We did a beautiful 2.2 mile loop from the visitor center at Prarie Creek Foothills/Trailhead. It was a very easy hike and still beautiful. We were able to see Big Tree! Would do it again. read more

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - Parks Near Me - Orick, California

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We drove here per a recommendation from someone we talked to where we were camping. We hadn't been here before and it really was worth checking out! Gorgeous big trees and the information center was awesome as well. Something for everyone visiting here and I did a lot of walking and forest bathing. We visited the "Big Tree". read more

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If you stay in the meadow you will be able to see the elk. These images were taken around 4:30pm. We visited the big tree trail and no elk were seen ~11am. Yesterday we drove by the meadow ~ 7:30pm and there were plenty of elk on meadow; however we didn't decide to stop because we knew we were coming back the following day. So seems like the best time to get up close and get amazing shots of the elks would be late afternoon to early evening between the hours of 4pm-8pm; as they are grazing the meadow for dinner. read more

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This review is for Big Tree Via Karl Knapp & Cathedral Trees Loop which was a ~2.9 miles round trip that took ~1.5 hour to complete. Big Tree Via Karl Knapp & Cathedral Trees Loop was another amazing redwood trail worth hiking! Both Karl Knapp and Cathedral Tree trails were mostly flat with minor elevation changes. However, Cathedral Tree Trail had a bit more roots to walk over. Stunning views from beginning to end! Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/qmRu5N-ikMw read more

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We spent 4 days in Smith River, CA. We stopped here on the way home. It was beautiful!! We missed the elk bc they only come out in the meadow in the morning and evenings to when it's cool. This place was well worth the stop! We hiked the short little Revelations Trail which is developed for the visually impaired with guide ropes. This little trail was stunning! So much moss, lush greenery and a beautiful creek. We were able to catch some elk on the way out on the hwy at someone's home in their front yard. We had a NPS pass so the guard let us park in a private parking lot which was so nice! read more

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We rented a cabin for 3 days, only because the tent camping was completely full by the time we reserved. We had some tire issues by the time we arrived which was a stressful start, but the camp host (Fred I think it was?) sought us out and offered us assistance and was such a warm and welcoming presence. He really made our stay pleasant with his calm and friendly demeanor, riding around on his bike with his little dog Artoo, just chatting the guests up and being available for assistance. He definitely provided the bulk of the good customer service here, where others fell a bit short, specifically a young blondish girl who was a bit snarky, curt and not very helpful during the interactions we had with her. Everyone else I encountered was absolutely kind and fantastic. We walked around and noticed the tent camping spots were incredible! Lots of shade and forrest canopy, roomy and somewhat private. We would definitely come back here for some tent camping. Absolutely gorgeous place, with a big lovely meadow in the middle of the property for some spectacular sight-seeing, benches to get comfy on and space to play fetch with your dog. So many beautiful trails with hidden surprises to get lost on... Now as far as the cabins go- they were a bit overpriced at $100/night. Don't get me wrong- they are gorgeous and very nice, but without even a small sink I can't justify the price. I actually couldn't even find a sink anywhere on site to do dishes, which is kind of wild considering most other sites offer sinks. So maybe keep that in mind and try to not do a lot of dish-heavy cooking here. The bathrooms are also a bit of a hike away. The shared showers were quite nice for camping standards, however, and private! The only major benefit of the cabin is that it does come with a wall heater, so we would probably only rent a cabin again in colder weather when it's necessary. We did the James Irvine trail and it was absolutely spectacular. Next time we plan to make it all the way to Fern Canyon. There are lots of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails for everyone here. Not a lot of food options nearby- restaurants or grocery stores, so come prepared. There is spotty free wifi that comes in and out. We will definitely come back, and hope to see Fred and Artoo again. Keep in mind, this particular campsites enforces a minimum of 48 hours in advance of reserving a camping spot, so that is a bit of a bummer. I know plenty of other campsites that do not enforce this policy and are a bit more accommodating, but this place goes by the book. Also, they are not friendly to smokers, so just be aware of the need to be discreet on property if you do smoke anything. Don't hesitate to stay here! It got pretty cold at night, even in mid-July, so bring lots of blankets and jackets. read more

