek flowing through its center, this canyon is a mesmerizing spot that everyone visiting Redwood National Park should see.
Distance: 1.1 miles roundtrip
Time: 1-2 hours
The trail can be done as a 1.1mile loop or an out and back which is more popular as visitors get to see the spectacular parts twice. Fern Canyon is one of the best activities in Redwood National Park for kids and families as there’s really no way to lose the wee ones in here! This spot is located just down the road from Gold Bluffs Beach which is a great place for a stop or camp (more on that below)!
4. Jedediah Smith Redwoods
Jedediah Smith Redwoods is often many visitors first experience in Redwood National Park. This area is located on the stunning Wild & Scenic Smith River on the north side of the park near Crescent City. There is a beautiful campground and a popular swimming hole located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods along with some of the most popular groves in the world including the Stout Grove.
I recommend parking at the day-use area and walking down to the water (just a few steps) to see the Wild & Scenic Smith River. The turquoise color of the water is unreal and if you’re coming from the north (like I usually am), this is a great spot to stretch the old legs. Exploring Jedediah Smith Redwoods is one of the more relaxed things to do in Redwood National Park, perfect for families.
5. Gold Bluffs Beach
Gold Bluffs Beach is a beautiful spot on the Pacific ocean named for the iconic golden colored bluffs that overlook it. The campground here (Gold Bluffs Beach Campground) is the only one in the park located right on the beach making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience. The campground is managed by the state of California and reservations are recommended.
Who doesn’t love the sound of the ocean outside of your tent serenading you to sleep? If that isn’t enough, there’s a resident herd of elk that frequents the beach along with migrating whales and dolphins. Prior to visiting the park for the first time I had no idea that it encompassed sections of the beach. Needless to say, relaxing at Gold Bluffs Beach is one of my personal favorite things to do in Redwood National Park.
Note: The unpaved road leading down to Gold Bluffs Beach is a bit rough. While I did make the drive in a Prius, there was a lot of horrible scraping noises along the way that made me question my decision.
6. Avenue of the Giants
The Avenue of the Giants is a magnificent 31.5 mile drive that weaves you through Humboldt Redwoods State Park located about an hour south of Eureka. While this area is not technically part of the “national park” I included it anyway because it’s so close and not to be missed.
The drive itself is not long but there are many, many stops along the way so prepare for a full days worth of activities. One of my favorite parts of this drive is the giant redwood tree cross-section located at the visitors center that marks significant world events with their corresponding tree rings.
7. Redwood Creek Overlook
Redwood Creek Overlook is the best spot in Redwood National Park to catch a sunset. Situated at over 1,000ft above the ocean (which you can easily see on a clear day) it overlooks, this location often sees cloud inversions near sunset sweep through the redwoods below. It’s location near Lady Bird Johnson Grove makes it an easy add on to the end of a day.
The parking lot is small but never full. In fact, I’ve rarely encountered more than a handful of people here. Getting to the overlook from the parking lot requires just a few steps. Anyone looking to catch a sunset in the park should add this overlook to your list of things to do in Redwood National Park.
8. Tall Trees Grove
The Tall Trees Grove in Redwood National Park is one of the park’s most stunning collection of towering redwoods. In fact, some argue it was the size of the trees in and around this grove that finally convinced congress to designate the national park. How tall you might ask? At least one (the Libbey Tree) is over 360 feet!
The scale of everything in this grove is different. Even the ferns are 5+ feet tall. To get here, visitors to this area must obtain a free pass 24-48 hours in advance of their visit to get the combination to unlock the gate to get down to the trailhead.
Distance: 3.3 miles round trip (800ft elevation)
Time: 3-4 hours
Compared to many of the other trails, it’s a bit of a trek to get there including the time required to get the permit and through the locked gate. If time is limited I’d recommend seeing this grove on a future trip. Worth noting that Tall Trees Grove is one of those pesky trails that starts going downhill which means the way back is uphill. Add this to your list of more adventurous things to do in Redwood National Park
9. Boy Scout Tree Trail
The Boy Scout Tree Trail is a great scenic hike in Redwood National Park featuring groves of stunning old-growth redwoods. The hike itself is located off of Howland Hill Road just down from the Stout Grove. The trail’s highlight is the Boy Scout Tree, a 238 foot tall double-stemmed redwood that makes for one of the most impressive in the entire park.
This trail is one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park for folks looking to get off the beaten path and avoid crowds in the park. You’ll get lots of the same amazing scenery that you’ll find in places like Stout Grove or Jedediah Smith all to yourself.
Distance: 5.3 miles roundtrip (750ft elevation)
Time: 3-4 hours
The hike itself is 5.3miles long (roundtrip) and takes about 3-4 hours to complete.
10. Elk Meadow
If you’ve got any wildlife lovers in your party then be sure to add Elk Meadows to your list of things to do in Redwood National Park. Elk Meadow is one of the most reliable places in the park to see the majestic Roosevelt Elk. The meadow itself isn’t much to see if the elk aren’t there so if you arrive and don’t see any then just keep going.
Located at the head of Davison Road just outside the town of Orick, Elk Meadow is a great jumping off point to see plenty more in the park like Gold Bluffs Beach, Fern Canyon, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood Creek Overlook, and Bald Hills. Remember to keep a safe distance from the elk and don’t approach.
