Loved this trail. It almost had an Erie feel to it because of the fog and mist. It was an easy…read morewalk. There are different posts labeled 1-13 throughout the walk that we were able to get enough service for to look up online to find information about throughout our walk. We would recommend doing this as it gave us a lot more information about the trees than we would have otherwise had.

Leaving early from our hotel in McKinleyville, California (06:00), my wife, her mom, and I arrived…read moreat our first stop of the day (06:37) at Lady Bird Johnson Grove. This is the start (and end) of the relatively flat 1.4 mile loop trail, walking through a pedestrian land bridge that goes over the road that we had just come through (Bald Hills Road). That being said, we didn't want to exhaust Mom on our first stop, so ended up walking over the bridge but stopping before the start of the loop. The parking lot is paved, with spots for about 25 cars or so, with us being the first car there. It has outhouse style bathrooms. We were able to see downed old growth redwoods here, and marveled at how thick redwoods are. It's one of the few areas of the park where cell service was available, so my wife and I ended up playing a bit of Pokemon Go while we walked, leaving some in 2 blue and 1 yellow gyms. A bit of history: Redwood National Park was established in 1968, and the park dedication was done here the same year. The following year, the grove was formally dedicated in honor of Lady Bird Johnson. In 1980, the park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of twelve natural sites in the US.

We did a beautiful 2.2 mile loop from the visitor center at Prarie Creek Foothills/Trailhead. It…read morewas a very easy hike and still beautiful. We were able to see Big Tree! Would do it again.

We drove here per a recommendation from someone we talked to where we were camping. We hadn't been…read morehere before and it really was worth checking out! Gorgeous big trees and the information center was awesome as well. Something for everyone visiting here and I did a lot of walking and forest bathing. We visited the "Big Tree".

Beautiful scenery…read more There are so many different areas to go and see. All in different cities. The Redwood National Forest spans over a great distance. I drove from San Francisco. To see everything, I had to stay in a hotel overnight. With the exception of driving through carved out tress, all the sites are free. Driving through trees was $15 at each of the 3 sites I visited. There are several rest stop areas while driving to and from there.

Like so many people have told me, hiking through the Redwoods cannot be described but rather…read moreexperienced. I got to experience this for myself, as my husband and I are on a road trip from LA to NorCal and beyond for a combo work trip for him, and 50th bday spent in nature for me. We stopped in to the Thomas Kuchel Visitor Center and spoke with a friendly park ranger that gave us a map and suggested a hike for us. We stopped in another visitor center (Prairie Creek), where we spoke with another friendly ranger that gave us the more rugged option of said hike. The hike was absolutely beautiful, with Redwoods that go up, up, up. And all around the ground level are so many types of fern, lichen, moss, mushrooms, and other dense forest growth. We did a 3.5 mile hike, which was a great work out, and so scenic. But, my words will do it no justice. Go for yourself and experience it. And remember, leave no trace and pack it in pack it out. Long Live our National Parks!!!

This is coming from a middle aged out of shape non-hiker. This trail is a trial for a person like…read moreme. Steep-ish in places, roots to stumble over and crazy long...2 hours of walking when you are not used to going on trails like this? Holy crap. They could have done a huge public service and placed a restroom mid way through as well. It was easy to find parking in September. I parked right next to the trailhead thinking this was going to be a 45 min flat jaunt. I was so wrong! There are proper restrooms next to the parking lot with flush toilets and non potable sink water. It is beautiful though and you can really get an immersive redwood experience. The falls themselves are kinda baby falls compared to others I've seen.

I hiked two of my favorite hikes in one day while exploring the Redwood Coast - Lady Bird Johnson…read moreGrove and Trillium Falls. This is such an amazing hike and easy to do. Trillium Falls Trail is a 2.6 mile loop trail off the 101 near Orick that starts off in the Elk Meadow Day Use area. It is part of Redwood National Park. Parking is at Elk Meadow and there are plenty of spots. The loop trail climbs a hill with switchbacks to a steel bridge over Trillium Falls. This shady redwood forest is so beautiful. There are redwoods and ferns everywhere. The sun peeking through the trees is just gorgeous on sunny days. The waterfall is small but makes for nice photos. The trail then loops around back around to the parking lot. I highly recommend doing this nature hike. It is one of the prettiest hikes in the park.