Our visit to Fern Canyon was almost indescribable. I don't know if or how someone could ever get used to seeing such wondrous beauty. God has made some really beautiful pieces of land, but He really outdid Himself with the Redwoods and especially Fern Canyon. If you ever want to feel small and humbled by the beauty of immersing yourself in nature, come here. I felt like an absolutely giddy child frolicking through the ferns and fallen redwoods in the creek bed with wet feet searching for salamanders. TIP: if you want to enjoy the majority of the trail with dry feet, go counterclockwise when you get to the entrance of the Fern Canyon. Instead of going right and following the creekbed, continue straightish/leftish and follow the trail up and around. There's a trail sign to indicate this trail - follow it. read more

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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is one of the three state parks that make up Redwoods National and State Parks. It is located in Humboldt County near the town of Orick. It protects tons of old-growth Coast Redwood trees and was established in 1923 after the Save the Redwoods League was formed. I entered the park through Elk Prairie Campground (75 sites) and drove the 10 mile long Newton B. Drury Parkway. This is a beautiful scenic drive that has some of the tallest redwoods in the park. Some of the most notable trees on this drive are Big Tree and Corkscrew Tree. Big Tree is estimated to be 1,500 years old and is a short walk from the parking lot. If you want to access some lesser used trails, you can take Cal Barrel Road. This is a 3.5 mile narrow gravel road that is open to cars in the summer and hikers year round. The road dead-ends at the Rhododendron Trail. There is a visitor center inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. It is decent-sized and is right next to Elk Prairie Campground. Inside is a gift shop, educational material, and park rangers available to answer questions. The Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) nature trail starts right outside the visitor center. An absolute must-do while visiting this state park is to hike Fern Canyon near Gold Bluffs Beach. It involves a little bit of planning because you have to obtain a permit to enter and the drive to get to it is about 6 miles on a windy, narrow dirt road. Permits are limited each day. Fern Canyon is a half mile loop through a gorge that is draped in ferns. These ferns grow up and down a 50 foot tall canyon wall and is stunning to see in person. This canyon is very popular and was featured in one of the Jurassic Park movies. If you don't have a permit, you can hike the 11 mile James Irvine loop trail from the visitor center to reach the Fern Canyon. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park was such a pretty park to visit and has so many outdoor activities to partake in. Definitely plan on a whole day to explore what this park has to offer. read more

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Great campgrounds and friendly visitor booth workers! I felt safe. There are cabins and campgrounds to rent. Wonderful creek running through and peaceful when sleeping or looking up at the sky. Booking only two days in advance online. Only two main bathrooms. Bathrooms are clean. Showers cost $0.25 per minute, bring quarters! Showers are not as clean, bring flip flops. Don't want to put bare feet on shower floor. Campground is convenient and many hiking trails from the visitor center! You can spot Elk sighting!!! read more

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - Elk Prairie Entrance and Elk Meadow - Parks Near Me - Orick, California

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What a beautiful spot! We live not to far away and anyone we are in the area we make an effort to come and relax amongst the giant Redwoods. Prairie Creek has a great visitors center with all kinds of interesting facts about the Redwoods. Very help full rangers will help guide you on the adventure of a lifetime. If you are visiting to just drive the well marked and maintained paved road, that's great! There are plenty of pull out so you can get out in the mist and explore the mystical forest amongst the ferns that blanket the floor of the forest . When you are driving you will see some of the biggest trees you have ever seen, and then some. The flora and fauna are unbelievable, if your interest is the local wildlife, your in luck! There are big herds of Elk in the area, seeing the Elk is the luck of the draw. They are wild animals.Deer , bears, slugs , birds, wild flowers. If you are into hiking there are numerous well marked trails that meander through the forest, short walks to long walks. Dress in layers due to the weather on the Northern coast can be warm , cold , dry, wet all in the same day. When taking pictures of the giant Redwoods put one of your friends or loved ones next to the tree, it's a good size reference. There are ample opportunities to get out and about on the North coast of California, come and enjoy! read more

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I absolutely loved this park! Our summer hiking trip included Crater Lake and stops along the Southern Oregon and Northern California Coasts. Our hikes here were amongst the best. Did you know that the coast redwood is the tallest living thing on Earth? You'll find most of the world's old growth redwoods in California. The redwoods we saw along our hikes were towering. Straight as an arrow, they climbed to heights of well over 350'! We hiked through old growth forests along the James Irving trail. We took our lunch and beer break along the beach by Fern Canyon, which was packed that afternoon. It was nice to find some sanctuary on the beach away from the crowds. By our second beer we were watching a few seals hunting the surf. We hiked along the beach to the Miners Ridge Trail to complete our loop. We saw a herd of grazing Roosevelt Elk (and the best road sign ever!) driving through the park one day. Those things are huge and close to the size of a horse, keep your distance. Prepare for your hikes and you'll have a better time. Pack enough water, snacks or lunch, and maybe a few beers. The cold ones always seem to taste that much better with a gorgeous view. Leave only footprints. read more

