Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

We were here on our 4^th anniversary. Air is crispy and cold at the end of Howland road. It’s a wow! With every step, I felt like I am walking into a mystical land. These silent giants were here thousands years ago, and one day, when we, are all perished, they are still going to be here, watching time goes by quietly. I told my hubby I am not surprised if those giants walking in the woods after dark. He ask me what would they do? I think they probably just chit chat like we do, said «hey did you see that look on that woman’s face today? „it’s that amazing. We hike Boy Scott Tree Trail. It takes you to a waterfall and a gigantic double trunk redwoods. The instruction said „an easy 2.8miles hike on a pave road, moderate the last 200 ft to the water fall.“ It sound like a walk in the park. Right! With few snacks and a camel bag, we went. Oh, man. pave road my butt! It’s covered by pin needles, damp and slippery. Trail are basically walking on top of a network of exposed tree roots! It’s a lot of ups and downs, slippery too. I regret didn’t bring my hiking pole! Oh man, we didn’t even have a map! But every time when I make a stop to catch a breath, the elegance of redwoods just calm me right down. I was staring at the sun beams going through redwoods, it tailored a glorious ray between each tree. wow… They are so beautiful! So tall and so proud… Why human does not understand? We breathe out CO2 and breathe in pure oxygen produced by the redwoods. In returned, redwoods breath in our wasted CO2 to produce pure oxygen! it’s a perfect circulation. Humanity needs redwoods as much as we need food and water. It’s the air you are breathing in! When we finally make it to the water fall, we thought the Boyscot tree is behind the water fall, so we scrambling up alone a slippery rocks steps by the waterfall. Once we made it to the top of the waterfall, only to realize that: This entire trail is
“ Boyscouted» by the gentle giant redwoods tree! There were a few moments I thought it can’t be more beautiful, it surprise me at each turns!.I’ve been to redwoods in Yosemite, Russian Rivers, Big basins. By far, These redwoods are the prettiest redwoods I’ve every seem. They are original, untouched by tourists. I see hikers on the trail are families, grand parents with their grand childrens. On the first day after Thanksgiving! I hope, from the buttom of my heart that this place should never, ever change. I can put up with no paved road, sacrifice my convenience. So our generation and our next generation will have a chance to experience what I have experienced today, and appreciates it!

I’ve been searching for a place like this my whole life. I had no idea it was here in California. On a road trip from L.A. I went thru Calaveras Big Tree and the Eastern Sierras and this place is the best kept park out of all I have visited in the last week. Very clean restrooms and heated showers. Well kept trails and camp sites. I did see some people gathering wood which is a no no but you can’t tell people still do that here. Very untouched forest. Looks like no wear and tear like in the other places. You can tell the keepers of this place really love the work they put in to keeping the forest as natural as can be. The best park ever! And what a river!

Absolutely breathtaking views. A sense of awe wherever the trail takes you. The history and tree tops are amazing. Would love to come here more often.

Driving through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is beautiful. We stopped at the small walking loop where Walker Road. exits the Redwood Highway. The loop takes about an hour to walk around at a leisurely pace. Excellent opportunities to see Redwoods all around you and to climb on fallen trees. Be prepared to be humbled by their enormous size.

My family and I just returned from our camping trip. on 7/25/15.we were there for 3 nites. absolutely loved this trip. the campsite is great. has a lot of room. The bathrooms were very nice. clean and the showers had hot water.$ 3.00 for 12 min. very nice tiled shower. .each campsite has a picnic table. a bear locker and a firepit. we had 2 tents set up. and had plenty of space. the camp host was nice. the trees were amazing. definitely take stuff for mosquitos. they are pretty heavy in the early morning. .and the evening. the stout grove hike was the best. don’t miss it. And the smith river is gorgeous. great place for a family trip

Did this hike this past weekend with a women’s Meetup group. Never have been here. IT was very beautiful. We did the hike out to the Boy Scout Tree and the waterfall just beyond it. Being in Oregon we are spoiled with lush big waterfalls. So, the fall wasn’t that impressive but the Redwoods of course were as majestic and beautiful as always! Work the drive out on the very very dusty road!

