Location profile: Redwoods National and State Parks
Text and photos by Heather Cline
The Redwood National and State Parks form a network of protected lands, encompassing one national park alongside three state parks—Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Jedediah Smith Redwoods, and Prairie Creek Redwoods. The parks are located on the northernmost coast of California, spanning approximately 50 miles along the coast from Crescent City near the Oregon border to the Redwood Creek watershed near Orick.
Together, these parks protect 45 percent of the planet’s remaining old-growth coast redwood forests, preserving them for future generations. Beyond the trees, the parks protect 37 miles of unspoiled coastline, diverse plant and animal life, grassland prairies, waterways, and cultural landmarks, while also providing a haven for threatened species like Chinook salmon, northern spotted owls, and Steller's sea lions.
Quick Facts & Links
- Redwoods National Park
- Visitor Guide
- Entrance fee: $0
- Campground: None
- Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, 119441 HWY 101 Orick, CA 95555, 9:00 - 5:00
- Hiouchi Visitor Center, 1600 US HWY 199 Hiouchi, CA 95531, 9:00 - 5:00
- Crescent City Visitor Center, 1111 2nd Street Crescent City, CA 95531 9:00 - 5:00
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
- Park Brochure & Map
- Entrance fee: $10 Day Use
- Campground: Mill Creek, $35
- No visitor center
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Park Brochure & Map
- Entrance fee: $12 Day Use
- Campground: Gold Bluffs Beach, $35
- Campground: Elk Prairie, $35
- Prairie Creek Visitor Center, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, 9:00 - 5:00
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Park Brochure & Map
- Entrance fee: $8 Day Use
- Campground: Jedediah Smith, $35
- Jedediah Smith Visitor Center, 1440 US HWY 199 Hiouchi, CA 95531, 9:00 - 5:00
- Cell service is generally unreliable and limited throughout most of Redwood National and State Parks. Some areas, particularly in visitor centers and along major roads, may offer limited service, but it's not consistently available.
When is a good time to visit?
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Winter: while the parks welcome visitors year-round, winter brings more unpredictable conditions, often with rain and fog.
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Spring: an ideal time to explore Redwood National and State Parks is during spring (April to June).
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Summer: this season brings more crowds but also great hiking and wildflowers.
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Autumn: (September and October) provides mild weather, more colorful landscapes, and crowds are smaller compared to summer.
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Photo Locations & Subjects
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Prairie Creek Trail
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Enderts Beach
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Lady Bird Johnson Grove
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Battery Point Lighthouse
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Fern Canyon
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Newton B Drury Parkway
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Trillium Falls
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Crescent City Beach
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Banana Slug
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Stellar's Jay
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Roosevelt Elk
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Trillium
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Sea Lions, Crescent City Harbor
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I hope you enjoyed this post. To see more of my Redwood images, check out the gallery here.