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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is located about 50 miles north of Eureka and it is definitely worth visiting! Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park protects sandy beaches and open meadows grazed by magnificent herds of Roosevelt elk. They are truly a site to see! There are signs to not get too close to the elk because it is not safe and when they feel threatened, they have been known to charge so please enjoy the elk from afar. Ferns cascade down canyon walls in Fern Canyon and it's truly a magical place. The whole area is so lush and beautiful! Please consider bringing rain boots to keep your feet dry while walking the floor of Fern Canyon and taking in the views! It's also an area with the world's tallest living tree species, the coast redwood. There are trails where you can walk through old growth forests. Visitors can stay at either Elk Prairie or Gold Bluffs Beach campgrounds and explore the park via three scenic drives, 75 miles of hiking trails, and a 19-mile bike loop.  You can also go for the day and go on hikes, visit Fern Canyon, and/or spend time at Gold Bluffs Beach. I would recommend going early because you will likely have the place pretty much to yourself to enjoy! I would recommend bringing plenty of water, snacks, and any other items you may want while visiting this area! read more

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - Parks Near Me - Orick, California

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Our favorite of the Redwood Parks - even though the hiking distances are seriously off. The teenage assistant ranger circled a 6 mile hike look for us to try. After the first 4 miles we went hiking in solitude with a significant elevation climb. The hike was actually 9 miles and well worth the 925 ft in 1.2 miles to hike along the ridge. Be prepared if you go on a hike and don't trust the old signs. read more

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We have been to Prarie Creek Redwoods twice. The first trip we stopped and hiked in the BIG TREES. Really beautiful, lots of trail options, and not too crowded. Our last trip was unique because the Newton B. Drury Parkway is closed to cars on first Saturdays October - April. We rode on the wide paved road through the redwoods with other walkers and bikers for several miles. A unique experience to be able to enjoy the forest this way! This was our main destination and the highlight of our weekend get-away to the redwoods. read more

Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway is one of the must do's if you're just visiting The Redwoods in a day or less. Went on a day trip with daughter for her Christmas and New Years visit 12/21/23 and her request was to see The Redwoods. This was our last stop as it was starting to get dark around 3 and had a 6hr drive back. Stopped off some of the areas have trails off road. We stopped to walk and listen to the streams and peacefulness. Found a grinch tree and amazing corkscrew Tree! This will be a trip she will forever remember as I came to see the redwoods as a kid in the early 80s. read more

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I will always remember this place as one of our highlight during our Oregon Road trip. Do you love nature? Do you love fresh air? Do you like to hike? Do you like to take pictures? If you answer yes to any of these, you are in for a treat. Make sure to hydrate/bring water as the trail will take you to the unknown. There are signs that you might see elks, bears, mountain lions, banana slugs.......bring pepper sprays, hiking sticks, camera, good walking shoes. While most trails are shaded, it doesn't hurt to put sunscreen on. There are so much to see. You will love it here. read more

My boyfriend and I came here in late December of 2021 at around 9am on a weekday. While it was a little chilly, it was worth it to go then; we were some of the only people around. We stayed for about an hour and a half. The park was absolutely beautiful. Neither of us had ever been before and we were in awe of how beautiful the trees and wilderness were. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you are in the area. read more

Magical place that everyone should visit. The Redwoods are beautiful and the creatures that live there are so amazing! There is nothing like this. I was on a short trip up north and barely had any free time to explore so I did a ton of research to get the most out of my time. Prairie Creek is the perfect spot for those with limited time. On our half day visit, we were able to see Elk, water streams, massive foliage walls and very old trees. Absolutely felt refreshed after this visit. NOTE: entrance fee is $8 cash or check. read more

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We stayed at the campground at Elk Meadow and had a magical time. The campground is well maintained with various hiking trails around it. The bathrooms were clean and well lit, the host and rangers visible throughout the evening. Campers were respectful and campsites are large - they each have their own unique placement and all are relatively private. Great place to camp while you explore the Amazing redwood forests nearby. read more

Lovely Area to camp in! Lots of Wildlife & the staff were polite/friendly! Restrooms/Showers were kept clean & the water does get hot...enough IF theres not alot of guests using it all at once. Will def come back to camp next year! The trails are Super Amazing in the campground but Be Mindful theres NO cell service Anywhere on or near this park/campsite. read more

