This was our first stop while exploring the Redwoods Parks, and I'm so glad we came here! The park rangers were incredibly helpful and provided tons of useful information. They took the time to recommend hikes based on what we were looking for whether easy or more challenging, which made planning our day so much easier. One ranger even let us know that a couple of the trails we had planned to visit were actually closed due to an event. That alone saved us a lot of time and hassle, which is why I definitely recommend stopping by a visitor center first to check what's open before heading out. They also have restrooms and a small gift shop, which is a nice bonus. Overall, this stop really helped us make the most of our trip! read more

See all

One of 3 or 4 Visitor Centers for Redwood National Park. Small yet efficient, set along a beautiful beach, and helpful rangers- what more could you desire as you enjoy our great natural spaces? Leave It Better =) read more

Normal visitors center for national parks. Small but adequate. Had small selection of gifts and park info. Bought my National Park Passport stamping book there (a great way to keep track of what day you were at a National Park). Note: the National Park here has a lovely drive down The Redwood highway. Get a map at this visitors center. We even some some elk and lots of redwoods. read more

Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center - Sign and front of visitor center - Visitor Centers Near Me - Orick, California

See all

Thomas H. Kuchel visitor center is one of the five visitor centers that you can visit in Redwood National and State Parks. It is located in Orick and has plenty of parking. I really liked this visitor center because it has beach access and is in a really nice building. It was my favorite of the visitor centers. Inside are exhibits, a topographic map, bookstore, gift shop, passport stamp area, and activities for kids. There are also picnic tables and restrooms on site. Park rangers are on hand to answer any questions you might have. read more

Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center - Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - Orick, California

See all

So informative, left a lot smarter with a handful of free literature. We are at the North end of Redwood Forest & the landscape is very different. Here there are fern canyons, & lagoons with a beach, birding & fishing. read more

See all

The Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center is one of the most scenic visitor centers that I've ever been to. It sits right above the beach and provides direct access to it through its' back door. Even if you're not looking for information about the Redwood National and State Parks, it's still worth a visit simply for its' access to the beach and to peruse through all of the great displays and artefactual material. However, if you ARE looking to get some detailed information about the Redwood National and State Parks, you should make this your first stop along your journey. If you're coming northbound from the Eureka area, you will actually arrive at the visitor center first. The park rangers are very knowledgeable here! I let the ranger know that I was interested in doing a moderate hike in Redwood National Park and also in Jedediah State Park the next day, and she was able to give me some great suggestions. I initially wanted to hike the Lady Bird Johnson trail in the Redwoods since it's one of the most popular hikes. However, she recommended Trillium Falls as an alternative and it actually ended up being a gorgeous hike! She also warned me about the rough road to Jedediah and told me to drive slow through the park. She provided me with trails maps of each park and gave me a really helpful guide that had a map of all the national and state parks within the vicinity. I'm really glad that I stopped here first because it helped me better prepare for the hikes. The visitor center itself has a gift shop and almost poses as a mini museum with all of its' fun diagrams and informational placards and replicas. There's a cute little theater in the back where they show informational videos and they also hold lots of monthly events. There are restrooms on site and they are CLEAN! Hallelujah! The best part of visiting the center was walking out to the beach afterward. There was virtually nobody out there and the weather was perfect. The only downside is that sneaker waves are very dangerous and have resulted in a few deaths, so getting in is off limits. But, I came here to go hiking anyways, so I feel like the beach is just an added benefit of the visit. If you're looking for general information about the Redwood National and State Parks, you're best bet is to stop here along the way. read more

See all

This was a great visitor center. The park ranger (young lady) working was great. I love when peoples enthusiasm for their jobs just radiate. Got so much great information on what to do. Very informational and great setting for visitor center. read more

See all

A good place to take a restroom break, get local information and check out the north coast country. The visitor center has a small gift shop and interpretive dioramas inside so you can get a better understanding of the redwood coast as well as pick up something to commemorate you visit to the region if you're visiting the area. Small, relatively modern facilities, clean, bright and well maintained as well as staffed. This is also the place to get your permits for the tall trees trail, during the tourist season the line forms early. It's also a good place to take a break whenever you're in far northern Humboldt county on a long days drive. Sits just south of Orick about two miles right on the 101, the center is staffed by park rangers who are also very knowledgeable about the area. Tourists to the area, this is a recommended stop, a lot of the best places to visit are hidden from the roadway. 4.5 Stars - rounded up for clean, well maintained restrooms. 00493 read more

The Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center is part of the Redwood National and State Parks. The Visitor Center is named for U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel from California - who played a role in getting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - passed in Congress. It's small, but is a nice Visitors Center. Very informative interpretive exhibits, as well as a gift shop. I picked up a book on the Redwoods, a map, and some Redwood National Park pins and patches to commemorate my vacation to Redwood Country. As I was walking into the Visitor Center - I had a hilarious "Elmer Fudd" moment - as I overheard a conversation of a family as they were exiting the Visitor Center. A young boy was excitedly telling his mother repeatedly: "Mom, I love the Wedwoods!" Made me laugh and smile! #ThomasHKuchelVisitorCenter #RedwoodNationalPark #RedwoodNationalandStateParks #NationalParkService #NPS read more

