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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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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!!!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
21 days ago
We drove up from San Diego & it was so worth it. They put on nightly bonfires & educational talks. Go to those! The trails straight from the camp are amazing. Do fern canyon! Don't drive. It's a 10 mile round trip but you can do it if you are healthy/able. We went with our 10 year old & 8 year old (but they are pretty outdoorsy & fit- they've been raised doing this) if you have small kids, maybe drive over to fern canyon instead and skip that hike. Anyways, you will see Elk, banana slugs, deer & possibly bear and cougars. Always hike with bear spray & protection. Bring quarters!! The ranger station doesn't give change. & showers take quarters. You will not have reception unless you drive into Orick or crescent city. read more
3 months ago
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
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
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
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
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
1 year ago
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
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
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
5 years ago
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
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
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
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
3 years ago
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
2 years ago
7 years ago
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
5 years ago
3 years ago
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
2 years ago
6 years ago
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
6 years ago
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
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
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
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
5 years ago
*********** 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
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
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
8 years ago
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
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
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
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
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
9 years ago
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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