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - Handicap/Disabled Camping space amongst ancient redwood trees - Parks Near Me - Orick, California

One of my favorite places on earth. I've been coming here since I was a little girl and it's still enchanting and beautiful. It doesn't matter if it's sunshiny foggy rainy or in between the three it's just gorgeous. Hiking and walking through the trails among the Giants is good medicine., Sometimes I just drive through it on the way home and call it a mental health moment. I highly recommend. read more

Such a beautiful and serene place. I enjoyed being amongst the redwoods where it is so peaceful and preserved. It is a constant reminder of Gods great work and I throughly enjoyed being able to walk the trails and stop to find moments to be mindful and still. Humboldt is quite the drive from Sacramento where I live, so every few years I like to come up here and be reminded of its serenity. read more

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I visited Prairie Creek many moons ago and have looked forward to visiting again ever since. Because of the current times, we wanted to take advantage and stay in-state with a lengthy road trip. This time I returned with the family and, thank goodness, they agreed that the drive from home was worth it! Don't forget to add several stops along the way, depending on your starting point. We went on several hikes, camped a few nights to enjoy the sights, and yes, saw live elk! Make sure to speak with a ranger or a camp neighbor for hike and trail suggestions. I hope the next time we go back will be sooner than later. Highly recommended! read more

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If you have ever ever have a chance of your life to get up this far on the North Coast don't miss the Prairie Creek State redwoods. It's also known as elk territory because at every turn you will see elk sometimes as close as your car door. They obviously are domesticated and the best Wildlife pic you can grab. This place is only the gateway to Gold Bluffs beach and Fern Creek Canyon. Only the dedicated will make it this far because it's an 8 mile dirt road and the last 3 miles past the state entry fee is really the challenge. But I swear it's worth it. I've been here 4 times in my life and just as last week I was there. Now 5. and it was still simply as beautifu as I remember. The only thing bad is that everyone else knows about it. Don't let that stop you. I hope on your adventure an Ewok or a dinosaur pops out because it seriously is a trip back in time. read more

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Amazing, amazing, amazing!! Go here and don't think about it or debate it. This park is a MUST! The fern valley is where Jurassic Park 2 was filmed. You will see it right away when you hit the right area. It's so wonderful! Lots of down giant trees make great bridges and climbing gyms. It is really fun out here. I mean it! The trails branch out a bit which is perfectly ok. You can do some climbing here. Keep in mind this is a wet trail. You will get wet and expect to get wet. The second area of this park was north and all redwoods. Just amazing! When these redwood fall they make huge craters in the earth. It no joke, I'd call them a widow maker for sure. The roots are so big, one a tree falls it looks like a lake was under it. This park will connect you with nature and completely humble your options of life! read more

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I am a self-proclaimed tree hugger and naturally the Redwoods are the ones that really do it for me. Of all the Redwood parks I have visited this is one of the easier ones to navigate in my opinion. Most of the trail heads are directly off the Drury scenic road which can be both a good thing and bad. Good in that its easy to hit a lot of places in one trip but bad that depending on the day and time it can be crowded. The ground coverage is something that really resonates with me; ferns, moss, biomass, and other living things give it a really interesting feel. Also, Fern Canyon is located in this park. Various types of ferns can we found on the walls of the canyon: five finger, maidenhair, deer, sword, sweet root, and a few others. read more

