Day Hike - Northern California Redwood National and State Parks

We're getting this on the calendar early, as April marks the start of the busy season in this area. Tuesday 14th of April - Sunday 19th of April, 2026. This is one week after Easter (April 5th), which should minimize crowds, and have nicer weather (less rain, limited fog).  We have confirmation that at least one other pair of leaders plans to attend and will offer another round of hikes during this time period, if there is sufficient interest. Please do not hesitate to join the waitlists, those individuals will have priority registration for any new hikes offered. Once we have a group of interested participants, we'll sort out the individuals wanting to travel [and hike] together, and people will be able to choose from any of the available leaders or activity options. 

Redwood National Park, "situated along the northern coast of California, is renowned for its coastal redwoods, which are the tallest trees on Earth. Redwood is part of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), a complex that encompasses three state parks: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek. Together, they protect old-growth temperate rainforests that contain nearly half of the earth's remaining coastal redwoods. Along with the redwoods, you'll find misty forests of moss-covered old-growth trees, giant ancient ferns, and beautiful coastlines with rugged beaches and tidepools full of sea life. You'll also be among gorgeous wildflowers and a range of wildlife, from Roosevelt elk to banana slugs to sea lions!"

Hikes:

Last year, we found that flexibility was essential. Trail and park conditions, weather, storms, tides, and Ranger recommendations all played a role in our hike plans for the following day. We’ll organize meeting points, carpools, and one-way shuttle drops as necessary.  Here are six likely itineraries that we’ll work from: (North to South) 

A.) Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - Northern Section (ideally done the last day) as it has numerous short loops which make it easy to only do some of them and it is the closest to the highway for the Medford airport (1.5 hours away). Trails: Hatton to Lohse Grove (0.4 miles), Hatton to  Simpson-Reed and Peterson Memorial (0.9 mile, 62 ft), Leiffer & Ellsworth loops (2.3 miles, 330 ft.), Wellman Trail Loop (1.5 miles, 450 ft.), Stout Memorial Grove (0.7 mile, 32 ft.), Myrtle Creek Botanical Trail (2 miles, 250 ft.) (15 min from Crescent City)

B.) Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - Southern Section one-way Traverse. Trails: Hiouchi along the Smith River, Mill Creek incl Grove of the Titans, Nickerson Ranch, and finally out and back on Boy Scout Tree Trail. 13 miles, 2,100 ft. elevation gain. (15 min from Crescent City) (15 min from Crescent City)

C.) Coastal Trails near Klamath, CA (involves a car drop/shuttle): Klamath River Overlook, Klamath Coastal Trail, Hidden Beach, Yurok Loop. (Total ~10 miles, 2,100 ft.) (30 min from Crescent City)

D.) Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - inner park loop: James Irvine, Fern Canyon, Clintonia, Miner’s Ridge (11 miles, 1,550 ft.) (50 min from Crescent City)

E.) Redwood National Park Tall Trees Grove (requires an online permit, free but limited- six months in advance, per car) (3.6 miles, 780 ft.), Lady Bird Johnson Grove (1.4 miles, 100 ft.), Trillium Falls Trail (2.3 miles, 413 ft.) or Cathedral Trees Loop (2.9 miles, 240 ft.) (80 min from Crescent City)

F.) A morning of kayaking & whale watching with Kayak Trinidad. Afternoon exploring Trinidad Head Loop (1.7 miles, 300 ft.), Sue-meg State Park Headlands / Patrick’s Point (3.2 miles, 350 ft.), Agate Beach (time with low tide) (0.5 mile), Agate Beach info  (70 min from Crescent City)

While these hike plans tend to be on the longer side for some, there are options (via car shuttle or drop) on most itineraries to opt out of later (in the day) portions if that works better for you.

Participants are responsible for their transportation and lodging. Once participants & lodging locations are solidified, shared rides to trailheads can be organized. 

Lodging options:  Crescent City hotels, Airbnb, Hipcamp (check the lodging & glamping options), VRBO, etc. Given how far out this is,  ensure the ability to cancel.

Camping - Developed camp sites - reservations [reserve California] open 6 months in advance, plus several private campgrounds. Or, rent a camper in the area via an Outdoorsy rental.

Fly: airports include Eureka/Arcata (ACV), about 30 miles away, with limited flights, or Medford, OR (MFR), 100 miles away.  Leaders plan to fly into Medford on Monday,  April 13th, rent a car, and an Airbnb in Crescent City.

Drive: about 500 miles

At least two of the leaders plan to stay in an Airbnb in Crescent City.

Weather - These Redwoods are part of a rainforest, which receives up to 100 inches of rain between November and April (the Seattle average is 39 inches). April averages 9 days of rain, with temperatures ranging from 38°F to 60°F.

I'm happy & comfortable planning and leading hikes, but less inclined to organize group meals & social activities. If someone else is interested in taking that on, that would be fabulous. If there is considerable interest (waitlisted hikers) I welcome other Mountaineers Hike Leaders to offer these (or your own) hikes on alternate days (so we avoid the 12-hiker per trailhead limit).

Customize your own experience - I’m a flexible leader and open to people organizing their plans and itineraries, as long as communication is good (when you plan on doing a scheduled hike) we don’t all need to do everything together. Feel free to join one, two, or all six hikes. 

My Style: Welcome and thank you for finding me here and sharing your love of the outdoors. I thrive in nature and hope you do too! I love creating and leading hikes where we move at a good pace (with “joy stops”) while experiencing what hiking is all about – enjoying Nature’s offerings and surprises together. My primary role is to facilitate a safe experience physically and mentally, so I take that seriously.  For me, the best hikes are those where we each contribute to the experience by sharing knowledge, humor, or quietly engaging.

My Expectations: 1) arrive personally prepared & conditioned, 2) adopt a visitor mindset, and 3) create harmonious vibes.

I look forward to seeing you in the Redwoods, if this sounds like a fit for you!

Books & Maps:

Hike the Parks: Redwoods National and State Parks

The Legacy of Luna - The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods.

Campfire Stories: The Redwood Coast

Redwoods State Park Map 

National Geographic Redwoods Day Hikes 

Please reach out if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions. Ktrilevsky@gmail.com

TBD