-: Home to the tallest trees on Earth, this jointly managed park protects old-growth coast redwood groves alongside rugged Pacific coastline.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

Spring

1 to 2 days covers the main groves and coastal overlooks, while 3 lets you explore more remote sections.

No special permit is required for general visits.

Crescent City and Orick are the closest towns, both along Highway 101 through the park complex.

There's no entrance fee to the national park sections; some state park units within the complex charge a day-use fee.

Why Visit?:

Redwood protects the tallest trees on Earth — coast redwoods that can exceed 350 feet, growing in old-growth groves that feel genuinely ancient and cathedral-like walking through them. Jointly managed with several California state parks, the combined complex covers a huge stretch of Northern California coastline and forest.

Because it sits far from other national parks, this is typically a standalone Northern California coastal trip rather than something easily combined with another park visit.

Things to Do:

Walking among the trees at Tall Trees Grove (permit required for the access road) or the more accessible Lady Bird Johnson Grove both deliver the classic towering-redwood experience. Fern Canyon, with its walls covered in ferns, offers a completely different, almost prehistoric-feeling short hike.

Don't skip the coastline — the beaches and overlooks along the park complex offer dramatic Pacific views that complement the forest, giving Redwood more variety than its famous trees alone suggest.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: Del Norte County Regional Airport (CEC) near Crescent City has very limited service; most visitors fly into Eureka-Arcata (ACV) or drive up from the San Francisco Bay Area, about 5-6 hours south.

Nearby Attractions:

The Avenue of the Giants, a scenic drive through separate redwood groves south of the main park, is a worthwhile add-on if you're driving up from the Bay Area.