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Glorious. Breath taking. Awe inspiring. Incredible. And every other superlative you can think up. A friend's favorite part of a lengthy trip along the West Coast was Fern Canyon, so I made note when taking a similar vacation. You can park right at Fern Canyon, however I wanted a real hike, so did a little research, and found the Miners Ridge and James Irvine Loop trail. It is everything I look for in a hike, containing a loop and comprising varying scenery. We parked at the visitor's center, and to get on the correct path, you will start with the nature trail. Now, if you don't want a hefty hike, but do want to see some magnificent redwoods, this is the place to go. The largest trees we saw were right at the beginning here, and...whew, it probably took an hour to get through the first mile because we just kept stopping to admire these great giants. We did finally get going, though, taking Miner's Ridge on the left first (you can also do it in the opposite direction, continuing on James Irvine, but I'd read that it was difficult to find where you return to the trail from the beach when coming from this direction). We missed a cut-through to the beach (The Alltrails app is a valuable tool here), so ended up walking the gravel road to Fern Canyon. This was a little disappointing; however, we did get to see roughly 93847 banana slugs in the brush. There is a parking lot, restrooms, and some picnic benches located here. Then it was onto Fern Canyon, lined by lush feathery fronds (be prepared for some water crossing, and keep an eye out for elk as we saw probably 15 here) and onto the James Irvine trail, back through the Redwoods, returning at the end to the visitor's center. This is not a challenging trail. The incline is never too great, and there is so much to see we did not start to tire until the last hour or so (and at that point, it was more because it felt humid and sticky from the canyon). But it IS a long trail at 12 miles. We also just brought a granola bar each and didn't take a break. That was okay, but in the future, I would pack a lunch and spend a good hour or so on the beach. There are many other hikes in the park, and camping is available at Gold Bluffs Beach and Elk Prairie. Even just driving the Newton Drury Scenic Parkway affords beautiful views of trees, other fauna, and animals. This is easily in my top five hikes EVER, possibly even my favorite. If you have the chance at all, GO. read more

I stayed here last year, after COVID restrictions were lifted. Absolutely loved this campground. Hiking to Fern Canyon from our campsite was the absolute highlight of my 2020. The bathrooms / showers are nice and clean with hot water. The only downside was the other campers. I don't know about other people, but I go camping to enjoy the outdoors, see the animals and listen to nature. The people around us were some of the loudest and inconsiderate I've ever experienced. Perhaps it was because everyone had just spent 6 months cooped up inside and had a lot of energy to get out...but still. There were two large gangs of children on bikes that circled around my campsite continuously, yelling and screaming at each other the whole time. Someone brought a *newborn* that of course does what most newborns do and cried the entire 3 days the family was there. The icing on the cake though, was the family that thought a remote control racing car would be the perfect thing to bring along. I'm sure letting their kid zoom it up and down the road all day kept him out of their hair, but the sound was so obnoxious I almost ripped out MY hair. Not to mention the dog fights that occurred when people let their animals run around off-leash. Everyone around us was so loud that I don't think I saw a single bird or chipmunk or rabbit near my campsite at all. Needless to say, the absolute silence during the hike to Fern Canyon was much appreciated, if brief. read more

This was a great time walking through these huge trees on a Thanksgiving morning. We saw some mushrooms that were extremely beautiful. The hike took you all the way to the beach. There was one part where you had to either jump across a stream or take your shoes off and walk through it, so opted for the second because I don't like wet shoes or falling. The walk we took was called Ossagon trail and was about 3.6 miles long and had a fair amount of uphill. I'm glad I did the hike after all I have eaten tonight. The area is so beautiful and we only saw three others in the trail. read more

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*********** So worth the 6 hours drive!! ************* I saw the website. I saw the pictures of the Redwood Trees. Reading and staring at pictures didn't do any justice to this magical place. I was like yeah ok we're going. We chose to start with the Miner's Ridge Trail. This is a moderate 11.5 hike. In the early 1850's, the Miners Ridge and James Irvine Trail were the main routes to the gold fields on Gold Bluffs Beach. Today explorers come for different reasons: to see magnificent forest, to revel in natures quiteness, and to exolore the treasures of Fern Canyon. Gently climb back in to the forest and back down to the Visitor Center above Godwood Creek on the James Irvine Trail. Or walk the other direction. Either way the moderate 11.5 hike will give you a true taste of what Prairie Creek Redoods State Park has to offer. The hike on Miners Ridge Trail is peppered with big redwood trees. Beautiful huge ones. It covers the whole forest that the hike is never boring. The forest is so thick that for the most part the sun can't shine thru. So the forest floor is mostly wet. I love it! We crossed about 4 small wooden bridges with amazing sparkling running water. The end of miners Ridge Trail is the Gold Bluffs Beach. We stopped for a quick 15 minute lunch here and took some pictures. You can camp here as well. We saw a single camper and a couple fishing :) ********** FERN CANYON *********** Remember Jurassic Park # 2? Well the scene where T-Rex was chased in a canyon? Well it's Fern Canyon. You can get to Fern canyon thru the hike above and from Gold Bluffs Beach. To get to the canyon you either have water proof boots to cross a small river or like us remove your hiking shoes and cross the river barefoot. IT HURTS! The water is freezing but the little rocks hurts like hell. Damn city feet. The canyon runs about half a mile to a mile in. It's covered with ferns everywhere hence the name Fern Canyon. Perfect place to chase T-Rex or vice versa! ***** ELK MEADOW****** Located between the Gold beach Bluffs Beach and the Fern Canyon parking Lot. We went back here the following day to search for this particular place driving a four wheeler. I'm glad we did. I am also glad we did not find this meadow when we were on foot. The herd of Wild Elks here was amazing! But they are huge creatures. At least 1200 lbs. Imagine meeting them on foot. Their chest are massive but they have very skinny legs! Beautiul eyes with long eyelashes and again very funny tidbit-very tiny tail! Noticed one mature male elk in the herd. What a stud!! read more

