Last Updated: June 18, 2026
The Coast Redwoods are the tallest living trees and among the oldest living things on Earth. The tallest known Coast Redwood stands 379.1 feet — about 37 stories high. Both Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) belong to the cypress family, and the giant sequoias, which we saw at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, are the biggest trees in the world by overall volume.
Grass Valley, California
From Truckee we headed west to Grass Valley, a Gold Rush-era town in the Sierra Nevada foothills with a beautifully preserved historic downtown.
Nearby was the Bridgeport Covered Bridge in South Yuba River State Park. At 230 feet, it’s the longest single-span covered bridge still in existence. Constructed in 1862, it once cost a $2 toll to bring a wagon across it.
We were once again in California wine country. The Nevada City Winery and Lucchesi Vineyards were OK but our favorite was Sierra Star Winery.
The Alloro Cucina Italiano restaurant was in a restored 1800s house. Great food and company for a relaxing evening.
Calistoga, California
Calistoga sits at the northern end of the Napa Valley. Although the area is known for its world-class wineries, its natural hot springs have been attracting visitors since the 1860s when Sam Brannan developed it as a resort destination.
The area consists of rolling hills of wineries and oak trees. Some of the best wines in the world are produced here. It would have been nice to spend a month or two wine tasting, but we wanted to see the redwoods.
Mendocino, California
Mendocino was founded as a logging community in the 1850s. Since the 1940s the local economy struggled as the timber industry declined, but it has beautifully revitalized as an arts community with galleries, boutiques, and farm-to-table restaurants. The town sits dramatically on a headland above the rugged northern California coast. California Poppies — the state flower — were in full bloom on the cliffs. The poppy is edible and known for its mildly relaxing properties.
It was spring, so there were flowers everywhere.
There were numerous small trails along the cliffs. Some led to picturesque, private rocky beaches.
We stayed in Willits and listened to the cows each day. Jake enjoyed watching the rabbits.
Redwoods
Before commercial logging began in the 1850s, there were 2.1 million acres of redwoods along the northern California coast and into southern Oregon. Of those ancient redwoods, 96% have been logged. Since they live 1,200 to over 2,000 years, it will take an extraordinarily long time to restore the ancient groves — if it’s even possible. Redwoods are prized lumber because of their size, straightness, and remarkable resistance to insects, fire, and rot.
Humboldt Redwoods
The Save the Redwoods League was founded in 1918. It has protected more than 200,000 acres of redwood forest and helped create 66 redwood parks and reserves, including Humboldt Redwoods State Park — the largest redwood state park in California.
We tried to visit as many groves as we could, but the redwoods are scattered along the California coast from Big Sur to Oregon. The tranquility one feels walking among them is hard to describe.
The Rockefeller Grove was amazing. Named after John D. Rockefeller, who in the 1920s donated $2 million to Save the Redwoods League to help protect it.
Ancient Redwoods RV Park
There was hardly anyone staying here. They had full service and wifi adequate enough to stream — a rarity this deep in the redwood corridor.
Loved this hollowed-out log redwood truck — a nod to the logging history that defined this region.
Avenue of the Giants
The Avenue of the Giants is a spectacular 31-mile stretch of old Highway 101 winding through more than 50,000 acres of ancient redwood groves within Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Numerous hiking trails branch off the road into the forest.
Hiking in the redwoods was peaceful and quiet. It was hard not to stop every few steps to take it all in. The trees are so huge and ancient — among the most efficient carbon-sequestering organisms on Earth, with a family lineage stretching back 240 million years. It’s difficult to not feel a sense of collective consciousness walking among them.
Ferndale, California
Ferndale is a charming Victorian village in Humboldt County, near the mouth of the Eel River. Its well-preserved Main Street is lined with Victorian storefronts — it’s been called the most Victorian city in California. The town sits inland from the Lost Coast, about an hour’s drive south of the Redwood National and State Parks area.
The blacksmith shop is filled with metal home accessories that would have been fun to purchase if we had a brick-and-mortar house.
So many shops and treats to explore on a Sunday afternoon.
Nearby was Loleta Cheese Factory. They made delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. We bought the herb/spiced havarti.
Trinidad, California
Trinidad is an artsy seaside town in Humboldt County with a beautiful, dramatic coastline of sea stacks and rocky coves. It’s one of those small coastal towns that feels genuinely undiscovered despite being right off US-101.
We stayed at Azalea Glen RV Park. The site was private with full services, surrounded by redwoods. A beautiful setting.
We talked to some teenage surfers who struggle with the cold water and badly formed waves. Couldn’t understand a word they were saying because we don’t speak “surfer.”
Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National and State Parks is a collaboration between the National Park Service and California State Parks encompassing four parks: Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Together they protect nearly 139,000 acres of old-growth forest — another beautiful area of ancient redwoods that continues to humble every visitor.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Lady Bird Johnson was a passionate environmental activist and conservationist. In 1969 President Richard Nixon dedicated this spectacular grove to her in recognition of her tireless work to beautify America and protect its natural spaces.
An easy 1.5-mile loop trail with hundreds of trillium in flower — a magical spring walk.
