Redwoods National Park

The drive to Redwoods National Park

The great redwood trees tower above the lands. The tallest tree stands just shy of 380 feet and the largest trunk is measured at 26 feet in diameter. Some of these remarkable trees are even hidden from the public to protect the growth and natural habitat. This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the numerous other giant trees. I do warn that Redwood National Park is a solid beautiful 5 hour drive north of San Francisco. Located in central California is Sequoia National Park, home to the Sequoia Trees that are in the same family as the Redwoods. I don't think someone not within driving range should make this trip solely to see the redwoods (unless you want to) but you could easily group this with a trip to the Bay Area.

Waves Crashing outside of Eureka, CA

We took 3 days and 2 nights on our adventure. Trevor was living in the Bay Area at the time and Becky came to visit for Thanksgiving. Figuring the city may be packed with family and most shops closed, we decided to get in touch with our nature side. We used Eureka as a base point. The drive up the 101 is very beautiful. It is full of river crossings and rolling hills. We rolled into small town Eureka late afternoon with no reservation. We had a little bit of a tough time but we eventually found a hotel. We toured around the city, visiting the old Victorian style homes that interest Becky. I hope we don't have to buy one now... It was Thanksgiving so we found a place having a great special and pigged out before our hiking adventure the next day.

We headed North to Kuchel Visitor Center. The drive along the coast was filled with power waves crashing onto the beach. It was simply incredible. Coming on a holiday had its perks... we hardly saw any people, but also we hardly saw any people to get advice on where to go! We headed down Bald Hills Rd. You will find good view points at Redwood Creek Overlook. This road also takes you to Tall Trees Grove. But you need a permit to get in and since we could not find anyone... so we went in anyways! Just kidding. When you get the permit, they give you a combo to unlock the gate. Tall Trees Grove is where the former tallest tree in the world, Libbey, stands. We headed towards Prairie Creek Visitor to access the BIG TREE.
Before this visitor center there is a nice, very easy hike (60 minutes round trip) called Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. Very casual walk with lots of history apparently. At the park center we took off for the Big Tree... it took all of 5 mins! But the tree was massive. Towering 300 feet tall and 21 feet in diameter. It has a 68 foot circumference. I couldn't even get a picture that captured its massive size. Try to find the "corkscrew" tree. It is 4 trees trunks intertwined to become one! We went back to Davidson Rd to head to Gold Bluffs Beach. If I would have done some research, I would have taken the Coastal Trail to get a good view of the ocean.

Fern Canyon begins where Davidson Rd ends. It was a moderate 7 mile hike, but a different view point. Most of the hike is through the gully that Jurassic Park was filmed it. The falls of the gully are 50 feet and there is lots of water. One of us was prepared for the water... the other wasn't. Davidson Rd is not paved and the wet weather had us nervous so we called it a day.




Redwood National Park has much more to offer and has plenty of campgrounds and hiking to extend the visit. Plus there are more adventures north near Crescent City.

Next to Founder's Tree

After a good night's sleep we headed south back home but made some stops along the way. Our major stop was Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Do not blow past this on hwy 101, take the 32 mile scenic drive called the Avenue of Giants. Coming south, from Eureka, the first stop is outside Pepperwood for the Gridled Tree. The tree had a large portion of its bark removed for some selfish people in the city. Somehow it survived. Heading further South towards Weott, is the best stop in my opinion. A very short, 30 minute hike will get you to Founder's Tree, Most of these trails are ADA Accessible. Founder's Tree is remarkable for the height at which limbs start. Almost 200 feet of solid trunk before the first limb. Even more remarkable is Dyerville Giant.

Ain't no way!

This was once the largest tree at 372 feet but in 1991 fell over! This is equivalent to a 30 story building! Trevor jumped the railing and climbed INTO the tree trunk. He had to CLIMB to get to the center. As we were finishing the drive we stopped in Myers Flat to attempt to drive through a redwood! But our monster Texas sized truck could not fit. We did walk through it to compromise! Here are the Top Ten Redwoods to see. The Stratosphere Giant, which is the 4th largest tree is hidden somewhere in HRNP, but the location is kept a secret... good luck!

Hanging inside Dyerville Giant!

I would love to one day do a kayaking or canoe trip through the South Fork River that flows alongside this Park.