Standing under a coast redwood for the first time is hard to describe. The trunk is wider than a car, the canopy disappears into fog, and the forest floor goes quiet in a way few places in California still do. This Redwood National Park guide covers the best groves, hikes, permits, and places to stay across Redwood National and State Parks, plus Humboldt Redwoods to the south.
Here is the short version of this Redwood National Park guide: no entrance fee, but two famous hikes need free reservations booked in advance. Give yourself two to three full days. Check current conditions, fees, and permit rules on the NPS website before you leave.
At a Glance
- Where: Along Highway 101 on California’s far north coast, roughly 6 to 7 hours north of San Francisco.
- Entrance fee: None for Redwood National Park. Some state park day-use areas charge a fee.
- Time needed: Two to three full days minimum. Add a day for Humboldt Redwoods.
- Book first: Tall Trees Grove and Fern Canyon reservations in season, plus campgrounds.
- Dogs: Not allowed on trails. Allowed in developed campgrounds, on designated beaches, in picnic areas, and on roads, on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Redwood National Park Guide: How the Parks Fit Together
There is no single main entrance. Redwood National and State Parks combines one national park with three state parks: Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Jedediah Smith Redwoods, and Prairie Creek Redwoods.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park sits farther south, separate from the partnership, but most road-trippers combine it with the main parks.
The trees are coast redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens. The tallest known tree, Hyperion, stands 380 feet tall, according to Save the Redwoods League. Do not try to find it: the NPS asks visitors not to seek it out. Only about 5 percent of the original old-growth redwood forest remains protected. Coast redwoods drink fog through their leaves, their thick bark helps them survive fire, and their shallow roots interlock with neighboring trees.
Best Groves, South to North
The groves below run south to north, the order this Redwood National Park guide recommends driving them.
Founders Grove and Rockefeller Forest, Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Founders Grove is the most visited grove in Humboldt Redwoods, with an easy trail right off the Avenue of the Giants. Nearby, the fallen Dyerville Giant shows just how massive these trees get even after they fall. The Rockefeller Forest, also in Humboldt Redwoods, is the largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world, according to California State Parks.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Prairie Creek Area
This 1.5-mile loop is a popular first walk in the redwoods, winding through old-growth forest to a grove dedicated in 1969 to Lady Bird Johnson. Take Bald Hills Road from Highway 101. The road is narrow and bumpy, and RVs and trailers are not advised. Parking is limited and often fills by late morning in summer, so go early.
Stout Memorial Grove, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
If this Redwood National Park guide had to pick one grove for a first-timer with an hour to spare, it would be Stout Grove. These 300-foot trees are considered the heart of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The 44-acre grove sits on the Smith River, and the trail is a short, easy 0.5-mile walk. Allow about two hours. Smaller vehicles can reach the trailhead via the eastern section of Howland Hill Road, a winding, narrow, mostly unpaved road with no RV or trailer parking.
Grove of Titans, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
The Grove of Titans is a group of ancient redwoods known for remarkable size and shape, reached by a 1.5-mile loop trail off Howland Hill Road. In 2022, the park completed about 1,500 feet of elevated boardwalk here to protect the delicate forest floor.
Best Hikes in This Redwood National Park Guide
These are the hikes this Redwood National Park guide would prioritize.
Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Fern Canyon is the most famous hike in this Redwood National Park guide, and it earns it. The short loop, roughly a mile, follows a shallow creek through a narrow canyon whose walls are draped in ferns. Expect wet feet year-round, so wear waterproof shoes. You reach Fern Canyon via Davison Road, an 8-mile single-lane gravel road off Highway 101 with two stream crossings. RVs over 24 feet and trailers are not permitted on Davison Road. A free reservation is required to park in the Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area, including the Fern Canyon trailhead, from May 15 to September 15, and a day-use fee applies. Check current fee and reservation details on the NPS permits page before you go.
Tall Trees Grove
The Tall Trees Grove hike is a 4.5-mile round trip with about 1,600 feet of total elevation change. It is moderately strenuous and takes about half a day. A free online reservation is required year-round, limited to 50 parties per day, and permits are no longer issued in person. Bring food, water, sturdy shoes, rain gear, and a flashlight, and follow the driving directions provided with your permit. If the reservation is full, the NPS suggests the Prairie Creek-Foothill Trail Loop as an easier alternative with redwoods just as tall. For more trail ideas, see our best weekend hikes in Northern California.
Permits and Reservations: Book These First
The single most important thing this Redwood National Park guide can tell you is to book the reservations before anything else. Entry is free, but the two most sought-after hikes are capped.
- Tall Trees Grove: Free online reservation required year-round, limited to 50 parties per day. Permits are no longer issued in person. Check the current booking window on the NPS permits page.
- Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon: Free reservation required from May 15 to September 15, plus a day-use fee. Reservations are issued online only.
- Campgrounds: All four developed campgrounds book through ReserveCalifornia, no later than two days before arrival.
- Backcountry camping: A free permit is required. Apply at least 48 hours before your planned date.
Where to Stay: Campgrounds and Nearby Towns
This Redwood National Park guide splits lodging into campgrounds inside the parks and nearby towns.
The parks have four developed campgrounds, all booked through ReserveCalifornia:
- Jedediah Smith Campground: old-growth redwoods on the Smith River, with hiking, swimming, fishing, and basic cabins.
- Mill Creek Campground: access to Mill Creek and miles of trails. Seasonal, closed early October to late May.
- Elk Prairie Campground: on the edge of a meadow where Roosevelt elk graze, plus cabins.
- Gold Bluffs Beach Campground: beach camping near Fern Canyon. Elk Prairie and Gold Bluffs Beach are dry campgrounds, with no RV hookups.
Campgrounds switch to first-come, first-served sites from early October to mid-May at Jedediah Smith and Elk Prairie. RV and trailer length limits vary by campground. Eight basic ADA-accessible cabins are available across Elk Prairie and Jedediah Smith, with electricity, heat, and lights but no kitchen or bathroom; guests bring their own bedding. No pets in cabins. Store food in the animal-proof lockers provided.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park has more than 250 family campsites across three campgrounds; book early for summer weekends. For a broader look at places to pitch a tent up north, see our guide to camping in Northern California.
Crescent City is the main base for the northern parks. Eureka and Arcata anchor the southern end, near Humboldt Redwoods. Smaller bases include Trinidad, Orick, Klamath, and Hiouchi. This Redwood National Park guide does not recommend specific hotels. Check current availability and prices before you book.
Bringing a Dog to the Redwoods
The dog rules deserve their own section in any Redwood National Park guide because they surprise a lot of visitors. Pets are not permitted on park trails, and that rule is firm. Pets are permitted in developed campgrounds, on beaches, in picnic areas, and on roads, always on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The designated dog-friendly beaches are Freshwater Beach, Gold Bluffs Beach, and Crescent Beach. See the NPS pets page for the full rules.
For a walk through old-growth redwoods with your leashed dog, the rangers suggest Cal Barrel Road in Prairie Creek or Walker Road in Jedediah Smith. Pets are not permitted in Fern Canyon, with service animals exempt. Pick up pet waste everywhere, and keep dogs away from wildlife. Dead salmon along riverbanks can be highly toxic to dogs.
A Simple 3-Day Itinerary
This three-day Redwood National Park guide itinerary assumes you are driving north from the Bay Area.
- Day 1: Humboldt Redwoods and the Avenue of the Giants. Drive the Avenue, stopping at Founders Grove and the Rockefeller Forest, then spend the night near Eureka.
- Day 2: Prairie Creek and Fern Canyon. Start early at Lady Bird Johnson Grove, before the parking lot fills. Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, then head to Fern Canyon with your reservation in hand.
- Day 3: Jedediah Smith and the Smith River. Walk Stout Memorial Grove in the morning light, then visit the Grove of Titans.
If you only have two days, skip Day 1 and focus on Prairie Creek and Jedediah Smith. For a longer coastal road trip built around family stops, see our family-friendly California coast itinerary.
Practical Tips
- Download offline maps and reservation confirmations before you leave cell coverage.
- Pack layers, a rain jacket, and waterproof shoes. Summer fog is common, winter brings rain, and Fern Canyon means wet feet.
- Check the parks’ current conditions page before you go.
- Stay on marked trails and boardwalks. Going off trail damages ferns, roots, and understory plants that take decades to recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation to visit Redwood National Park?
No entrance reservation is needed, and there is no entrance fee. You do need a free reservation for the Tall Trees Grove trailhead year-round and for the Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area, including Fern Canyon, from May 15 to September 15.
How many days does this Redwood National Park guide recommend?
Plan on two to three full days for the main parks, plus an extra day for Humboldt Redwoods.
Are dogs allowed in Redwood National Park?
Dogs are allowed in developed campgrounds, on designated beaches, in picnic areas, and on roads, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. They are not allowed on park trails or in Fern Canyon, with service animals exempt.
When is the best time to visit the redwoods?
The parks are open year-round. Summer brings warmer weather, coastal fog, and the biggest crowds, plus the permit season for Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach. Fall can be quieter. Winter brings rain and possible road closures, but far fewer people. Check current conditions before you go.
Use this Redwood National Park guide as a booking checklist first and a trail list second. Reserve Tall Trees Grove, Fern Canyon, and your campground or lodging early, then build the trip around those anchors.