11. Crescent Beach Overlook
Crescent Beach Overlook is a quick and beautiful roadside stop along Highway 101 in Redwood National Park offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. This is a great spot to get out of the car, stretch your legs, soak in the views, and grab a few snaps on your way through the park. This is a quick and easy add-on to your list of things to do in the Redwoods.
12. Bald Hills
Bald Hills is a fairly remote, lesser-visited destination in Redwood National Park that offers visitors a very different experience from the Redwood groves. This is the best area in the park to go stargazing (more on that below) due to its higher elevation and wide open vistas. Visitors to the Bald Hills will be treated to sweeping views of the surrounding forested areas.
In the spring, the meadows here explode with all sorts of beautiful blooms while in the winter the Bald Hills are one of the few places in the park that sees snowfall. If you’ve got any history buffs with you then visiting the Lyons Historic Ranch in the Bald Hills can be a fun addition to your list of things to do in Redwood National Park.
13. Find a Banana Slug in the Redwoods
You can find all sorts of small creatures all over the Redwoods including one of my favorites, the Banana Slug. This small animal can be found almost anywhere in the park but especially loves the forest floor and low foliage. If you’re visiting the redwoods with kids, this can be a great scavenger hunt item for the wee ones.
Don’t be alarmed if you see one of these bright yellow slugs as they are not poisonous and provide a vital service to the redwood ecosystem as a detritivore, also known as a decomposer. The banana slug assists the forest with the vital decomposition process turning dead leaves and other organic material into soil hummus.
14. Stargazing
While not considered one of the best national parks in California to view the night sky, on a clear night watching the stars is a great Redwood National Park activity. The main contributing factor to the park not being the best place for stargazing is the amount of fog that rolls in making it impossible to count on seeing stars at night.
However, when the stars are out, they absolutely dazzle! A great spot to watch them from is Redwood Creek Overlook as well as the Bald Hills (probably the best spot to stargaze in the Redwoods).
15. Humboldt Redwoods
While you’re in the area, I highly recommend visiting the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. This 53,000 acre expanse (California’s 3rd largest state park) is unique in its own right and differs from the coastal redwoods in many ways including color. The color of the redwoods in Humboldt are redder in color than the greyer redwoods of the coast.
There are all sorts of amazing sites in the Humboldt Redwoods including a drive thru tree and the world-famous Avenue of the Giants.
Watch the Award Winning Redwood National Park Video
MTJP | Redwood is the culmination of several weeks spent exploring Redwood National and State Parks. These parks feature magical forests, miles of spectacular beaches, stunning overlooks, and the largest herd of Roosevelt elk on the planet. This film was shot entirely in 4K.
More Helpful Tips for Visiting Redwood National Park
Cell Service
Cell Service is pretty reliable in the park. There are a few spots near Orick where service is more limited but overall visitors can expect to have good reception.
Getting to the Redwoods
Getting to Redwood National Park is half the fun! Out of state visitors can fly into Crescent City Airport (which is only 30mins from the closest part of the park), or San Francisco and drive up the coast (6 hours south of Redwood), or Redding (3 hours east of Redwood), or Medford, OR (2 hours northeast of Redwood).
Food & Restaurants
There are many restaurants and food options throughout the areas, cities, and towns around the park. The major towns for restaurants are Crescent City to the North, Klamath in the middle, and Trinidad to the South.
Redwood National Park Map of Best Things To Do
Photos of Things to Do in Redwood National Park
About My Travels to Redwood National Park
I visited Redwood for the first time back in 2010 with my brother and it changed our lives. This is truly one of those places where photos cannot come close to doing it justice. Looking up at these trees gave us a similar feeling to staring into the Grand Canyon – one can do so for hours and still be just as mesmerized. We spent several weeks in the park visiting all of the main attractions and filming them to bring you the best things to do and see in the park.
Summary of the Best Things to Do in Redwood National Park
- Stout Grove
- Lady Bird Johnson Grove
- Fern Canyon
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods
- Gold Bluffs Beach
- Avenue of the Giants*
- Redwood Creek Overlook
- Tall Trees Grove
- Boy Scout Tree Trail
- Elk Meadow
- Crescent Beach Overlook
- Bald Hills
- Banana Slug
- Stargazing
- Humboldt Redwoods
Pin Things To Do in the Redwoods
More From Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park Guide: Redwood National Park Ultimate Guide
Things to Do at Redwood National Park: 15 EPIC Things to Do in Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park Photos: 20 Breathtaking Redwood National Park Photos
Bald Hills Redwoods: Visiting the Bald Hills
Gold Bluffs Beach: Visiting Gold Bluffs Beach
Redwood Creek Overlook: Visiting Redwood Creek Overlook
Lady Bird Johnson Redwoods Grove: Visiting the Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Stout Grove Redwoods: Visiting the Stout Grove Redwoods
Redwoods Near San Francisco: 15 BEST Places to See Redwoods Near San Francisco
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This is so helpful! Thank you. My family is planning a big national parks trip this spring and redwoods is on our list. How many days do you recommend spending here? Is one enough?
Hi Janice,
Thanks for the kind words! Redwoods is one of those parks where one days is “enough” of the essence of the park. But you can spend a week or more and still not want to leave. For a big national parks road trip I’d recommend 1-2 days. Jedediah Smith is the best campground for big trees and Gold Bluffs Beach is my personal favorite because it’s right on the ocean 🙂
Best,
Will