This campsite is wonderful. It was pretty quiet (we were near a family of girls that took awhile to settle down, but oh well). The tall redwoods around the campground give your site a feeling of such seclusion. I wish we were able to hang out here longer! A plus: in the summer, the Stout Grove Trail is accessible from the campground via a cool narrow bridge over the river. This short hike is hands down one of the best ways to see amazing old growth forest in the entire redwoods area. Staff was friendly. Did not make a big deal about bears, and somewhat wished I had better guidance given bear experiences in other parks.

Out of all of the Redwood parks, this is by far my favorite. The Howland Hill Road drive is incredible because you are literally driving right next to these enormous trees.
I would highly recommend hiking the Boy Scout Tree Trail. There is a high density of redwoods on this easy-​to-​moderate difficulty trail (5.3 miles roundtrip, out-​and-​back, ~750 elevation gain).. Near the end of the trail, there are two land marks: The Boy Scout Tree and Fern Falls. A few hundred feet before the falls there is a very short trail on the right that leads to Boy Scout Tree, which is marked so by a sign nailed into a tree. The Boy Scout Tree is an enormous double trunked redwood which is amazing to behold. Fern Falls are pretty, but nothing to special, just a fern wall with water running down part of it.
Honestly, the payoff for this hike is not the falls or even Boy Scout Tree, it is the hike itself. The forest you are walking through feels like a mystical land. The dense forest of redwoods towers above you, and on a sunny day, some of the rays break through the trees and and give the forest an enchanting ambiance.
If you only spend a single day in Redwoods, this is where I would recommend spending it.

Words cannot describe the beauty that lives in these trees. Every where you go your bound to find a treasure a cool place to explore… A rope swing or swimming hole… There is so much history here. So much to experience. I hope to make it back there again in this lifetime.

Absolutely the best place to commune with the redwoods. Better than Avenue of the Giants, Redwood State and National parks, and Humboldt County. It’s a trek that will be rewarded. There is no way to be disappointed with this park. It’s unbelievable, like no place else on earth.

Towering redwoods, a pristine aqua blue River and few people make this an adventurers paradise. Known worldwide for its plant diversity the area always seems to be in bloom. The wild and scenic Smith River is undammed and flows through steep rock canyons. Stop at one of the many trailheads along 199 for a walk thru this beautiful park.

I have never felt more relaxed and at peace at a campground. By far the best place we have ever been camping. If you don’t mind the cooler weather, it is pretty peaceful during the colder months. The place just felt like a fairytale campground. Just seeing all the overgrowth and how big the redwoods are around you is awesome. There wasn’t too many trails around. We did go on one trail that was across the main road from the campground that was steep and all uphill to the very top and then all downhill. If you’re not prepared to hike all uphill with very few resting spots, I wouldn’t recommend that trail. Will definitely come back!

Think you need to visit the Redwoods National Park to see magnificent trees? Nope. Jedediah Smith may actually have the more accessible giant redwoods.
The drive along Howland Hill road is nothing short of spectacular. And by drive, of course, I mean drive the road and frequently get out among the trees. Hug a few of them, although good luck getting your arms around one.
When we visited a few years ago, we found two of the larger trees growing next to each other and laid down between and looked up. What a sense of majesty, and those were not even close to the biggest (though still huge). I think we spent a good half hour with that pair.
Stout Grove is also very cool. What we didn’t see, because we were just passing through, was the Grove of the Titans. That’s on my bucket list for next year.
Giant redwoods are just awe-​inspiring. This park, along with the several others nearby, including the fabulous Redwoods National park, is a national treasure.

