In our Redwood National Park guide, we will take you on a guided tour of one of the most famous, yet least visited national parks in the state of California.
Known for its iconic natural landscapes, its remote location means it receives far fewer visitors than most locations of its calibre do.
From the best times and sights to stops and durations, we cover everything you could possibly need to know to plan the perfect travel itinerary for your dream vacation.
So, if you plan to visit Redwood National Park for yourself and want to make it the best trip possible, this is the article for you.
Facts & Figures About Redwood National Park
Having been founded on the 2nd of October 1968, Redwood National Park is the 34th oldest national park in the United States. At 139,000 acres, it is also the 38th largest national park in the country, while its 436,000 annual visitors make it the 41st most visited.
The most northern national park in California, the redwood forests once covered nearly 2 million acres. Extensive logging in the 1800s removed 96% of these trees, yet the park and neighbouring Redwood State Parks still contain about 45% of the world’s coastal redwood population.
On the 5th of September 1980, UNESCO designated Redwood National Park a World Heritage Site, due to the presence of 50 separate archaeological sites dating back over 4,500 years, many of which are still being examined.
Since the 30th of June 1983, it has also been a part of the larger UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve known as the California Coast Ranges.
Redwood National Park and its surrounding state parks have also been used to film a number of high profile movies through the years. The most famous is 1983’s third Star Wars film, Return Of The Jedi, while Outbreak and The Lost World: Jurassic Park are among the other more notable films.
Redwood National Park Temperature
The Redwood National Park Temperature usually ranges between a low of 35.5°F (1.9°C) and a high of 65.2°F (18.4°C). The highest temperature ever recorded in the park is 98°F (37°C) and the lowest is 16°F (-9°C).
The highest temperatures in Redwood National Park occur between mid-June and early October, while the coldest stretch is from mid-November to early April. The park is dry from the start of July to mid-September but sees heavy rain from mid-October to mid-April.
There is a chance of snow between December and March, but it is both rare and minimal.
The Wildlife & Landscape Of Redwood National Park
The landscape of Redwood National Park is dominated by the old growth costal redwood forests it is named after. It also boasts a number of other tree species too, like the bigleaf maple, California laurel, Coast Douglas fir, Pacific madrone, red alder, Sitka spruce, and tanoak.
Other plant species commonly seen throughout the park includes azaleas, California rhododendrons, and sword ferns, as well as blackberry, huckleberry, and salmonberry bushes.
Beyond the forests themselves, Redwood National Park also includes a number of other landscapes and natural features, such as canyons, prairies, rivers, and a stretch of coastline that boasts estuaries, tide pools, and sea stacks.
All of these are then inhabited by a wonderful array of wildlife that includes black bears, black tailed deer, beavers, bobcats, California sea lions, cougars, coyotes, harbor seals, river otters, Roosevelt elk, and Steller sea lions, while dolphins and Pacific gray whales can be seen from the shore.
You also have a large range of bats and squirrels, plus amphibians like the northern red legged frog, Pacific giant salamander, and rough skinned newt, and reptiles such as the northwestern ringneck snake. The rivers then boast fish like the Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and tidewater goby.
Finally, Redwood National Park is known to be home to at least 400 species of birds. This includes bald eagles, brown pelicans, common mergansers, double crested cormorants, great blue herons, gulls, northern spotted owls, ospreys, red shouldered hawks, sandpipers, and Steller’s jays.
How To Get To Redwood National Park
Located along the Pacific Coast Highway, the closest airport to Redwood National Park is Rogue Valley International – Medford Airport, in Oregon. It is 150 miles (240 kilometres) away and takes 3 hours to reach by car.
For international travellers, the closest major international airports are in San Francisco, California and Portland, Oregon.
San Francisco Airport is 335 miles (540 kilometres) away, while Portland International Airport is 375 miles (605 kilometres) away. They take 5 hour 45 minutes and 6 and a half hours to drive to, respectively.
Best Time To Visit Redwood National Park
The best time to visit Redwood National Park is from the beginning of July to mid-August.
This window combines the warmest, driest periods in the park, while also avoiding the height of California wildfire season, which begins in late August. This ensures you can enjoy your trip in the best conditions possible, without having to worry about natural disasters.
Top Attractions In Redwood National Park
Now that you know more about your destination, it is time to look at the top attractions in Redwood National Park. This will ensure you can plan your dream travel itinerary when you visit Redwood National Park for yourself.
Embark On One Of The Many Ranger Led Guided Tours
While the sights and sounds of Redwood National Park are stunning in their own right, they can become even better when you get to hear the history and science behind the sites as you visit them. This makes the various ranger led guided tours of the park one of its best attractions.
Available from each of the three visitor centres, you can book nature walks, tours of the tidal pools, and even tours of some of the most famous parts of the park combined with campfire talks. This is a truly fabulous way to explore the location and one that is simply not to be missed.
For the equestrian enthusiasts out there, you even have a pair of horse riding services available in Redwood Creek Buckarettes and Redwood Trails Horse Rides. These give you the chance to explore the trails on horseback, for an experience that is equal parts relaxing and exhilarating.
Explore The Forest On the Various Hiking Trails
With an estimated 114 miles (184 kilometres) of hiking trails, Redwood National Park is a destination perfectly suited to those who simply want to get lost in nature.
With trails varying in length from less than a mile to more than 20, there are options available for visitors of all abilities.
This provides the perfect opportunity to get lost in nature, enjoy your surroundings, and explore the park at your own pace. For those who want to make things a bit faster, some of the trails are even allowed to be used for horse riding and mountain biking as well.
Traverse Creeks & Rivers By Canoe Or Kayak
With a large number of rivers and creeks running through Redwood National Park all the way to the Pacific Ocean, it is a popular location for canoeing and kayaking. The varied nature of the waterways means there will be distances and difficulties suitable for people of all abilities.
This creates a fabulous opportunity to see all of the wonderful sights Redwood National Park has to offer, while providing an exhilarating experience at the same time. It even gives you the opportunity to see parts of the forest that aren’t reachable on the trails as well.
Relax With A Spot Of Fishing
Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in Redwood National Park, as its various creeks and rivers are full of fish like salmon and the famed steelhead rainbow trout, which can grow up to 16 inches (41 cm in length).
While not to everyone’s taste, a spot of fishing is a great way to relax and get back to nature while taking in your iconic surroundings. It is important to note though that a California sport fishing license is required to fish at any location in Redwood National Park.
Take A Scenic Drive Down Bald Hills Road
Bald Hills Road is the largest road in Redwood National Forest and runs along the north and east borders of the park. Running for 31.7 miles (51 kilometres), it can be driven in less than an hour, yet offers some of the most stunning vistas you will find in or around the park.
Named Bald Hills due to its higher elevation than the surrounding areas, drivers traversing it will be able to see for miles across the landscape. Along it you will find Redwood Creek Overlook, one of the top viewpoints in the region, where you can see across the creek and forest to the Pacific Ocean.
Hikers will find a number of incredible routes leading off of Bald Hills Road, such as Dolason Prairie Trail, Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, Lyons Ranch Trail, and Tall Trees Trail. These are all surrounded by stunning views and alive with wildlife and blooming flowers.
There is even the Lyon Ranch Historical District, where you can see a collection of 19th century barns and orchards, to give you a complete experience of the area.
Things To See And Do Near Redwood National Park
By this point, you should have a good idea of what to do and see when you visit Redwood National Park. However, we will now look at some of the best things to see and do near Redwood National Park, to help you compile the most comprehensive travel itinerary possible.
Redwood State Parks
Surrounding Redwood National Park, you have a collection of three state parks known collectively as the Redwood State Parks. These include Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
Throughout the Redwood State Parks, you will find some of the most famous locations in the area, many of which are erroneously attributed to Redwood National Park itself.
This includes Fern Canyon, Gold Bluffs Beach, and Prairie Creek in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and some of the best beaches in the region in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. Perhaps the top attraction though is Smith River in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
At 25 miles (40 kilometres) long, the Smith River is the longest undammed river in the state, making it popular for canoeing and kayaking. Meanwhile, its wide range of fish makes it equally popular for fishing.
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest covers nearly 1.8 million acres and is spread over the Siskiyou, Cascade, Oregon Coast, and Klamath mountain ranges.
Considered among the most scenic national forests in the United States, its mountainous appearance sets it apart from Redwood National Park.
It also boasts a large portion of the 215 mile (345 kilometre) Rogue River, which feeds a number of towering waterfalls and is a great place for rafting. It is even home to the tallest ponderosa pine tree on Earth, which stands 268 feet (82 metres) tall.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Set just to the north of Redding, Shasta-Trinity National Forest is technically two national forests that were joined in 1954.
Between them they cover more than 2.2 million acres and include attractions like the 14,179 foot (4,322 metre) tall Mount Shasta and 165 mile (266 kilometre) long Trinity River.
You also have the 30,000 acre Shasta Lake, the largest man-made lake in California. While the forests and rivers are beautiful, it is the lake and mountain that truly set Shasta-Trinity apart from the other national forests in the region and makes it such a fabulous place to visit.
Redding, California
As the 2nd largest city in the state north of Sacramento, Redding provides the perfect opportunity to experience the more built-up side of northern California. Founded in 1874, it was the most northerly European settlement in the state at the time.
It quickly became a melting pot of different cultures from across the globe as people emigrated to what was one of the biggest hotspots during the California Gold Rush. This has allowed it to retain a unique and diverse atmosphere and culture to this day.
While much less built up than many large Californian cities, it is bursting with amenities and cultural, historical, and natural attractions, that make it well worth visiting while you are in the region.
Best Place To Stay Near Redwood National Park – Oreq-W Ranch House
Oreq-W Ranch House is a stunning, traditionally styled property set right on the edge of Redwood National Park. It boasts 2 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, and a spacious living room complete with cable TV and a sofa and DVD player.
It even has a garden complete with BBQ facilities, and grounds that provide beautiful views of your natural surroundings. This all combines to offer optimum comfort and convenience, while helping to immerse you in your surroundings.
How Many Days To Spend In Redwood National Park
The majority of people feel that 2 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Redwood National Park.
This will give you enough time to hike the trails, drive the scenic routes, and traverse the various waterways, while still having plenty of time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery or a spot of fishing.
Those who want to fully explore Redwood National And State Parks may want to make their trip a 3 or 4 day journey though. This is because, with 3 state parks surrounding the national park, it can take a while if you want to see what they all have to offer.
On the other hand, those with only a single day to spare will still be able to enjoy Redwood National Park. You may just have to stick to shorter hikes or trips down the river if you hope to fit everything in.
Conclusion
Redwood National Park is one of the most beautiful and iconic natural destinations in the United States. Our Redwood National Park guide will hopefully have given you all the information you need to plan your very own dream travel itinerary to one of north California’s top destinations.
From when to go and how long to stay for to how to get there, what to see, and where to stay, you are fully prepared for a dream vacation when you visit Redwood National Park for yourself.
That means all you have left to do now then is start getting everything booked. That way, you will be able to experience it all for yourself as soon as possible.