Prairie Creek Redwoods
Roosevelt elk were hunted nearly to extinction, but conservation efforts have increased their numbers into the thousands. Prairie Creek is one of the best places in California to see them — the herd often grazes right near the visitor center parking lot.
Fern Canyon
Fern Canyon is a narrow gorge where the walls rise 50 feet on either side, completely blanketed in dripping moss and five-finger ferns. The canyon floor is a shallow stream you must cross repeatedly on stepping stones or logs — wear waterproof shoes. Steven Spielberg chose this location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
The canyon feels prehistoric — which makes the Spielberg connection feel obvious the moment you step inside.
Crescent City
Crescent City is on the Pacific coast about 20 miles south of the Oregon border and serves as the gateway to the northern units of Redwood National and State Parks. It’s a working harbor town with a surprisingly dramatic setting — the crescent-shaped bay gives the city its name, and the nearby redwoods begin almost immediately east of downtown.
Battery Point Lighthouse
The Battery Point Lighthouse first lit its beacon on December 10, 1856. It was automated in 1953 and eventually converted into a museum as automated technology made lighthouse keepers obsolete. It sits on a small rocky island accessible only at low tide.
We took a guided tour and learned about the history of the lighthouse and some of its many keepers.
The geography of the sea floor in Crescent City has the effect of amplifying and focusing tsunamis generated by distant earthquakes. Since 1933, the city has experienced tsunami conditions 31 times. One of the most devastating was the 20-foot tsunami triggered by the 1964 Good Friday earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska — it killed 11 people and destroyed much of the downtown waterfront.
We stayed at Redwood Meadows RV Park. The sites were huge, full service, and satellite friendly.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Redwood Meadows was very close to one of the entrances to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park — the northernmost of the redwood parks, named after the explorer who was one of the first non-native Americans to cross the Sierra Nevada.
The Smith River flows through the park — one of the last undammed wild rivers in California. Several old-growth groves are accessible including the famous Stout Grove, one of the finest old-growth stands in the entire park system.
Banana slugs can be bright yellow with brown spots resembling a ripe banana. They can grow up to 9.8 inches long and live 1–7 years. A banana slug has a single lung and is coated in slime that helps prevent desiccation. We had to be careful not to step on them — they were everywhere on the trail.
Visitor Information
Humboldt Redwoods State Park has no entrance fee and is open year-round. The visitor center is at 17119 Avenue of the Giants, Weott, CA 95571. Phone: 707-946-2409. Website: parks.ca.gov. Redwood National and State Parks also has no entrance fee. The Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center (south end of the parks) is on US-101 near Orick, CA 95555. Phone: 707-465-7335. Website: nps.gov/redw. There is also a Crescent City Information Center at 1111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531. Both parks are dog friendly in most areas — dogs must be on leash and are not permitted on most hiking trails.
Practical Tips for the Redwood Coast
The redwood parks stretch more than 300 miles from Big Sur to the Oregon border — plan multiple days and don’t try to rush it. The Avenue of the Giants alone deserves 2–3 hours with stops for short hikes. For Fern Canyon, wear waterproof shoes — you will cross the stream. Howland Hill Road to Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith is unpaved and not suitable for large RVs; take a smaller vehicle or hike in. The coastal redwood zone is often foggy even in summer — the trees need the fog, and it creates an ethereal atmosphere, so embrace it. Roosevelt elk are best viewed at Prairie Creek in early morning or evening near the visitor center meadow. Cell service is spotty throughout the entire redwood coast. Fuel up in larger towns (Eureka, Arcata, Crescent City) as some sections of US-101 through the parks have very limited services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias?
Both belong to the cypress family but are different genera. Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) grow along the northern California and southern Oregon coast and are the tallest trees on Earth — up to 379 feet. Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) grow in the Sierra Nevada and are the largest trees by volume — the General Sherman Tree is the largest single living organism on Earth. Coast Redwoods love fog and moist coastal air; Giant Sequoias thrive at high elevation in the mountains.
What is the best time to visit the California Redwoods?
The redwood coast is beautiful year-round, but May through June offers the best combination of spring wildflowers, manageable crowds, and mild temperatures. Summer can be foggy (the trees love it), while fall brings golden light through the canopy. Winter is the quietest time but some campgrounds close. We visited in late May and found the wildflowers, trillium, and mild weather ideal.
Is Fern Canyon worth visiting?
Absolutely — it’s one of the most extraordinary short hikes in California. The 1-mile loop through the narrow gorge with its 50-foot walls of dripping ferns feels genuinely prehistoric (Spielberg chose it for Jurassic Park 2 for good reason). The access road to Fern Canyon is unpaved and crosses a stream — not suitable for large RVs. The hike itself requires stream crossings; wear waterproof shoes.
Is there an entrance fee for Humboldt Redwoods State Park?
No — driving the Avenue of the Giants and accessing most of Humboldt Redwoods State Park is free. Some developed day-use areas and campgrounds have fees. Similarly, Redwood National and State Parks charges no entrance fee. This makes the redwood coast one of the best-value natural experiences in the country — world-class ancient forests with no admission charge.