You’ve got to visit at least once!
Beautiful, serene, away from crowds.
This state park is one of four that are comanaged by both the national and California park services in order to preserve the few remaining old growth stands of redwood forests in California. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site too! It is located alongside a rare free flowing river, with family friendly hiking trails through the beautiful, tall redwood trees and on the river’s shoreline.
No reservations taken after Labor Day for camp sites, just first come, first serve, so plan to arrive as close to the check-​in time as you can. We were lucky to find the last site along the river with enough length to accommodate our longer travel trailer. No hookups, but what a setting, deep in a redwood forest! The Smith River was just behind our campsite, a short walk away. Although there are lovely trails, dogs are only allowed on the campground’s paved roads.
The campground is located in the understory of redwood trees, with, get this, heated showers! Gorgeous tiled walls and floors, natural skylights, spacious! Each campsite has a fire ring and a picnic table. There are metal food lockers. Many sites up the hill from the river are small but situated with some privacy by trees and shrubery. It’s very dark after the sun sets, with lights illuminating just the restroom/​shower building. Bring flashlights.
We found this campground to be an ideal base camp for sightseeing all the other three component parks that make up Redwood National and State Parks. Crescent City is a quick 10 miles away, where you’ll find the park’s main office and information center.
What a privilege it was to be able to camp amidst the redwoods!
For additional Pets info, as of 11÷2÷2014:

«I wanted to be the first to view a country on which the eyes of a white man had never gazed and to follow the course of rivers that run through a new land.» — Jedediah Smith
«You must understand, young Hobbit, it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.» — Treebeard, Fellowship of the Ring
Ones take on Jedediah Smith of course depends on ones perspective. Native Americans had been in the Western United States for thousands of years before he explored. Here is a paragraph from his Wikipedia page:
«Nearly forgotten by historians almost a century after his death, Smith has been rediscovered as an American hero who was the first white man to travel overland from the Salt Lake frontier, the Colorado River, the Mojave Desert, and finally into California. Smith was the first United States citizen to explore and eastwardly cross the Sierra Nevada and the treacherous Great Basin. Smith also was the first American to travel up the California coast to reach the Oregon Country. Not only was he the first to do this, but he and Robert Stuart discovered the South Pass. This path became the main route used by pioneers to travel to the Oregon Country. Surviving three massacres and one bear mauling, Jedediah Smith’s explorations and documented discoveries were highly significant in opening the American West to expansion by white settlers and cattlemen. In 1831, while searching for water off the Santa Fe Trail, Smith was mortally wounded by Commanche warriors.»
One fact not in dispute is how beautiful the State Park that bears his name is. A less developed park a few miles east of Crescent City, Jedediah Smith has some of the largest, most spectacular old growth groves in existence including the secret «Grove of the Titans». That was my reason for visiting as I only had a couple of hours while I explored the North Coast.
I should have allotted more time. For I missed the Stout Grove that lies up to the river and I missed the old growth groves on the Boy Scout Trail.
But I did make it to the Grove of the Titans and what an amazing sight these trees are!!! 5 of the top 10 biggest Coastal Redwoods in the world are here including the largest: Lost Monarch. I preferred the Screaming Twins which is even larger than the Lost Monarch but as multiple trees fused is not on a Top 10 list and I loved El Viejo Del Norte with its redwood burl that creates an Ent face like appearance. Treebeard himself wishes he looked this tall and majestic. I almost died a few times scrambling a bit off trail to gaze at these wonders but it was worth the near death experiences. If it is worth the time to do things right, these close to two thousand years old measuring upwards of 90 feet in circumference and hundreds of feet high were worth the time to create. My photos barely do them justice and I cannot wait to come back and explore this park in more depth.
I barely ran into anyone at this park except, once again, a vacuous hipster who was whispering to his companion about the «man just sitting there staring at a tree». Sorry Mr. Few Tacos Short of a Combo Plate but this wasn’t just an experience to check off a box and move on until you post the photos on IG. There are actually people in this world a bit more thoughtful and reflective who like to grasp some meaning while in the moment. Plus the dude was wearing way too much nylon and spandex for a hiking excursion. I think Jedediah Smith would have beaten the craft beer out of him ;-)
Highly recommended even for the 5 – 6 hour drive from San Francisco.

