Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks is a cooperative complex of federal and state parks on the northern California coast established to protect extensive stands of old-growth coastal redwood, as well as contiguous prairies, rivers and coastal ecosystems.

The parks preserve some of the tallest tree species on Earth, the coast redwoods, with individual trees that exceed 100 metres in height and named specimens among the tallest living trees. Trails, scenic drives and visitor centers provide access to redwood groves, rivers and coastal viewpoints.

The protected area was established in the 20th century to prevent the loss of remaining old-growth forests and has been managed to restore and conserve redwood habitats while providing public access for education and recreation. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding tall forest ecosystems.

The parks lie along the Pacific coast of northern California in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, with major access towns including Crescent City and Eureka and multiple visitor entrances spaced along the coastal highway.

• Record trees: The protected area contains coast redwoods that can exceed 100 metres in height, including individual trees like Hyperion that exceed 115 metres.
• Conservation status: The parks were designated to protect remaining old-growth redwood stands and were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their outstanding tall forest ecosystems.

What to See#

• Old-growth groves: A network of federally protected old-growth redwood forest, prairie and riparian habitats that includes Tall Trees Grove and other named groves with some of the world’s tallest trees.
• State park units: Four state parks - Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Prairie Creek Redwoods - are managed cooperatively with the national park to protect contiguous redwood forest and coastal habitats.

The parks are stretched along U.S. Highway 101 on California’s north coast-drive US‑101 to reach the various park units (Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, Del Norte, and the national park areas). Nearest regional airports are Arcata-Eureka (ACV) for the central/southern park units and Crescent City (CEC) for the northern units; from San Francisco expect a long drive (commonly around 5-6 hours). Visitor centers and main trailheads are reached from turnoffs off US‑101; most groves and boardwalks are a short walk from designated parking areas (typically under a mile).

• Go early on weekdays - arriving at or just after dawn on Newton B. Drury Parkway (Prairie Creek unit) gives you quieter trails and a better chance to see Roosevelt elk grazing in the meadows before tour buses arrive.
• Use the smaller trailheads rather than main beach lots: Stout Grove (Jedediah Smith area) and the Newton B. Drury trailheads spread visitors out more than the big highway pullouts on US‑101.
• If you want Tall Trees Grove, plan ahead - that grove is reached via a gated access and the park requires a free access permit from a visitor center, so check the visitor center on arrival rather than assuming open access.
• Avoid midafternoon weekends when the coastal viewpoints and main groves are busiest; late afternoon light on the trunks and quieter turnout at Gold Bluffs Beach (Prairie Creek) reward those who stay later in the day.