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.
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.
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.
Weather & Climate near Redwood National Park #
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.
January
January is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (272 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (228 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (241 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (124 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall.
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July
July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 8 mm.
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August
August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
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September
September is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (121 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Heavy rain (283 mm).
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December
December is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (299 mm).