It's one heck of a drive to get here, but it's so worth it…read more My husband has always wanted to go see the redwoods so I'm glad we were able to cross it off the list finally. It's magical to get to drive through and walkthrough the redwoods as it rained during our time here. I wish there was more I can say, but you're just going to have to plan a trip here and see it for yourself. We would happily plan a second trip back here.

I mean... wow. I went hiking here last weekend, and it honestly took my breath away…read more As a SoCal girl now living in NorCal, I've made it my mission to explore as much as I can around this beautiful state, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods completely stole my heart. These trees are absolutely massive, walking among them feels like stepping into another world. The light, the air, the silence... everything feels calm, ancient, and sacred. The trails are super well maintained, the weather was perfect, and there was plenty of parking even though it was busy. The roads and trails are a bit narrow, but honestly, that just adds to the charm. The river that runs through the park is crystal-clear and peaceful a perfect little spot to stop and take it all in. Standing next to those giant redwoods makes you realize how tiny you are in the best possible way. It's humbling and magical at the same time If you're driving from Eureka toward Crescent City, the entire drive is breathtaking, every curve along the coast looks like a postcard. You'll even pass through Elk Valley, and oh my god, there are actual elks just hanging out by the side of the road! They're so beautiful and so used to seeing people; it felt like nature welcoming you in. If you love hiking, nature, or just want to feel grounded and amazed, this place is a must. California, you really outdid yourself with this one.

We visited Trees of Mystery, and I was truly impressed. It's such a unique place where you can walk…read moreamong giant Coast Redwood trees -- something you don't experience every day. The forest feels magical, fresh, and peaceful, and the SkyTrail ride adds a whole different perspective from above. Grateful to the people who take care of this incredible place. I would definitely come back

The sixth stop (09:43) during our drive up the 101 through the redwood forests to get to Crescent…read moreCity, the Trees of Mystery is a tourist stop that has a 49 foot high Paul Bunyon and his 35 foot high blue pet ox, Babe. The parking lot is large, with space for plenty of cars and tour buses. There are multiple buildings on the property, with a very large gift shop (ended up buying some souvenirs here, including salt and pepper shakers made from redwood), a shop that sells homemade fudge, and a private shop that sells more high end artistic crafts and artifacts. The restrooms are in a separate building to the side. Today wasn't the right time to take the gondola ride (1,500 foot high over the forest floor) and trail hike ($30 per adult), so will need to try it some other time when we have more time and ability to hike.

I truly wish I could give this place more than five stars. It is absolutely gorgeous!…read more It is very popular, and you have to make reservations in advance. If you want to make a last-minute reservation, a limited number of "next day reservations" do open up at 9 AM the previous day. https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ferncanyonpermits.htm. Also, it is a fee area. A $12.00 day-use fee per vehicle can be paid with cash/check (no cards accepted), America the Beautiful Passes, California State Parks Annual or Poppy Pass, or a current Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie Campground reservation. The road to the trailhead is dirt, as well as windy and narrow in a few spots, with a couple of very shallow water crossings. A regular car or motorcycle can do it just fine , but I would not try to do it in a vehicle that sits low to the ground. Once you are there, the beauty is stunning. The canyon is so peaceful, along with the vivid greenery and all of the ferns growing on the canyon walls that give it its name. It is a true slice of heaven on earth. Wear water shoes, and clothes that you don't care if they get muddy or wet. There are little wooden bridges, but there are spots where you are going to have to walk through the water. , There are some muddy areas, so be very careful that you don't slip. I slipped on one area, and when hiking back out, I just hiked through the water to avoid that area again. Even when you are walking through the water, it doesn't get much above your ankles. This really is an absolutely amazing place to see, and will be a highlight of your trip to the redwoods.

Fun hike that kids will love. I wore my regular tennis shoes and didn't get wet at all. Kids might…read morehave a harder time staying dry and part of the fun is hiking through the water. Crazy ride to get there. We had all wheel drive and I was thankful we weren't in a sedan although I saw some. Make a reservation (can be done at 9am the day before) or plan to go after 5.

While on a road trip, I had dinner then walked around here. The reason I took 1 star off was…read morebecause of some trash and lots of dead crabs / crab shells on the beach. I did not go into the water, fish or sit around the bon fire, but I am sure those things are fun to do here. It was easy to find parking.

