10 Have-to-See Spots at Redwood National Park

The Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) is a network comprising 3 state parks and 1 national park situated parallel to the North California coastline in America. Four parks in Humboldt Counties and Del Norte conserve 45% of all surviving ancient coast redwoods (i.e. Sequoia sempervirens) woodlands, covering approximately 38,981 acres. 

The redwoods are one of the oldest, tallest, and also most gigantic trees on the planet. If you’re itching to go see them at the Redwood National Park, be sure to check out these 10 spots within the park as well!

Fern Canyon

Fern Canyon in Humboldt County is a canyon in the western United States, located inside the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The area is maintained in collaboration with Redwood National Park and other surrounding redwood state parks.

It gets its name from the ferns that grow on mountains that have upto 50 ft elevation and run beside Home Creek. A trek called the Fern  Canyon Loop Track is a 1 mile loop trail with a waterfall in Orick, California that is suitable for hikers of all levels. The route is open year-round and provides a variety of activities. 

Stout Grove

Stout Grove is home to the most beautiful redwood grove on the planet. It isn't very vast, and granted that the trees aren't the largest, yet nothing tops this magnificent stand on a bright day. 

Stout Grove can be better understood as a classic alluvial-flat woodland with an ethereal, cathedral-like beauty, nestled in a tiny floodplain where two rivers meet. While there are some good-sized trees here, but the Stout Trees overshadow them all with their distinctly rippling barks. The trees comprise exclusively of redwoods. 

The redwood trees are thickly packed, particularly near the grove's western edge. The ground is carpeted with a lovely, fluffy, lawn-like covering of redwood sorrel and ferns.

Trees of Mystery

Trees of Mystery is an all-the-rage tourist attraction located in Klamath, California, along US Route 101. It has informative pathways that go through Giant Redwoods and a variety of odd tree forms, most of which may be observed from the Trail of Mysterious Trees. 

The 49-foot (15-meter) monument of Paul Bunyan as well as the 35-foot (11-meter) figure of Bunyan's sidekick Babe the Blue Ox, both viewable from US 101, are the most well-known features of Trees of Mystery. The present Babe, made of chicken wire, wood beams, and stucco, was created in 1950 while Bunyan was built in 1961.

Humboldt Lagoons State Park

The Humboldt Lagoons State Park is part of the United States' biggest lagoon system, created by the collision of 2 tectonic plates. It is part of the  3 lagoons including wetlands and estuaries that are protected by the California state park. 

The Humboldt Lagoons State Park is situated between the Oregon and Eureka border, winding off US Route 101.

Trillium Falls Trail

The Trillium Falls Trail runs across a milling site and meanders through a residual stretch of antiquated redwoods. The grove is likely left alone as a type of mill ornament. In the Mill Creek Watershed of Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, there's a comparable but smaller piece of old-growth near the sawmill site. 

A modest waterfall can be found at the start of the walk, and a beautiful stand of huge redwoods can be seen about the halfway point. The woodland here lacks Prairie Creek's incredibly light canopy, barks, and groundcover, as well as the Berry Glen Trail immediately across the valley.

Stone Lagoon

Stone Lagoon, the second largest of three comparable lagoons within Humboldt Lagoons State Park, is located along the coast of California's Humboldt County. 

Alpine elks graze in the wetlands surrounding the lagoon and are often spotted from US Route 101. Beaches on the Pacific coast may be reached through a slip road southwest of Stone Lagoon that leads to the "Dry Lagoon" day-use area. 

Simpson-Reed Trail

This brief roadside loop rounds a flat near the Smith River's banks. It was formerly the largest popular route in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, but the beginning was relocated in 2011 from a prominent spot on Highway 199 towards a more secluded location on neighboring Walker Road. 

While it's still a great path, it's startling how distinct it is when compared to the rest of the facility's trails. Unlike the Boy Scout Tree Trail or Stout Grove, which have an expansive, cathedral-like aspect, the Simpson-Reed Trail does have an extraordinarily thick, forest look, with vegetation covering practically every possible surface.

Crescent Beach Overlook

This vantage point offers views of kilometers of coastline, Crescent City's port, and rugged off-shore ocean stacks. Enderts Beach Road comes to an end just a few 100 feet towards the left. This location features additional parking space, an open vault bathroom, and is also the trailhead for California Coastal Trail's "Last Chance Section." Whale sightings are very common here.

Yurok Loop Trail

The Yurok Loop Trail is just a  modest trail that's one mile long. Although there are no redwoods on the walk, you may witness crashing waves, heaps of driftwood, plus a look over the park's conserved coastal and marine regions.

Keep an eye out for marine creatures off the coast. The western end of the Lagoon Creek day-use site is where you'll find this route. You'll ultimately stroll through the Douglas-fir Sitka Spruce forests, wildflower meadows, and a variety of coastal environments if you take this path.

Klamath River Overlook

The Klamath River Overlook provides breathtaking views of the Klamath River's mouth as well as the Pacific Ocean. No matter when you choose to go,  this is an excellent spot to see a multitude of marine life and birds throughout the year. 

In springtime and autumn, you could even get a glance of migratory gray whales. Seals may frequently be heard as well as seen resting on the sands near the Klamath River's estuary. The overlook features a picnic area and, if not obscured by fog, gives spectacular sunset views.

Bottom line, if you’re having trouble picking where to go from 2-3 different parks then just pick Redwood park instead. It has multiple terrains to explore with lots of spectacular sites and a wide array of conserved wildlife, all rolled into one. So, don’t keep waiting, pack your bags and take off for the RNSP this weekend!