Redwood Forest Hiking Trails

Tighten your shoelaces and pick up your hiking stick for a day of hiking in the Redwood Forest National Park. Trails are located in designated areas of the park, and are classified as north trails, southern area trails and middle area trails. Trails are ranked from easy to strenuous. It is important when hiking to pack proper safety gear such as extra water, layers of clothing and energy food.

  1. North Trails

    • The north trails are situated in the northern section of the forest in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which consists of typically drier and warmer forests. The easy Stout Grove Trail is less than 1 mile and takes around an hour to complete. This flat trail passes by the Smith River and the bulky Stout Trees.

      The moderate 5-mile Mill Creek Trail follows the Mill Creek Steam which is surrounded by the forest. This hike has little or no incline and is accessible year round from the Howland Hill Road.

      Also located just off the Howland Hill Road, the strenuous Little Bald Hills Trail is a 10-mile all day hike. This hike includes an incline of 1,800 feet and travels between prairie lands and the forest. If backpacking on this hike, camping is available during the hike at the Little Bald Hills Camp.

    Middle Area Trails

    • Three trails are located in the middle area trails area which travel through the redwood groves. Starting directly across from Mill Creek, the easy, 1-mile Nature Loop Trail is a flat, 20-minute hike. This hike travels through a small section of the Redwood Forest.

      For a harder hike, the Damnation Creek Trail is 4.5 miles and is ranked strenuous. During this hike you'll encounter steep inclines while using the same path as the Tolowa Indians did when gathering food. This trail offers views of the ocean and the Redwood Forest. This hike takes approximately three hours to complete.

      One of the hardest hikes in the park is the 9-mile Flint Ridge Trail. This hike includes very steep inclines as you walk through the old-growth forest. This hike usually takes all day.

    Southern Area Trails

    • The southern area trails are located among the older redwood forests and the forest restoration areas. Three trails make up the Southern Area Trails. The easy Lady Bird Johnson Trail consists of a 1-mile loop through the older redwood grove area. The trailhead is located just off Hwy. 101 on Bald Hills Road.

      The 10-mile Dolason Prairie Trail is rated moderate and begins at the Dolason Prairie picnic area. This hike generally takes all day and consists of switchbacks and steep inclines. The hike continues down to the drainage area of the Redwood Creek and travels through two different growth levels, the old-growth and second-growth, of the Redwood Forests.

      The 11-mile Miners Trail is rated easy and starts at the visitors center of the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. This flat hike follows the same trail that miners used during the 1800s, passing by the Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs.