Came on a weekday afternoon. There's a small parking lot with 2 vault restrooms. The road driving…read morein/out was quite narrow and often allowed one car to pass at a time. Beautiful small hike. The beginning of the hike could be challenging for those with mobility issues as it was steep and slippery. Wasn't crowded, plenty of spots to take photos. Right next to the Mill Creek. There was a bench, but it was wet so there's really no place to sit for a picnic.

We took the drive to Stout Grove up Howland Hill Road from Crescent City to the Hiouchi Visitor…read moreCenter. If you have the time, we recommend it. The road is unpaved, slow and winding. While unpaved, it is very well maintained and any vehicle of any type will be fine. There are plenty of places to pull over and experience the redwoods all along the drive. Parts of it can be crowded, but there's plenty of opportunities to experience the calmness and peacefulness of the drive.

This is coming from a middle aged out of shape non-hiker. This trail is a trial for a person like…read moreme. Steep-ish in places, roots to stumble over and crazy long...2 hours of walking when you are not used to going on trails like this? Holy crap. They could have done a huge public service and placed a restroom mid way through as well. It was easy to find parking in September. I parked right next to the trailhead thinking this was going to be a 45 min flat jaunt. I was so wrong! There are proper restrooms next to the parking lot with flush toilets and non potable sink water. It is beautiful though and you can really get an immersive redwood experience. The falls themselves are kinda baby falls compared to others I've seen.

I hiked two of my favorite hikes in one day while exploring the Redwood Coast - Lady Bird Johnson…read moreGrove and Trillium Falls. This is such an amazing hike and easy to do. Trillium Falls Trail is a 2.6 mile loop trail off the 101 near Orick that starts off in the Elk Meadow Day Use area. It is part of Redwood National Park. Parking is at Elk Meadow and there are plenty of spots. The loop trail climbs a hill with switchbacks to a steel bridge over Trillium Falls. This shady redwood forest is so beautiful. There are redwoods and ferns everywhere. The sun peeking through the trees is just gorgeous on sunny days. The waterfall is small but makes for nice photos. The trail then loops around back around to the parking lot. I highly recommend doing this nature hike. It is one of the prettiest hikes in the park.

Alright, alright. I know I've written almost every review there is to know about the Redwood Parks…read morearea of Northern California, but I wanted to include specifically, this nice and easy Cathedral Trees Trail. I guess, just, I feel this casual pathway walking along some of the most statuesque trees in the Redwood Parks section deserves some recognition. Well, to get straight to the point, this Cathedral Trees Trail is situated right next to Big Tree, or also known as Big Tree Wayside...just 2 miles down the road from Prairie Creek State Park. For those Yelpers out there who may need specific instructions on how to find this Cathedral Trees Trail, it's simple. Just plug Big Tree Wayside into Google Maps and you'll be lead exactly here. Well actually, you'll be instructed to drive into the roadside parking lot. But then just grab a spot, get out of your car and there'll be a trailhead and or sign for Big Tree and Cathedral Trees Trail as well. So for those folks interested in having the "full plate" or menu of every sort of symbolic "flavor" about the famous Redwoods surroundings...then I'd certainly recommend stopping at famous Big Tree for good photo opportunities and then casually walking right beside Big Tree known as this, Cathedral Trees Trail. Cathedral Trees is a very simple, flat level and not really elevated (well maybe 200 - 300 feet at the most) 3 mile out and back trail. There'll be a sign and trailhead for this Cathedral Trees that cannot be missed. To best summarize this pleasant pathway and walk among some of the giant redwoods of the Prairie Creek district, I feel it can be best described by what I discovered at websites - nps.gov and redwoodhikes.com.... "Cathedral Trees Trail gives access to some of the largest trees in the Prairie Creek area. Many Cathedral Trees, or a family group of trees, tower on the slopes. Cathedral Trees Trail passes through superb redwood uplands. It feels like you're getting off the beaten track and really diving into the forest. The trail crosses Cal Barrel Road descending through an impressive cluster of lowland redwoods. Finally, the trail approaches Drury Parkway. Follow the path alongside the road returning back to Big Tree." For me, this Cathedral Trees Trail maybe took 1 hour or so where I was afforded the chance to breathe in the fresh redwood forest air while stopping for plenty of moments to pose alongside these monumental redwoods. If photography is what you're after...then this Cathedral Trees Trail is terrific for those memorable pictures. I can't recall how many times I had to pause and soak up the setting here. It was very memorable and my photos came out wonderfully. The lighting for early summer morning was ideal and some of my best pics came from right here at Cathedral Trees! And what I especially appreciated about walking through this trail was that it was not crowded whatsoever! It was sort of a hidden and under the radar gem! Most tourists come for photographing Big Tree and then return to their cars. No one seems to take the time to explore this Cathedral Trees hike. Meanwhile back at Prairie Creek State Park...it's much more of a hiker's adventure section with James Irvine and Miner's Ridge Trails set over there. Yet here Cathedral Trees warrants notoriety for being a walk with and among the massive redwoods. Ultimately, I certainly suggest taking the time (if only a small amount needed) out of your day to enjoy this walk/path. Since so many tourists are solely interested in discovering Big Tree...you actually can pair both (Big Tree and Cathedral Trees Trail) and simply immerse yourself in the heart of the Redwood Forest area!

Vista Point in Del Norte County [Klamath CA]…read more We took a detour and visited this spot. From the high bluff we had a magnificent view of the ocean and the rocky coastline. We saw the best views of the river mouth of the Klamath River and the mighty Pacific Ocean at 600-feet above. There is a small picnic area with a picnic bench free to use while overlooking the coast. Imo it was too cold and windy to actually have a picnic there but there was a couple who actually was. The small lot was full when we arrived but, luckily, one car had just pulled out to leave and we grabbed their spot. From the parking area there is a narrow trail but I couldn't see where it led to since we didn't see anyone on the beach. It looked dangerous so we skipped it and just enjoyed the views from the parking lot. The interpretive sign said that whales can be seen from this viewpoint but unfortunately we didn't spot any. We may need to bring binoculars next time. Review #3776

This morning hubby & I drove up to the Overlook around 8:40am. It was very foggy…read more In all the years we've been to Klamath this was hubby's first time up here. Normally he'd be fishing. He was interested in the 0.5 mile trail hike. But decided against it as it was so wet. The trail head is also overgrown. He went down about 100 steps before the trail widened. Still great cell reception as we're now on TMobile. Looking across to the other side, hubby has noticed much erosion. The Yurok Indian ceremonial grounds have been affected. And much of the beach too. Hopefully it'll be sunny the next time we come. It'll be nice for him to experience the hike down and back. Bathroom facilities still available.

This place is magical. Everyone should romp around i the Redwood National Forest. Most hikes are…read morefree and you will see some amazing redwoods. Maybe the most majestic you will ever see??