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If you want to see the Redwoods, *really* see the Redwoods, there is no better place than Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Here you can see not one or two isolated large trees (as you might in the Bay Area) but a whole forest of giants. Take the time to walk the trails (easy, level choices exist) and melt into a different world, where time is measured not in years but centuries. Many of the trees you'll walk amidst are over 1000 years old. The understory itself is a fern paradise, lush and rich like the Amazon. Being here is a unique and amazing experience. Our favorite trails are Brown Creek, Prairie Creek and James Irvine. We especially love the trails that follow the creeks, providing a burbling backdrop to your hike. Camp sites ($35-76 sites) are private and beautiful, but with the online system reserved far in advance during peak season. Five barebones cabins exist as well ($80). You may also want to investigate the Redwood National Park visitor center in Orick and the redwood sister parks to the North: Del Norte and Jedidiah Smith State Parks. One note of caution: there are black bears, elk and mountain lions in this park. Trying out some of the lesser used trails in the north part of the park this time, we took the short Moorman Trail, and about 15 minutes in heard a distinct, low growling sound nearby. As discretion is the better part of valor, we beat a hasty retreat! Subsequently, researching animal sounds on the web, we recognized it was a mountain lion we heard. Encounters with these animals are quite rare, but the Visitor Center does have guidelines you should be aware of. read more

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Prairie Creek Redwoods is the park that's furthest south when visiting Redwood National Park. I had read online for a advice on a short but scenic trail as well as spoke to the rangers at the Thomas H. Kutchel visitor center. The site redwoodhikes.com has a great description of the loop I did which originated at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and combines the Prairie Creek trail along with the Cathedral trail. It gives a nice intro to the park and runs about 3.2 miles as a loop. Along the way we were treated to the scenic creek, multiple foot bridges, the star attraction-The Big Tree and numerous groves of old growth & fallen trees with their interesting root structures. We took our time and enjoyed this scenic and moderate hike. There is also wayside parking along the road to the Big Tree if you're short on time. Prairie Creek is pretty flat and easy to navigate. Cathedral trail climbs a short bit, but is manageable for most hikers. The part to be most careful about there are tree roots on the path and some narrower trails on the climb up. The winding paths of Prairie Creek with trees too immense for words or pictures has been a highlight of my trip up north. It's a gem of a state park with hikes for all levels. The Visitor Center has some great park souvenirs, maps, ranges to provide park info and clean restrooms. We also saw elk on the way out in a nearby meadow-great way to wind down my day at Redwood National and State Parks read more

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This park has 75 miles of hiking trails, and a 19-mile bicycle loop, and so I cannot say that I know much about this park. FERN CANYON is the most renowned part of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. To get to Fern Canyon, you can drive up a steep winding road through a forest, and then continue on down to the seashore, and the continue northwards along a beach until you reach a little parking lot. The hiking trail leads you through the canyon itself, and then takes you up and over the northern wall of the canyon, and then brings you back to the beach. This loop trail is short enough, and so I recommend that adults, teens, and kids consider hiking the entire loop trail twice in a row. Any person with a camera, wide angle lens, and a tripod, can become an instant landscape photographer when exploring this little canyon. Beautiful photographs will come as easily as stated in the old expression, "Easy as shooting fish in a barrel." I visited Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Fern Canyon only twice. The first time was in late October, and I hid a pumpkin in the back of my Honda Civic, and we carved it at night and then spent the night at the campground. The second time was 15 years later, and again we took the loop trail through Fern Canyon. In view of the remote location of this park, I recommend visiting a little tourist trap a few miles to the north, which provides a 50-foot tall Paul Bunyan with Babe the Blue Ox, and a huge gift shop that includes a little museum. Paul Bunyan lives about twelve miles north of Fern Canyon. About 30 miles to the south is, International School of Physical Theater, also called, Dell'Arte International, which is located in Blue Lake, CA. Regarding this theater group, I saw their performance of TARTUFFE, where the performance was at a theater in Mill Valley, CA. MY PHOTOGRAPHS. The attached photos provide a few sights from inside of Fern Canyon, and one photo of some of the Roosevelt Elk that meander near the beach just south of Fern Canyon. I took the photo of the elk from the driver's seat of my car. I expect that the ferns that line the canyon's walls are dry and brown during the late summer, and that they are moist and green from the months of January until May. PUBLISHED INFORMATION. Information on the flora and fauna in this park can be found, for example, in Bowyer (1981) Activity, Movement, and Distribution of Roosevelt Elk During Rut. J. Mammalogy. 62:574; Susie Van Kirk (2015) Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, A History. Humboldt State University; and Durward Swinehart (1953) A Study of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Masters Thesis. Sacramento State College (94 pages). read more

