Redwood National and State Parks

The prettiest redwoods drive I have ever seem in my life is in this park. They are original, so tall and so big, it’s untouch by human. It starts from the sign of Redwoods National Park sign by the information center. HWY199 to HWY101. The most amazing 30 mins drive into a mystical land of ancient giant redwoods. I see sun beam through standing redwoods, tailored into misty ray into cold winter air, it feels so unreal, I was holding my breath, watching ancient giants greeting to me gracefully. I can feel their pulses. So beautiful. This part of the freeway is winding down, it’s hard to take photos of this special moment. I would suggest to take video of it.

Man denkt immer es kann doch nicht noch mehr solcher tollen Baume kommen und man hätte alles schon gesehen??? Eben nicht, egal in welchen dieser Parks man fährt es ist immer noch unglaublich, was dort für Bäume stehen.

Where the giants are — this series of parks running from northern Del Norte county through Humboldt county and into northern Mendocino is one of the most impressive groups of national and state parks around, in an area of the country with lots of impressive parks.
Driving north on the 101, as you travel further up the road from the bay — you will find yourself often alone on the highway as you’re leaving north of Willits — the terrain becomes more aggressive with the highway becoming more sweeping and winding through the mountains and across river passes — the trees also all start getting huge.
Along the way traveling north, you will have the opportunity to even drive thru one of the giants in Leggett if you are so inclined. A little further up the road you will run into the Avenue of the Giants an area where you can leave the 101 and take the scenic route through these big trees, this path weaves through, around and back again through some of the largest of the big trees, Founder’s Grove, and Giant tree are both in this area and accessible. In northern Humboldt the roadway starts to switchback and forth through several parts of it — where you will often run into Roosevelt Elk herds right on the highway. These areas lend way to the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway a gorgeous 10 mile route that takes you through Prairie Creek Redwoods State park, and lots of old growth redwood forest. You can also access Fern Canyon, the James Irvine Trail, Lady Bird Johnson Grove and Tall Trees Grove in this area. Further north into Del Norte county as you get past the Klamath river, you will pass through several more parks, pull offs and scenic view areas that are all a part of this amazing parks system.
Several of these parks are dog friendly, on lease or under voice command, signage at each will tell you if and how your fur friends can enjoy the trails and woods with you.
This part of the country is some of the most rugged and remote on the continent, and some of the most beautiful in the world. It really is where the giant Redwoods meet the ocean. Everyone should experience this amazing area at least once in their lives, if not more often.
This truly is one of the great things about living behind the Redwood curtain and why its one of the most beautiful in the world.
A Solid 5 star state and national parks system dedicated to preserving the giant redwoods on the north coast.
300

It’s simply one of the most amazing and beautiful parks in the world. The camp is clean, quiet, and well managed/​organized. Get sit #19 – its the best. Do as much hiking as possible and see if you can spot some Elk. There is simply nothing i can say — you must experience this place for yourself!

Walking With Giants!
Redwoods are giant Sequoia and are the tallest trees in the world. They live for up to thousands of years. Yes, they are endagered primarily due to habitat loss and logging. The National and State parks offer a great way to experience their habitat and magnificence. The parks run through the California and Oregon border and through a few counties including Humboldt County and Mendecino.
Avenue of Giants!
The stretch of road close to the 101 is probably the best stretch of road going through any of the parks to experience these trees. Further south you can also drive your car through one of the trees for a nominal fee.
Road Trips
Any road trip through Northern California would not be complete unless you go through the parks. The roads are windy but aesthetically appealing. Fresh air abounds. Many also take bicycle trips through these parks and on these tiny roads. Drive slow and take your time. These road trips give you a chance to get back to reality.
This is as good as it gets!

Beautiful place! Went here on a 2 week road trip with my bf. This park is a series of parks that runs from the California/​Oregon border all the way down to about Arcata. The trees are huge! They apparently filmed part of Jurassic Park here. It looks like a magical lost world. You have the ocean on one side and the forest on the other. The ocean is gorgeous but beware, the waves are very powerful and dangerous. With your annual National Park pass, you can use it for any of the entrance/​parking fees for the many state parks that also encompass this area. There is also 3 trees that you can «drive-​thru». We missed the first drive through and ended up another «drive thru» tree that was at the entrance of the Avenue of the Giants. Be warned, DON’T go to the drive thru tree at the entrance of the Avenue of the Giants because it is by NO means a tree you can drive through! The hole is very small. A motorcycle will fit… or maybe a smart car, but It won’t fit an actual car!
Anyways, northern California is so green and filled with trees! We explored the Mystery of Trees in the Redwoods and it was a great and quick way to explore different things. Driving along 101, there are numerous places you can stop at to hike, explore, camp, and picnic! I only wish we had more time to stop at all of them!
There is also no actual entrance gate to this National Park, but I believe some of the State Parks along the way have entrance gates — but a National Park pass or California State Parks pass will cover the entrance fees too.

