Trail Guide

College Cove Trail

0.5 mi · 120 ft gain · Out & back

Sheltered sandy cove with sea stacks, Dramatic bluff overlook, Tide pooling at low tide

Fern Canyon

1.1 mi · 50 ft gain · Loop

50-foot fern-covered canyon walls, Creek crossings, Jurassic Park: The Lost World filming location

James Irvine Trail to Miners Ridge Loop

12 mi · 1.4k ft gain · Loop

Full old-growth redwood immersion, Connects to Fern Canyon, Clintonia Trail junction

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

1.5 mi · 100 ft gain · Loop

Dedication site of Redwood National Park (1968), Old-growth coast redwoods, Lush understory of ferns and sorrel

Ossagon Trail

3.8 mi · 900 ft gain · Out & back

Old-growth redwood forest to wild beach, Roosevelt elk in coastal meadow, Remote beach solitude

Rim Trail — Patrick's Point State Park

2 mi · 200 ft gain · Out & back

Dramatic coastal bluffs, Wedding Rock, Agate Beach access

Skunk Cabbage Trail

5.6 mi · 200 ft gain · Out & back

Massive skunk cabbage bog, Boardwalk through wetland, Connects to Gold Bluffs Beach via Coastal Trail

Tall Trees Grove

4 mi · 800 ft gain · Loop

Home of some of the world's tallest trees, Alluvial flat along Redwood Creek, Steep descent through old-growth forest

Trillium Falls Trail

2.8 mi · 350 ft gain · Loop

Trillium Falls waterfall, Old-growth redwoods, Roosevelt elk in nearby Elk Prairie

Trinidad Head Trail

1.4 mi · 300 ft gain · Loop

360-degree ocean views, Whale watching, Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse replica

Arcata Community Forest — Janes Creek Trail

1.8 mi · 100 ft gain · Out & back

Flat creekside walk, Adjacent to Redwood Park playground, Second-growth redwoods

Arcata Community Forest — Redwood Loop

2.5 mi · 250 ft gain · Loop

790-acre second-growth redwood forest, Extensive trail network, Adjacent to HSU campus

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary — Trails

4.8 mi · 20 ft gain · Loop

270+ bird species recorded, Innovative wastewater treatment marsh, Interpretive Center with free exhibits

Beith Creek Loop

1.5 mi · 150 ft gain · Loop

Neighborhood redwood loop in Sunnybrae, Beith Creek riparian corridor, Mixed second-growth redwood and maple forest

Fickle Hill Forest Trails

4 mi · 700 ft gain · Loop

Ridge-top views of Humboldt Bay, Mixed forest and meadows, Less-traveled trails

Jacoby Creek Forest — Old Growth Loop

3.2 mi · 500 ft gain · Loop

Mix of old-growth and second-growth redwood, Jacoby Creek canyon, Mixed conifer and hardwood forest

Lanphere Dunes

2.5 mi · 100 ft gain · Loop

Pristine dune ecosystem, Rare native dune plants, Guided nature walks available

Ma-le'l Dunes North Trail

3.5 mi · 150 ft gain · Loop

Restored coastal dune ecosystem, Beach access to Manila Dunes, Rare dune plants

Manila Dunes — Ma-le'l Dunes South

2 mi · 80 ft gain · Loop

Restored coastal dunes, Beach access, Friends of the Dunes native plant garden

Cooper Gulch Trail

1.2 mi · 100 ft gain · Loop

Neighborhood urban trail, Adjacent playground and ball fields, Shaded gulch walk

Eureka Waterfront Trail

4.2 mi · 10 ft gain · Out & back

Historic Old Town Eureka waterfront, Boardwalk and promenade, Public art installations

Freshwater Farms — Hazel Dell Loop

3 mi · 400 ft gain · Loop

Mixed forest and meadow, Freshwater Creek, Local neighborhood trail

Headwaters Forest Reserve (Elk River Trail)

5.4 mi · 250 ft gain · Out & back

Old-growth redwood grove, Elk River, Wildflowers in spring

Hikshari' Trail

3.6 mi · 10 ft gain · Out & back

Paved waterfront trail, Humboldt Bay views, Connects to Eureka Waterfront Trail

Sequoia Park Trail

2 mi · 200 ft gain · Loop

67-acre old-growth redwood grove in city limits, Adjacent Sequoia Park Zoo, Duck pond

Clam Beach to Little River

5 mi · 50 ft gain · Out & back

Wide sandy beach, Views of Trinidad Head, Little River State Beach

Hammond Trail

5.5 mi · 50 ft gain · Out & back

Paved multi-use trail, Mad River crossing (pedestrian bridge), Connects to Clam Beach

Mad River Beach and Dunes

3 mi · 30 ft gain · Out & back

Wide sandy beach at Mad River mouth, Off-leash dog area (north end), Dune walking

McKinleyville Community Forest

2 mi · 200 ft gain · Loop

Second-growth redwood and mixed forest, Community-managed trails, Peaceful neighborhood forest

Widow White Creek Trail

1.5 mi · 50 ft gain · Out & back

Creekside riparian walk, Neighborhood connector trail, Salmon-bearing creek

Allens Trail (Five Allens)

2 mi · 500 ft gain · Out & back

Only upland trail on the Avenue of the Giants, Steep 15% grade through old-growth, Elizabeth Achelis Grove