See all

This visitor center serves as the Southern Gateway to Redwood National and State Parks. I highly recommend making a stop here for ranger advice, park maps and general information about the parks. Parking is free and at 10:15 when we arrived on a Saturday, the lot had plenty of spaces. There are displays talking about local wildlife and the natural wonders of the area. I had come in with some general ideas of how I wanted to spend my time in the park. The ranger was super helpful and friendly, giving me a map that circled the areas I would be visiting and recommended the order in which to see them. He also advised on current road & trail conditions and assured me that my planned destinations in the park could be done in a single day. Definitely recommend stopping here (or if you're coming from the north, one of the other park's visitor centers) even if you already have a general idea of your itinerary. They also have a cute gift shop where I picked up some pins-cash and credit accepted. read more

Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center - The sign out front the visitor center - Visitor Centers Near Me - Orick, California

See all

The whole Redwoods National Park thing is a little confusing to me. This place is a "little" off the beaten path. I say this because I stayed at a hotel in Fortuna. This visitor center is about an hour up north from there. The Avenue Of The Giants is south from there. I guess I could've planned it better. My bad. Anyway, as for the visitor's center, it's not bad. We went during the long Thanksgiving weekend, so it was a little colder. Because of the holiday and the weather, traffic was pretty light. The surrounding parking/picnic areas were completely empty. The beach in the back of the visitor's center was empty, as well. Aside from the beautiful sounds and views of the ocean (careful, the undertow is VERY strong) and some rock formations to the right, there wasn't much to see there. Same can be said of the visitor center. There were a few things to read about throughout the building and a show to watch, but that was about it. However, the information booth had a few people ready to happily answer any questions you might have. Don't be scared to ask them anything! They are very knowledgeable. A good place to stop along the way if you're driving by, but not necessarily a place to solely venture out to. With that being said, about 15 minutes north of the visitor center, there was an area specifically designed to watch elk graze. We waited 10 minutes to see if they would come, but they didn't. Then, we drive 3 minutes further north, and BAM, right at the side of the road. I'm talking about literally 2 feet away from our car. And there were about 4 of them. We drive 5 mins more, and BAM, 7 more in a small field. It was pretty cool. read more

See all

The Redwood National Park Visitor Center, christened the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, is located 2 miles south of Orick on US 101. It is set back a little from the highway, and is no longer as visible from the highway as vegetation has grown higher. This is a useful stop for any visitor to the Redwoods. Up-to-date trail information, road information, etc. is available from the helpful Ranger staff. Some areas of the National Park, such as the Tall Trees area, may need advanced permits. But for almost all visitors help can be found for optimizing your visit in Redwood country. Interesting informational exhibits can be browsed, on request a short film about the redwoods can be seen in the theater area, and there's also a nice selection of Redwood -related books and mementos. Many people like a Passport Stamp when visiting a National Park. The cancellation station at this visitor center is located to the right (in the corner) of the information area where the Rangers can be found. Each of the five Redwood NP information centers has a unique stamp (the other centers are: Crescent City, Hiouchi, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek). Also worth exploring: a beautiful expanse of beach and ocean can be found by exiting to the rear of the visitor center. read more

See all

I was on a road trip to the Redwood Forest and came stopped at the TK visitor center and I am glad I did. There was plenty of parking (its in the middle of a forest, do not have to worry about crowds). Besides being a great place to stretch your legs after a long drive, it is a fantastic place to just walk around. If I was going to work at a visitor center anywhere in the world, this would be my #1 location. The visitor center has: trees, relief maps, maps you can take with you, a book store and friendly staff members you can talk to. The front of the building looks out at a forest and the rear of the building faces a beach! That cannot be over stated. If you exit through the back door, you will find yourself on a wooden deck and you can walk down the bridge and be dropped off in a beach. I am from southern California, I am not used to seeing pieces of driftwood so large, you can sit on. I guess surf culture is not that popular out here (or maybe its the location or season) but I did see a few fisherman. I am not complaining, this is a jewel of a location. However, I think this place will be over looked because I only found it because I was using my gps to find a land mark on my way to my destination, I could have potentially missed it. If you are visiting the redwood forests or simply takeing a cross California road trip and this is not too far out of your way, I suggest you stop, stretch your legs, pick up a map and take a stroll on the beach, you will not regret it. read more

Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center - The view, from the back porch of the visitor center - Visitor Centers Near Me - Orick, California