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We drove here to Gold Bluffs/ Fern Canyon as part of a family reunion- wedding combo. Since it was a nice weekend, it was beyond packed here. (Apparently the restroom huts weren't very well kept, but I wouldn't know about that...). In all honesty, I wasn't entirely prepared for this hike, wearing my pair of nice sparkly tennis shoes. (I'm glad my cousin had a spare pair of shoes to wear). Overall the hike isn't bad for most ages, but us younger cousins made it a little farther before turning around due to some of the same scenery in place (would've liked to know the exact filming spot for Jurassic Park, as it didn't exactly remind me of the movie. Those cameramen must've been crazy to drag their equipment through here). We stopped by the beach (which I did like better than the one we checked out after that). We did see some elk on our way out which was pretty neat read more

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This place was amazing. Great parking spot and a very easy stroll to and through the great red wood trees. These trees are HUGE! Taller than the Sequoias. What a great adventure. The gravel walkway made it easy to enjoy the majestic beauty. The is a bucket list stop and it should be for everyone. There was a neat little ranger station and store at the site too. This was very enjoyable! read more

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After telling my friend P. that I had purchased a convertible, and was driving it home from eastern Oregon, he said "Don't you dare take Rte 5!" That straighter course certainly would have been faster, but not nearly as scenic. So I chose to add a few hours to my trip by angling over to Rte 101 instead. Not long after I hit the coast at Crescent City, I needed to stretch my legs and get some down-time. I had noticed the Newton B Drury scenic Parkway provided a parallel detour to 101 for several miles, and through this highly-rated park. So I decided to check it out. It turned out to be a good choice. Five minutes after making the turnoff, I was enveloped in beautiful groves of mature redwoods lining the parkway. Trailheads appeared every half-mile or so, and I picked one at random about halfway down. This ended up being the short trail to the main creek via "The Corkscrew Tree", a multi-trunk redwood with directional issues. (I decided "Pretzel Tree" might be a better name). I continued down the trail another 15 minutes or so before deciding to get on with my long drive (just over 6 hours left). My 30 minute hike was well worth it - what a gorgeous place! Looking at a map later, I see I could have continued on about 6 miles to Fern Canyon, which seems to be the biggest draw in this park. With sufficient time, I'd happily do that 12 mi round-trip hike (So much more rewarding that driving straight there, as so many people seem to write about). It was too short a visit. If I'm ever up this way again, Prairie Creek Redwoods is a must-stop. read more