Came in here just to give the kids a dip in the river. We try to stay at places with pools because they are so obsessed with playing in the water, but that wasn’t to be for the next couple of nights.
The campgrounds are lovely. We’ve been checking out many a camping area on this road trip for places to come back and camp. I would definitely put this one on the list. There are two areas for swimming. One is by a bridge with a trail leading to a Redwood Grove. I wish we had had the energy to do the hike but all the kids wanted to do was swim and I don’t like hiking in a wet bathing suit. The other swim area is more developed with bathrooms. The river there has more of a beach feel there whereas the other spot is very rocky. We were glad we had our aqua shoes on. My kids had a blast trying to catch the multitude of tadpoles we found in the shallows.
Much, much more fun than swimming in a pool.

What an incredible experience! Campground is beautiful, expertly maintained, clean, and offers camp sites that are large and a good distance from neighboring sites.
The ranger staff was personable, friendly, and shared a lot of knowledge about bears in the area, and how to stay safe in their presence. Our camp ranger visited our site, chatted with us, and even took a picture with our kids.
Lots to do in a short radius from the campground with scenic drives, trails, and the gorgeous Smith River 50 yards away.

Would you like to see where the Ewoks live? Come visit the majestic redwood groves here at Jedediah Smith and you will be transported to Endor. Scamper among the ferns and fallen logs and imagine yourself in the world of Star Wars.
National Geographic Magazine is also a fan of the redwoods at Jedediah Smith. The lush environment makes for the most impressive photos. It’s a drive to get up here but very worthwhile.

Some of the biggest assed trees on the planet are here! The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is combined with Redwoods National Park and administered together by the National Parks Service. The whole park stretches over a hundred miles along the Pacific coast. With ranger and visitors centers spread along its length, make sure you stop in to find all the sweet spots to hit.
The Crescent City center recommended the Stout Grove in the park because a ranger guided walk was happening that morning. The drive up Howland Hill Rd was a little hairy on a narrow 2 way road full of potholes. You don’t need a 4×4, but you are limited to 10 – 15 mph and you have to watch out for oncoming traffic.
We arrived at the Stout Grove about 10am in time to meet Ranger Josh for the forest walk. Josh gave a very informative talk during the easy hike and we learned some incredible stuff about redwoods. Did you know that these giants covered most of the world at one time growing to 200′ — 400′, living for hundreds of years and their rare cones are only half the size of your thumb? The Stout Grove is actually named after the family that donated the land and not for the girth of the trees. Some of them are 15′-20′ at the base though. This is an awe-​insprining walk among these giants and is an outdoor must-​do in northern California.
Just remember that even in the middle of summer, the forest floor is really cool in the temperature sense and long pants & sleeves are recommended and it helps with the mosquitoes as well. We even tested an internet tip to keep a dryer softener sheet in your pocket to ward off the bugs with so-​so results. Bring the OFF spray just in case.

Don’t enter the park through 199!
This is a great tip we got from the Redwood Parks Visitor’s Center in Crescent City: From Crescent City, Calif drive south 1 mile on U.S. 101 and turn left (east-​northeast) onto Elk Valley Road; continue 1 mile and turn right (east) onto Howland Hill Road; after ~1 ½ miles the road becomes unpaved as it enters Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park; continue another 5 ½ miles on Howland Hill Road until it becomes Douglas Park Road (paved); after ~1 ½ miles turn left onto South Fork Road; after ½ mile South Fork Road junctions with U.S. 199 just east of Hiouchi, Calif.
In the early 1900s, Howland Hills Road was a thoroughfare for logging operations. Before that, it was the stagecoach route to Oregon. The forest is breathtakingly beautiful and I had read that it was was the setting for the Ewoks scene on the flying moter bike things in the third Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi.
The road is unpaved and can be very slick in the rain.