Even seeing barely any of this park still left me entirely in awe. It is magical and beautiful and breathtaking. Definitely a place to spend some time walking through the trees and taking in their wisdom.

Absolutely magical and fantastic way to spend turning 30. Hubby and I spent lots of time in Fern Canyon, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, etc.
I was convinced that Totoro was going to jump out and hug me, or a unicorn was going to run by.
If you love nature, you’ll love this place. Unforgettable.

In the battle of the big tree National Parks, Redwoods are ranked second by me, behind Sequoia National Park. One thing that makes Redwoods super cool though, is the fact that it is located along the northern coast of California. I mean really, one of the most beautiful areas of our country. I came from the south so I stopped by the Kuchel Visitor Center and spoke with a helpful Park Ranger. He gave me some recommendations and I followed them all. First stop, Lady Bird Johnson Grove. A beautiful one mile loop trail where Lady Bird Johnson dedicated the park in 1968. Get this, the day after I hiked this trail, she died. RIP First Lady Johnson.
Next on the to-​do list, drive north on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy and hike around the Big Tree Wayside in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Further north I checked out the views below of the foggy Crescent Beach. This park hands down has one of the greatest scenic drives you will ever experience anywhere. Amazing place. I must explore it again.
Please don’t feed wildlife.

I have lived in many places during my life, thus far, from New Orleans to Honolulu, but when I think of «home» it is the redwoods that come to my mind. Majestic giants reaching up to the sky and the almost ethereal quietness make it practically impossible to imagine that the redwoods share a coastline with bustling towns and major cities.
I’m the type of person with an active imagination and becoming an adult was a real drag when it came to the world of pretend. It’s hard to keep it reeled in when in the woods, though, so I don’t bother. Every sound is a possible Big Foot or tree nymph. Of course I am adult enough to also be aware of bears and other such things. Really, they haven’t been a problem and I have been out in the woods A LOT.
If you decide to spend some time in the woods, my advice is: bring your camera, bring water, stay on the trails, keep an eye open for Ewoks, set your spirit free.

California Redwoods are a combination of national and 3 state parks: Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. But Avenue of the Giants, further south of 101, surrounded by Humboldt Redwoods State Park, offers by far the most outstanding display of these giant trees in the entire 500 mile redwood belt. Lady Bird Johnson Grove is my second favorite! The tour through trees, I felt, was a joke!

Beautiful! A lovely park with a great diversity of sights to see!
Be sure and stop at the visitor center. The ranger there that I spoke with told me all the highlights to see. I took her advice and had great day of adventure.
Will visit again.

The «old highway» is now called «Newton P. Drury Parkway», and is a side-​road about 15 or 20 miles in length that takes off from Highway 101 just after you pass through Orick, and comes back into Highway 101 just before getting to the town of Klamath, on the Klamath River. Take it instead of staying on the 4-​lane highway, which goes up on the ridgelines and just passes through mostly Douglas Fir forest.
The parkway winds through the primeval forest and passes by herds of Roosevelt Elk running free, and has several turnouts where paths take off through the forest. There are some great hikes out of the USFS center at Elk Prairie Campground, including a great 4-​mile hike that goes out to the ocean (8 miles round trip). It’s a flat hike, and the ground is nice and spongy, so even non-​athletic people can get a long way…
We used to take Highway 101 between San Francisco and Southern Oregon back in the 1970’s, before they built the 4-​laner up above. This WAS the only road for traffic back then, and this backroad would get backed up with traffic and trucks and tourists rubbernecking. Now that the main Highway has been sent over the hills up above, this road is very peaceful, and sometimes we’ve had it entirely to ourselves, especially in the winter. If you travel it at 50 mph, you can take this side road and only loose about 10 minutes off your trip north (or south). Way worth it. You’ll be more relaxed than if you stay on the 4-​laner with the trucks and commuters, and the view from underneath those old giants is other-​worldly.

RNP, Jedediah, Lady Bird Johnson Grove.
This is what you come to Humboldt for, the exact images that you see in the magazines, in the commercials, within the interior of Jurrasic Park, the Ewok village in Star Wars, etc.
Fern Canyon, Gold Beach, the world’s thickest redwood, hiking trails that stretch into multiple-​day trips.
Nothing compares to the beauty that RNP holds within.
Location: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 5 stars
Accessibility: 4 stars
Return-​factor: 5 stars
Last impression: 4.5 stars

Avenue of the Giants rules!
The iconic Drive-​Thru tree has a little gift shop where you can crush a penny, buy a shot glass or two, pick up a Christmas ornament, and a placemat set for friends.

To call this place a park is an understatement… If you’ve never driven among these hundreds of year-​old redwood trees, you haven’t seen the natural majesticness that *is* California. I highly recommend driving through a stretch of these trees right off of Hwy 101. If you have time, go hiking, have a picnic, whatever.