There's so many different avenues for navigating through Redwood National and State Parks. Although…read moreRedwood NP is the main centerfold to this entire northwestern section of California...there are so many little State Parks situated within the bigger picture. Redwood NP and all the SP's including hikes and trails are free to explore. I found having a game plan ahead of time of what to see and do sort of made the whole experience better for me. Because...the signs along the roads are easily passable and there are a few different Visitors Centers located sporadically throughout the entire area. You even pass by cities along the way including Crescent City, Klamath, Orick, Myers Flat and Leggett. So it is tricky to sort of capture all the sights and attractions among Redwood NP. Lol, even with my pre-planned itinerary...I still got lost driving and making my way around the grounds. Btw, I initially for this year of 2020 (during the pandemic) had planned on driving from south to north...but because of the unexpected change in my travel plans, I ultimately drove Highway 101 from north (in Oregon) down south. You can drive any which way...whatever works best for your travel destinations. However you arrive here...basically you'll be commuting along Highway 101...which runs as far north towards the Oregon border. Along Highway 101...I'd just like to point out some of my favorite and most memorable stops here within Redwood NP... - TREES OF MYSTERY - a tourist attraction located in Klamath. $20 entrance to walk among giant redwoods and eventually take a skyline gondola to the top of the forest. - Three worthwhile Drive-Thru Trees, fun for the family and good for photos. 1. Chandelier Tree - Leggett, CA 2. Shrine Tree - Myers Flat, CA 3. Klamath, CA Tour Thru Tree - NEWTON B. DRURY PARKWAY - a scenic 11 mile road and host to plenty of hikes and attractions. - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - great place and probably the main heart of action within the area...terrific for hiking among these majestic redwoods. Hikes here that I'd recommend...Revelation Trail, James Irvine Trail and Miners Ridge Trail. There's a Visitors Center here as well for gifts/supplies. You can even camp out here, but make reservations ahead of time or sites fill up fast. - The town of Orick, CA has the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center - good for a starting point among the Prairie Creek SP area and for identifying what to see along Newton B. Drury Parkway. - BIG TREE Wayside (or otherwise known as Big Tree) - 2 miles away from Prairie Creek SP - statuesque tree with lots of history. Also here...home to a recommended 1.4 mile hike...CATHEDRAL TREES TRAIL. - In this area behind Prairie Creek SP - Fern Canyon Trail and Gold Bluffs Beach. - In the town of Klamath...both of the following overlooks are great for capturing views of the Northern California Coastline and Pacific Ocean... 1. High Bluff Overlook 2. Klamath River Overlook along Requa road. - In the town of Crescent City... 1. Hiouchi Visitor Center - here for 2020 they had a stand outside for any info and pamphlets plus getting your Parks Pass stamped. 2. Jedediah Smith State Park - wonderful for hiking and discovering more redwoods. Within this State Park...I recommend hiking the STOUT MEMORIAL GROVE TRAIL - a terrific path! Also, right nearby along Howland Hill Road I recommend another hike called BOY SCOUT TREE TRAIL - a 5.6 RT hike but great ambiance for however long you choose to go. 3. Crescent Beach Overlook - nice for views. - Near the Myers Flat area....this entire road called AVENUE OF THE GIANTS! Again...more good moments to appreciate the stunning surroundings being situated around some of the tallest trees in the world! - Humboldt Redwoods State Park - a Visitors Center, stops along the road for picture taking. After accomplishing so much along my itinerary...I only walked the GOULD GROVE NATURE LOOP TRAIL - more and more and more hypnotic redwood trees to uncover! This was a simple 2/3 of a mile walk...but with pathways diverting in different ways. You can climb on the trees and have playful moments within the beautiful forest. - Heading towards Leggett, CA... 1. Famous One-Log House - for $5 fee, walk inside an authentic home built out of a tree. 2. Grandfather Tree - free roadside stop for cool photos of a gigantic 1800 year old tree that's 265 feet tall! There's a gift shop here for those interested. Finally, lol, eventually, for me...I was making way south towards Point Reyes National Seashore and the city of Leggett concluded my Redwoods journey. But...for Redwood National and State Parks - you could easily spend a good week here driving up and down Highway 101...immersing yourself in Redwood Heaven! I hope these spots, attractions, landmarks, overlooks and recommendations finds you all well and helps assist in what to expect when visiting.

I was looking for an easy rated hike to do along the way home during our summer roadtrip and saw…read morethe Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail pop up as a suggestion. We stayed in Crescent City the night before and drove here first thing in the morning as we were warned that parking is limited at the trailhead. Old Bald Hills Road is completely paved from the highway to the trailhead but very windy and steep. Try not to ride your brakes on the way back down! The parking lot has a pit toilet and probably about 12-20 spots max. We got there before 10AM and nabbed a spot. It nearly filled up in the next 10 mins after we arrived! You start your hike by going over a bridge over the road you just drove up and are under a beautiful green canopy the entire hike. The morning we visited was a little foggy and misting. Really made for an amazing atmosphere. Unless people are around you, its also very quiet and peaceful. We didn't download the audio tour so we're not sure what the numbered spots were about, we just walked and took pics...and enjoyed the cool wooded path. I think we were milling around out there for at least an hour. Maybe more. I hate spiders but the cobwebs along the trail/trees/bushes looked amazing holding the morning dew inside their woven patterns. Good for older kids and adults. Not sure if the super young ones should come - lots of areas for them to bolt and run off the trail into the underbrush or down a hill.

I planned to come here because some things I read said this was a wheelchair accessible hike. In…read morespeaking to the rangers at the visitor center, they said it was not accessible. I came anyway, and my wheelchair bound son was tired from a whole day of exploring so he stayed in the car with my middle son. My oldest son, husband and I went on the trail and while it is wide enough and flat enough for a wheelchair, the initial incline from the pedestrian bridge from the parking lot is quite steep and I know my son would not feel comfortable going up and down in his power wheelchair. There is also a point during the trail where the trees are quite close together and I doubt my son's chair could navigate through it. So it worked out that he decided to rest in the car. The trail is very pretty with unique growth, I saw a tree with 4 trunks attached together. The trunks of the trees here look different than the trees in the valley, (my husband and I thought the trees looked sick TBH), and there is a lot more flowers growing here. Overall it's a lovely trail and offers a relaxing walk through nature.

