Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
Renowned for the world’s tallest trees, Redwood’s landscapes span from open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline. This ancient home has supported people for thousands of years. The National Park Service and California State Parks now work to safeguard and rejuvenate these lands for everyone’s enjoyment, learning, and inspiration.
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What to See & Do
Hike to the Tall Trees Grove
A half-day hike in the southern part of the parks for those ready for an adventure. A free reservation is needed. This trail is one the more strenuous hikes in Redwood National and State Parks.
Bike the Davison/Streelow Creek Loop
Start at a meadow where elk gather before biking through dense, Douglas-fir forests that have grown back since the old-growth redwoods were logged here in the 1960s. Along this trail you will pass old logging mill buildings and will see stumps of giant redwood trees set amongst the skinny, young and crowded second-growth trees.
Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail
A unique, beautiful, and popular location in the park. Getting here does require some planning, reservations are required May 15th through September 15th (available online), there are two (2) stream crossings that you have to drive through, and your feet will get wet. Definitely an adventure!
Walk the Stout Memorial Grove Trail
A majestic grove of redwoods next to the Smith River in the northern part of the park. This trail requires some planning about how you will access it. Hours can be spent on a summer's day relaxing on the banks of the Smith River.
Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail
An easy walk through beautiful old-growth redwood forests in the northern part of the parks. Limited parking, RV's and trailers not permitted.
Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail
A moderate hike with some steep grades and switchbacks.
Self-Guided Tours
Human Stories: Living Off the Land (and Water)
Since time immemorial humans have been thriving on this redwood coast. This extensive tour spans the length and width of the parks. At these sites you will hear stories from Yurok elders, you see where the Tolowa people harvest the ocean's bounty, you can hike to a 19th century historic ranch, see a 1930s' Civilian Conservation Corps cabin, learn about redwood logging, see 21st century habitat restoration, or take a stroll to a camouflaged World War II radar site. This tour is listed from south to north.
Tall Trees Walking Tour
Welcome to your Tall Trees adventure, where you will experience a mosaic of life as perceived through layers of time. The only restrooms here are the vault toilets near the trailhead. There are no other amenities, so ensure you have enough water and snacks for your hike. Please observe “Leave No Trace” guidelines: Pack out what you pack in. The minimum duration of this four-mile hike is two hours, but we recommend at least three! Please remember: It’s not the destination, but the journey that counts!
Driving By? Got an RV? Towing a Trailer?
This tour is for those who are very short on time. These suggestions provide a glimpse of the redwood forests we are famous for. You don't need to go to both visitor centers - nor do the Trillium Falls Trail if you are in a rush. Additionally, if you are driving a big recreational vehicle, or are towing any trailer then this tour will be the best for you. All these destinations have parking for large vehicles. This tour is listed from north to south.
Visitor Centers
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
Southern-most visitor center in the park and located right on the beach. Exhibits about Yurok culture, art and history, redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger program, bookstore and retail sales. Park film available.
Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Located just off the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway - in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Exhibits about the Civilian Conservation Corps and redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger program, bookstore and retail sales.
Hiouchi Visitor Center
Northern-most park visitor center located 9-miles east of Crescent City on Hwy 199. Exhibits about Tolowa culture and art, redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger program, bookstore and retail sales.
Crescent City Information Center
Located in the bottom floor of park headquarters. Picnic area and retail sales.
Jedediah Smith Visitor Center
Located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground, near the amphitheater. Small visitor center with information, exhibits, junior ranger program, bookstore, and retail sales. Seasonal operations, only open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Where to Stay
Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Situated in a magnificent old-growth redwood grove on the banks of the wild and scenic Smith River, this campground offers hiking trails, swimming, fishing, and seasonal campfire programs. Cabins available. From early October to mid-May, this campground switches to "First come, first served" sites. Head to campground kiosk upon arrival to check for availability.
Mill Creek Campground - Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Sleep beneath towering maples and young redwoods. Access to Mill Creek, miles of varied hiking trails, and summer programs. Located in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. 7 miles south of Crescent City, CA turn east on the campground road. The camp is 2 miles east of the highway. Winter season: this campground is closed from early October to late May.
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Experience the wild Pacific coastline and grazing Roosevelt elk in this campground, with easy access to a secluded stretch of beach, Fern Canyon, and 70 miles of hiking and biking trails. Located on the coast within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in the southern part of the parks. Access is via a narrow, single lane, dirt road. Recreational vehicles are not advised, and trailers are prohibited. From early October to mid-May, this campground switches to "First come, first served" sites.
Elk Prairie Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Enjoy ancient coast redwoods, grazing Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer in Elk Prairie, easy access to over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails, and seasonal ranger-led programs. Cabins available. Located in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, 6 miles north of Orick, CA. From early October to mid-May, this campground switches to "First come, first served" sites. Head to campground kiosk upon arrival to check for availability.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Redwood National and State Parks is located in northernmost coastal California - almost on the Oregon border. The parks are about 60-miles long, with four visitor centers from north to south. We are a six to seven-hour drive (325 miles) north of San Francisco, a six-hour drive (330 miles) south of Portland, OR and a four-hour drive (170 miles) west of Redding, CA.
Park Amenities
Operating Hours
Operating Hours
The national and state parks are always open to enjoy. Roads, trails and public access remain open year round. Some campgrounds and visitor centers are closed - or have reduced hours - in the off-season (October-May)
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
This view from the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground and day use area is situated to the northwest, toward a mixed evergreen forest. These forests are comprised of a variety of tree species, such as redwood, Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone. The diverse plant life in these areas support a wide range of animal species, making them an important component of the park’s ecosystem. (Image refreshes about once each minute.)
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
This view from the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center is oriented to the west, across a section of coastal plants in the middle distance to the Pacific Ocean beyond it. Weather conditions at this location are often foggy due to moist air passing over cool air just above the surface of the ocean which causes it to condense and form small water particles that create fog. Moisture from this abundant fog is a vital source of water for the coast redwood forest. (Image refreshes about once each minute.)
Elk Prairie at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
This view of Elk Prairie is oriented to the southeast, across a section of grassland to a portion of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and a redwood forest beyond it. The parks' grasslands provide important habitat for Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, and many other animals. (Image refreshes about once each minute.)
Bald Hills & Redwood Creek
This view from the Schoolhouse Peak Lookout located in the Bald Hills is oriented to the west, across a portion of open prairie in the middle distance to the Redwood Creek watershed beyond it. This diverse landscape composed of grasslands and oak woodlands provides optimal habitat for bird species that are rarely seen elsewhere in Redwood National and State Parks, including reintroduced California condors (Prey-go-neesh). (Image refreshes about once each minute.)
Photos
Redwood trees line a narrow dirt road.
Two visitors looking at tidepools.
Five young women read the park map.
Visitors chatting with a ranger above a river mouth.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
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Planning Redwood National and State Parks
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