Who doesn't use a visitor center when visiting a national park? I'll tell you who, people who get lost, those that think they know everything, and people who believe in drive-thru tourism. The Kuchel Visitor Center is the first place one should stop before taking on wonderful Redwood National Park. All of the rangers provide excellent information, just ask a question about the park and they will not only answer with the patience of a Saint and a smile far more generous than the Mona Lisa, but also offer an opinion like the talking heads on cable news shows - and that is what you want, friendly guidance. The rangers will query you too to find out how much time you have, are you fit (well they can tell that by seeing your muffin top or your beer gut so they probably won't ask that), are you hiking, do you want to go to a beach, etc. in order to tailor the visit to each individual. Whether you are an adventure seeking climber and hiker or a sedentary couch surfer who doesn't even own a pair of waterproof shoes, these wonderful rangers will make sure to clue you in on the must sees and make the visit special for you. These people really love their jobs and it shows in the way they communicate to every person who stops in. The visitor center itself is modern, clean, and has all the usual national park "stuff": exhibits, books to buy, free maps, you can catch a film, and yes there are restrooms. There is plenty of parking and even a picnic area outside and make sure you take a look at the exhbit on the native people and the very cool canoe outside. So make sure to stop in so that you don't get lost, and shake off that smug belief that you know everything (you don't), and save the drive-thru for your favorite fast food chain back home. ______________________________________ From the National Park Website for your convenience: Location: US Highway 101 at Orick, Calif. Hours of Operation *Spring-Fall: Open daily, 9 am to 5 pm *Winter: Open daily, 9 am to 4 pm *Closed: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Interpretive Programs & Activities Patio talks and coast walks occur during the summer. Redwood National and State Parks' Junior Ranger activity newspapers are available here. Exhibits Exhibits focus on coast redwoods and watersheds read more

Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center - Redwood National Park - Visitor Centers Near Me - Orick, California

See all

I loves me any excuse to pee, get informed and do souvenir shopping all in one place, but when it's a visitor center that is located right on a rugged, beautiful, dog-friendly beach, HELLO, IT'S ME YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. After I peed, was informed and did some souvenir shopping, it was off to the beach to meander and enjoy the views and stretch my legs - mine AND my four legged beast's! On the beach, I found several patches of rocks that reminded me of a bunch of broken teeth. I have a vivid imagination. The staff were extremely helpful with some driving tips and suggestions. read more

Small visitors center with a minimal selection of souvenirs but it sits on the beach and it is a great jumping off point for the Redwoods. This is where you get the permit for Tall Trees trail access. Get there at opening to get your permit, open at 9 am. People do get there and do get in line for the permits. Bathrooms and very helpful rangers man the station. Terrific! read more

Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center - Banana slug - Visitor Centers Near Me - Orick, California

We stopped by to use the restroom. This visitor center is on the ocean side and no redwoods. However if you drive a bit further you will see many opportunities to stop by and take photos of the beautiful giant trees. read more

See all

If you need any advice on what hikes to take, you should definitely stop by the visitor center and ask for Steven. He was knowledgeable about the area and offered wonderful recommendations for any skill level. We enjoyed every hike he recommended. Thanks Steven! read more

There are a total of 3 visitor centers within the Redwood National and State Parks. Yes, they do have the passport stamps here in the back of the information section and they do close promptly at 5pm. I think that this is by far the busiest center as they typically have 3 rangers at the desk answering the same questions over and over again (where should we visit while we are here for a day?). They do have great information and to their credit, they are extremely polite and nice people despite how annoying it must be to repeat themselves over and over! They have a very nice book section about the wildlife in the area. They also have some great children's books as well. All proceeds go back to support the park so I of course loaded up. Even got myself a coast redwood seedling here. Step up to the information desk and they will load you up with maps and pamphlets so that you can be prepared to check out all the sites in the area. Remember they cover both the national AND state parks. In combination, they make up the Redwood parks in this area. They will have information for all the places that you would want to go. Want to go on a hike? They have maps for that. Site seeing or souvenir places? They can help with that too. Everyday they post the high and low tide times as well as the sunrise and sunset times. Helps you decide what to see and when. Also, if you need your free pass to hike the Tall Trees Trail, you need to talk to one of the rangers and sign up. It is free and they need to give you a code to get through the gate. Unfortunately, they gave us the wrong code so we ended up skipping it. Beautiful location that overlooks the water. Take time to walk around and explore the area! read more

The visitor center was slammed this Labor Day weekend! Despite this, the staff was very friendly and the rangers were handing out maps and suggestions left and right. They patiently answered my questions and gave us some great suggestions for places to hike. If you want, there are also exhibits, a movie about the redwoods you can see, and merchandise. read more

Super nice visitor center with veteran staffmember who had his presentation down. Many trails here and various growth forests with most of the old growth at Jedediah. Nice place to start your Redwoods adventure. read more

This visitor center is on the south side of the Redwood National & State forests. They were really helpful in providing basic information for a first timer like myself. There are free maps and guides you could take for your visit to the Redwoods. read more

If you're coming to the Redwoods from the south, make this your first stop! They are helpful and knowledgeable and will make sure you choose the sites that are best suited to the weather and to the ages in your party. Really we would have Missed out on so many highlights had we not stopped here!!! read more