01
Iconic redwood loop
Stout Memorial Grove Trail
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park • Short Old-Growth Redwood Loop Along The Smith River • Classic First-Time Hike
A gentle loop through cathedral-like redwoods with bonus river access if you want to linger.
If you only have time for one redwood hike near Fort Dick, this is the easy crowd-pleaser. The trail is almost flat, packed with enormous, close-up trunks, and feels surprisingly quiet once you step away from the parking lot. Go early or late in the day for softer light filtering through the canopy and calmer traffic on the park road.
02
Most jaw-dropping trees
Grove of Titans
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park • Boardwalk Through Colossal Old-Growth Redwoods • Best For Serious Tree Lovers
A carefully built boardwalk winds through some of the biggest redwoods on earth without feeling overdeveloped.
The Grove of Titans trail gives you that hushed, almost surreal feeling of standing among record-sized trees while keeping your shoes clean on a raised boardwalk. It is a bit more of a walk than Stout Grove, but still manageable for most visitors who can handle some gentle ups and downs. Expect to stop often to crane your neck, read the trail signs, and take in the layered greens around you.
03
Best riverfront ramble
Hiouchi Trail
Hiouchi And Smith River Corridor • Forest Path Tracing Clear Emerald River Bends • Scenic Out-And-Back Stroll
A meandering riverside trail with constant views of the emerald Smith River and frequent side paths to the water.
Starting near Hiouchi, this trail lets you walk right along the Smith River without committing to a full-day hike. Sections duck in and out of the trees, with chances to scramble down to gravel bars for picnics, rock skipping, or a bracing dip when conditions allow. It is a great choice on warm days when you want equal parts walking and hanging out by the water.
04
Moody coastal redwood hike
Damnation Creek Trail
Redwood National And State Parks – South Of Crescent City • Steep Forest Descent Toward A Foggy Coastline • Best For A Workout With Drama
A steeper, more rugged trail that drops through dark, mossy redwoods toward the roar of the Pacific.
Damnation Creek is for hikers who want more elevation change and a moodier coastal feel than the easy loops closer to Fort Dick. The path switchbacks down through dense, misty forest with giant trunks, lush ferns, and occasional break-out views toward the ocean. Even when access beyond the old bridge is closed, the journey down and back makes for a memorable, leg-burning outing.
05
Best open-sky change of pace
Lake Earl Wildlife Area Trail
Lake Earl Wildlife Area – North Of Crescent City • Wetland And Lagoon Walk With Big-Sky Views • Quiet Nature Escape
A mellow path through coastal wetlands where you trade towering trees for birds, reeds, and wide-open horizons.
When you need a break from the deep shade of the redwoods, head out to Lake Earl for a more open, breezy walk. Trails and old roads wander near the lagoon and marshes, with regular bird activity and a different sense of space than the forested hikes inland. It is a good low-key option on overcast days or when you want an easy stroll with room for kids to roam.