Avenue of the Giants — Burlington-Weott Segment

3 mi · 50 ft gain · Out & back

31-mile scenic drive through old-growth, Multiple short trail access points, Cycling friendly

Big Tree Loop — Humboldt Redwoods

0.3 mi · 10 ft gain · Loop

Giant Tree — 363 feet tall, 53 feet circumference, Flat boardwalk-style loop, Massive fluted trunk

Bull Creek Flats Trail

9 mi · 200 ft gain · Out & back

World's tallest old-growth redwood grove (Rockefeller Forest), Bull Creek swimming holes, Giant Tree

Children's Forest

1 mi · 50 ft gain · Loop

Dedicated to children's connection with old-growth redwoods, Gentle loop through ancient forest, Interpretive elements

Drury-Chaney Loop Trail

2.4 mi · 100 ft gain · Loop

Two connected old-growth groves, Less crowded alternative to popular groves, Flat forest floor walk

Founders Grove Nature Trail

0.5 mi · 20 ft gain · Loop

Dyerville Giant — once tallest tree in world (fallen 1991), Founders Tree, Flat interpretive loop

Gould Grove Nature Trail

0.6 mi · 20 ft gain · Loop

ADA accessible, 300-foot trees, Interpretive signs

Grasshopper Peak Trail

13 mi · 3.2k ft gain · Out & back

3,379-foot summit with fire lookout, Views from coast to Coast Range, Transition from redwood to mixed conifer

Grieg-French-Bell Grove

0.5 mi · 30 ft gain · Loop

Densest redwood sorrel groundcover in the park, The Girdled Tree (bark stripped in 1901, still alive), Albino redwood

Grizzly Creek Redwoods — Cheatham Grove Trail

1 mi · 50 ft gain · Loop

Return of the Jedi filming location (Endor speeder bike chase), Van Duzen River swimming, Old-growth redwoods

Headwaters Forest Reserve — Elk River Trail

11 mi · 600 ft gain · Out & back

3,000+ acre old-growth redwood reserve, Former Pacific Lumber/MAXXAM controversy site, Elk River riparian corridor

High Rock River Trail

3.3 mi · 200 ft gain · Out & back

Two separate old-growth groves, High Rock viewpoint over the Eel River, One of the least-visited trails in the park

Rockefeller Loop Trail

0.4 mi · 20 ft gain · Loop

Rockefeller Tree — one of the tallest coast redwoods, Flat accessible loop, Massive old-growth specimens

Russ Park Loop

2 mi · 650 ft gain · Loop

Mature Sitka spruce forest, Eel River Valley overlook, 60+ bird species

Stephens Grove Loop

0.5 mi · 20 ft gain · Loop

One of the first groves acquired for the park (1922), Cathedral-like scenery, Dramatic late-afternoon light

Williams Grove Trail

4.1 mi · 1k ft gain · Out & back

Connects Hidden Springs and Williams Grove, South Fork Eel River views, Dense redwood forest throughout

Addie Johnson Trail

2.2 mi · 600 ft gain · Out & back

1870s homestead history of Addie and Tosaldo Johnson, Johnson Prairie panoramic views, Grasshopper Peak vista

Benbow Lake State Recreation Area

2 mi · 50 ft gain · Loop

Seasonal swimming lake (when dam installed), South Fork Eel River, Historic Benbow Inn nearby

Black Sands Beach Trail

3 mi · 300 ft gain · Out & back

Unique black sand beach, Southern terminus of Lost Coast Trail, Dramatic coastal scenery

Chemise Mountain Trail

2 mi · 400 ft gain · Out & back

Ocean views from chaparral summit, Former fire lookout site, Unique chaparral ecosystem

Kings Peak Trail

10 mi · 3.6k ft gain · Loop

Highest point in King Range (4,088 ft), 360-degree views from summit, Dramatic coastal ridgeline

Lost Coast Trail — Mattole to Black Sands Beach

25 mi · 3k ft gain · Out & back

California's most remote coastline, Punta Gorda Lighthouse, Sea lion colonies

Punta Gorda Lighthouse Trail

6 mi · 200 ft gain · Out & back

Historic Punta Gorda Lighthouse (1912), Remote beach walking, Sea lion haul-outs

Richardson Grove — Durphy Creek Loop

3.5 mi · 600 ft gain · Loop

Old-growth redwood grove, South Fork Eel River swimming, Durphy Creek forest

Richardson Grove — Tan Oak Springs Trail

4.5 mi · 800 ft gain · Loop

Ridge-top old-growth redwoods, Natural springs, Less-traveled trail in popular park

Shelter Cove — Cape Mendocino Loop

2.5 mi · 100 ft gain · Loop

Coastal bluff walking, Tidepools, Cape Mendocino views

Berry Summit — Lacks Creek Trail

6 mi · 1k ft gain · Out & back

Old-growth Douglas fir forest, Lacks Creek riparian corridor, BLM wilderness study area

Horse Mountain Trail

5 mi · 1.2k ft gain · Loop

Ridge-top panoramic views, Wildflower meadows, Mixed conifer and oak forest

Willow Creek — Cedar Creek Trail

4 mi · 800 ft gain · Out & back

Cedar Creek canyon, Mixed conifer forest, Wildflower meadows

Willow Creek — Friday Ridge Trail

8 mi · 2.4k ft gain · Out & back

Ridge views of Trinity River drainage, Mixed forest to chaparral transition, Remote and uncrowded