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Prairie Creek State Park is one of the main epicenters for navigating through Redwood National and State Parks. When I visited over the summer time, it was pretty busy here with a lot going on. First off, here at Prairie Creek and throughout all the state parks located within Redwood NP, everything is free. Exploring all the forests, trees...there was no charge, except for the tourist attraction - Trees of Mystery. Prairie Creek State Park is located right along scenic Newton B. Drury Parkway within the heart of Redwood Forest. When I arrived, the parking lot was full but tourists simply parked alongside the road. From here...you have to walk to Prairie Creek which was only a few minutes long. First up was the Prairie Creek Visitor Center. Before getting started on any hikes for the day...and btw...that's what Prairie Creek State Park is all about...going on day hikes wandering among some of the tallest trees in the world! The Visitor Center had Park Rangers for anyone needing advice on how to explore or for answering questions. Although when I came here this summer of 2020, the inside of the Visitors Center was closed due to the pandemic, they did offer gifts and souvenirs on the outside porch including having your National Parks Pass stamped. And there were toilets available before embarking on hikes. For those who may not know...I'd absolutely recommend bringing food or lunch with you for your hikes. Otherwise there's nothing close by in the near vicinity to grab a bite to eat. Also good at the Visitors Center was picnic tables to enjoy lunch among the redwoods. I started by my day with a little sampler/starter hike called Revelation Trail. Located right behind the Visitors Center, it's a 1/3 mile loop and a nice intro to the grounds here. I did speak with the Park Ranger and I mentioned to him a few trails I was interested in including...James Irvine Trail, Miners Ridge Trail and along with a couple of attractions I wanted to visit including Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach. This Ranger created a round trip loop for me to accomplish all 4 of these sights here at Prairie Creek. Granted...this was an all day trip he designed...but it would afford me to see the best and most recognized spots at Prairie Creek. Leaving here at the Visitor Center...I'd hike James Irvine trail almost 4.5 miles to Fern Canyon. From Fern Canyon I could walk 1 mile along Bold Bluffs Beach and then return back to the Visitors Center along Miners Ridge Trail. It was a round trip square of an itinerary. Though...the Ranger did warn me this would be about an 11 mile journey altogether and take up most of my day. But I was satisfied with doing this path as I would be able to check off all the areas I wanted to see at Prairie Creek. Here were some disappointing aspects... - Once I hiked James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon...I didn't realize Fern Canyon had it's own separate trail where I had to trek an additional 2 miles! Ugh, now this day hike was getting too long and strenuous. - From arriving at Fern Canyon, I then walked along Gold Bluffs Beach to eventually take the return portion - Miners Ridge Trail. Problem was that walking along the beach...I had no idea where Miners Ridge Trail even started! Basically I was lost! - Gold Bluffs Beach was mediocre. It was just your average ole beach. - Finally after walking along the main road path at Gold Bluffs Beach, I discovered Miners Ridge Trail and hiked my way back to the VC. But if I wanted to...I could have driven my car to Fern Canyon Trail and Gold Bluffs Beach. I didn't need to hike all the way to the end of James Irvine Trail, which was difficult in and of itself being almost 5 miles. - Finally, hiking back on Miners Ridge Trail...I was exhausted by the end of the day and questioned whether this entire round trip square the Ranger crafted for me was even worth it! Now the good parts of this journey... - Either trail you take (James Irvine or Miners Ridge) they're virtually the same. You can't go wrong with either. And both trails truly represent the majesty of the redwoods here! On both paths, I stopped countless times for photos and moments to appreciate how statuesque the trees were. Hard to put into words, but some of my best memories came from these hikes. The forest was simply beautiful! - The area around Prairie Creek was not elevated so any hike you choose, it's along flat ground. - Prairie Creek offers a campground. - Overall, I think the ambiance and setting here at Prairie Creek really exuded being in peaceful and quiet nature. Although I visited during summer when everyone's active...there was still plenty of space offered to retreat on my own and just enjoy the redwoods and trails. I was genuinely fulfilled from my day spent at Prairie Creek. - Right nearby to PC is worthwhile Big Tree Wayside and 1.4 mile loop - Cathedral Trees Trail. I recommend to everyone out there as part of your Redwood National Parks itinerary, Prairie Creek should be explored! read more

What a great little detour off the highway! Since I was in no rush while heading north along the coast I decided to take the exit and check out the area. It's a beautiful drive through the park but you really have to stop and hike. I did two short hikes and had a great time. read more

Beautiful Fern Canyon off hwy 101, cost $8 to enter. You will hike up and down the canyon, in and out of fresh clean water to view peaceful lush green ferns and other plants clinging to trees and the canyon walls. It's not in a convenient location but worth the trip. The 8 miles of road to the parking lot is not paved very rocky and bumpy. We saw lots of elk grazing in the grass along the way. read more

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This park is a must for any tree lover or anyone who just loves being in a forest. The trees here are huge -- so tall that, in fact, it's hard to tell how tall they are from below. There is a nature trail with interpretive trail signs near the visitor center (which also has restrooms nearby, a gift shop, and a small exhibit). There are quite a few trails and a few trailheads in this park. I started at the visitor center and hiked all the way to Fern Canyon and back (about 11 miles roundtrip). Some of the trails deep in the park were very lightly trafficked during my visit on a cool winter day. Bring the map (and a GPS unit if possible) with you and don't rely on other hikes on directions because you might not find anyone. There were, however, crowds at the more popular areas such as near the visitor center and Fern Canyon. I recommend driving to the other sites if you prefer shorter hikes. That way, you will have more time to do other things in the area. read more

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