Years ago, long before Mrs. Picante del Monte and I tied the knot, we took the long drive north to…read moreJedediah Smith Redwoods outside of Crescent City, CA to camp and hike and cook over fire and do boyfriend & girlfriend kinda stuff. An outdoorsy gal to match my own granola-ish tendencies, she chatted up a couple of locals at the gas station about nice beaches in the area. An old gnarly hippie, who most likely spoke Boontling as his native tongue, told us about Enderts Beach on the south side of town, and off we went to seek our own insular Tahiti in the cool, perpetual overcast of extreme NorCal. We pulled off Hwy 101 and started down the long stretch of two lane highway, flanked by blackberry briars and wildflowers, to a nondescript turnout and a deer path heading out toward the dunes. Soon, we were walking through long-standing spider webs, as garter snakes skirted across our path, appearing and disappearing just as quickly in the thick green blanket of grass and blackberry vines. Along the way, we picked handfuls of the wild berries and popped them in our mouths, savoring the sweetness of the fruit, and the equally satisfying beauty and solitude of this place. Just a few yards from the trail, a black bear busied herself with her own berry gorging, seemingly oblivious to our passing. Truly, this was one of the most wild and untouched places we had ever been, and so close to the highway. The beach itself is wide and clean, heavily influenced by the tide and the relentless surf that pounds this part of the California coast into submission. Sand crabs, sand dollars, shorebirds, and--at high tide with the right bait-- red tailed surf perch are plentiful. An osprey hunting fish outside the surfline was a welcome sight, as was the occasional bear that would lumber along where the blackberries met the sand. Lots of driftwood, agates on the rock piles, and sea glass polished by the surf made beach combing productive. SoCal beaches can't even begin to compare to this level of natural beauty, even off the beaten path spots like Padaro, Blacks, and El Capitan. If you ever have the chance to enjoy a beach like Enderts or many other spots from Southern Oregon down along the Lost Coast of California, please take a moment to see nature as the Great Programmer intended it. It truly is a Thin Place-- a location where the distance between heaven and earth are significantly closer than average.

We went to this aka "Secret Beach", and it turned out to be our favorite beach!! About 3/4 hike in,…read moreand there's a waterfall, arches, tide pools et al! It was really beautiful down here!! We really wanted to spend more time here but you need to pay attention to the tides and timing. I got my feet wet! LOL. Great spot that is worth checking out!

Hidden beach is absolutely lovely and magical! We were the only ones on the beach for quite a while…read moreand enjoyed the beautiful view, even with the fog. Just some notes on the trail, follow the beach signs carefully, one of them in the beginning is not very noticeable, so stay right when the trail forks, even though it feels like you're going the wrong way! There are some steep spots but If you take it slow you'll make it just fine.

Gold Bluffs Beach and Campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a remote beach in northern…read moreHumboldt County. I personally love how secluded this beach is that stretches out for miles. This beach is great for walking along the shoreline and/or enjoying a picnic at. In order to get here you will have to drive on a somewhat twisty road for about 6 miles. It is right next to Fern Canyon so I love visiting both at the same time due to the close proximity to one another. There are unique hikes in Fern Canyon due to the fern-covered walls you can walk through. This is such a beautiful area. I have not used the campground and only visited the beach so I can't speak to the campground aspect of this area. It is very peaceful and serene and a place where you can often spot elk.

Gold Bluffs Beach extends for 10 miles along the Humboldt County coast in Prairie Creek Redwoods…read moreState Park. It requires a day use permit to enter because of the volume of visitors that come here. Mostly because popular Fern Canyon is next to it. Gold Bluffs has a campground with 26 sites. Permits are not required if you have camping reservations. To reach Gold Bluffs Beach, you have to drive on a 6 mile windy dirt road called Davison Rd that you can access near the Elk Meadow picnic area. Trailers are not allowed on Davison Road. Visitors will need to pay the day-use fee, or show their federal pass or CA state park passes at the Gold Bluffs Beach entrance station. You can also hike the 11-mile James Irvine loop trail from Prairie Creek Visitor Center. No permit is required if you are hiking. Gold Bluffs Beach was named after a gold discovery in the 1850's that attracted some interest by miners. If you are going to come here, make sure you check out nearby Fern Canyon. It is a must-see! The 1,200 mile California Coastal Trail runs through Gold Bluffs. After hiking Fern Canyon, I walked over to the coast of Gold Bluff to walk in the water and soak in the sun.