Redwood National Park

Park Coastal park protecting ancient coast redwoods and biodiversity

Ancient coast redwoods, some of the tallest trees on Earth, define Redwood National Park along California’s northern coast. Visitors hike, drive scenic routes and explore temperate rainforest, beaches and wildlife corridors.

Main image

Redwood National Park in northern California protects extensive stands of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), prairies, and rugged coastline. The park is managed in cooperation with several adjoining California state parks to preserve large tracts of old-growth forest and associated ecosystems.

Visitors come for tall-tree groves, scenic drives, and trails that lead into ancient redwood stands and river canyons; wildlife includes Roosevelt elk and a variety of coastal bird and marine species. Notable visitor sites include accessible groves with boardwalks and trails that highlight the scale and ecology of the redwoods.

The park is located along California’s northern coast in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, with access points near towns such as Crescent City, Klamath, and Orick.

  • Cooperative management: The park is administered cooperatively by the National Park Service and California state parks, incorporating contiguous state park units that together protect contiguous old-growth redwood forest.
  • Record heights: Home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, with individual coast redwoods commonly exceeding 300 feet (about 90 meters) in height.

What to See #

  • Jedediah Smith: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - a unit of the combined park complex known for old-growth redwoods and deep river canyons.
  • Prairie Creek: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - contains large stands of old-growth redwood forest, coastal prairie, and trails such as the popular Tall Trees Grove.
  • Del Norte Coast: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park - northern coastal unit that links coastal redwood stands with the national park's protected shoreline.
Redwood National Park
41.3713, -124.0317
Open 24 hours; visitor centers have seasonal hours
Free (no entrance fee)

Tips for Visiting Redwood National Park #

  • If you want the iconic groves with fewer people, visit early morning and head for designated trails such as Lady Bird Johnson Grove or the scenic parkways rather than the busiest coastal pullouts.
  • Reserve the free Tall Trees Grove permit in advance if you plan to visit that trail-the grove requires a permit obtained from park headquarters and is easy to miss without planning.

Best Time to Visit Redwood National Park #

Late spring through early fall provides the most reliable weather and best access for trails and scenic drives.

Summer (best for access)
Jun-Sep · 10-20°C
Mild coastal conditions, the best time for hiking and exploring the redwood groves; morning fog is common along the coast.
Spring & Autumn (lusher)
Mar-May, Oct-Nov · 6-18°C
Greener forest and fewer visitors than summer; some rain possible but trails are often quieter.
Winter (wet season)
Dec-Feb · 4-12°C
Cooler, wetter weather with higher rainfall and rougher coastal conditions; expect fewer visitors and potential trail closures after storms.

Weather & Climate near Redwood National Park #

Climate

Redwood National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in December). Temperatures range from 3°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1743 mm/year), wettest in December with a pronounced dry season.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
22°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (272 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°

Weather

272 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

February

February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (228 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°

Weather

228 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

March

March is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (241 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
14°

Weather

241 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

April

April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (124 mm).

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
16°

Weather

124 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

May

May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm).

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
18°

Weather

72 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

June

June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall.

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
19°

Weather

29 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

July

July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 8 mm.

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
21°

Weather

8 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

August

August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
10° 21°

Weather

23 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

September

September is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm).

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
22°

Weather

43 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

October

October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (121 mm).

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
19°

Weather

121 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

November

November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Heavy rain (283 mm).

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cold
10°C
Temperature
14°

Weather

283 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

December

December is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (299 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°

Weather

299 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

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