Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park really flies under the radar. It’s not just huge trees. Its the amazing coastline, the fog-filled meadows and tree stands, the Roosevelt elk bugling in the open, fern-filled canyons, and all the little critters skittering around the huge trees. Redwood is really in the middle of nowhere, I remember driving from Yosemite back to San Francisco so I could drive highway 1 up to the park. I think I ended up driving about 14 hours this day, and there really aren’t many good places to stop for facilities or food.

If I ever get the chance, I would love to visit again. I hope this time I get some of that incredible fog amongst the redwoods! The majority of the trails in this park are pretty short and flat, so its more of walking among the forests. And unbeknownst to me until my visit, Redwood National Park is actually a compilation of one national park and three state parks, collectively known as Redwood National and State Parks. The three state parks include: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek. There are some bnb’s and boutique hotels in the area, but I found this park to have excellent campgrounds. Due to its coastal location, temperatures are pretty mild here year round. I’ve heard the winter is more rainy, but by late April for my visit, I had excellent weather for hiking and camping.