The "Skunk Cabbage section" of COASTAL TRAIL starts at the edge of Route 101, and follows along…read morenear Skunk Cabbage Creek, and brings you to the beach at the Pacific Ocean. This trail is also called, "Skunk Cabbage Trail." The one way distance from Route 101 to the beach is about two and a half miles. According to Google maps, Skunk Cabbage Creek disappears at the half-way point to the Pacific Ocean. The trail keeps a distance of about 50 feet from the creek. It is possible to walk from the trail to the creek to get closer to the huge number of colorful skunk cabbages growing near the creek, but you might need to push yourself through a blanket of small plants and small bushes. Only a few skunk cabbages grow next to the trail (we saw about 20 of them), and some of these have big holes in the leaves and look deteriorated. MAGICAL THINGS TO SEE. As shown by my photographs, the magical things to see along the Skunk Cabbage Trail include the abundant ferns blanketing the landscape, green-colored lichens hanging from branches of nearby trees and, of course, the redwood trees. One of the redwood trees by the trail has a monsterously huge bizarre-looking burl. I decided to post only one photo of this burl because it is ugly looking. Another magical thing are the shelf fungi. We saw two trees with shelf funguses growing from them, and the shelf funguses looked like pancakes with a brown upper side and a white bottom side. Shelf funguses having a brown upper face and a white lower face include, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma sessile, and some species of Trametes versicolor. SKUNK CABBAGE (Symplocarpus foetidus). This plant has large leaves (50-135 centimeters long and 30-80 centimeters wide). The flowers are produced in a spadix. The skunk cabbage produces heat. The goal of the plant is to use the heat to melt snow, and ensure its survival in the winter. The temperature of the flowers can be about 20 degrees centigrade higher than the surrounding air. Skunk cabbages have a stinky odor that attracts insects that help pollinate the plant. Skunk cabbages have a hood, which is a modified leaf called a "spathe." The spathe wraps itself around a space that encloses a sphere of flowers called a "spadix." See, 1-page article on skunk cabbage published by California Native Plant Society (Calscape). See also, Skunk Cabbage by Craig Holdrege (9 pages) published in Fall 2000 in the newsletter, "In Context." MY PHOTOS. My photos show the parking lot where the trailhead is located, a huge sign at the edge of the parking lot, where the sign explains things about Skunk Cabbage Trail. My photos show shelf fungi growing on a tree next to the trail. My photos also show thick bushy lichens hanging from small trees, a few skunk cabbages, and a photo of me wearing a Cal Berkeley hat and a Cal Oski bear T-shirt. Other photos show a view of a huge ugly burl that grows on a redwood tree, and two photos 5 redwood trees growing in a tight bunch. One photo shows the area near the ground, where the 5 trees are bunched together. Another photo shows a higher area, where the 5 trees are separated from each other. ATTRACTIONS TO THE SOUTH ALONG ROUTE 101. We hiked to the half-way point along the Skunk Cabbage section, and then turned back. The town of Orick is a one minute drive south from the trailhead. Bald Hills Road is even closer. Bald Hills Road takes you to the east, and to the trailhead for Lady Bird Grove Trail. Both of these trails include some gentle up-and-down sections, and wooden footbridges crossing over tiny creeks. Trinidad is 17 miles south of Orick (see, my YELP review of Trinidad Head in Trinidad). Holiday Inn at McKinleyville is about six miles south of Trinidad. We stayed at this Holiday Inn. This Holiday Inn is elegant and very clean, and I felt like a king during our stay here.

Got to see tons of elk roaming around grazing. Walked the trails located next to the meadow and it…read morewas gorgeous. Weather was great. Worth the stop to check it out

Such beautiful animals. We saw two elk as we drove into the visitor center parking lot. We needed…read moreto refill water bottles before our hike. These elk still had fuzz on their antlers and were very close to the parking area. They didn't seem disturbed at all that cars were driving and parking close by. What a delight and surprise. So glad we stopped.