10 Fun Things to Do in Redwood National Park: Weekend Travel Guide

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This may sound weird, but I’m not the biggest fan of trees. They just kinda creep me out. If I dig deep and really reflect inward, I think it might be a combination of having to study plant physiology for years combined with my aversion to anything remotely related to bug activity. And yet, there I was, on a 9-hour road trip to Northern California. To look at some big trees. Sometimes, I confuse even myself. I mean, were there even things to do in Redwood National Park/Forest? Would I just see a tree and leave? What was the big excitement?

I soon found out.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of visiting and all of the things to do in Redwood National Park, I’ll lay down some baseline knowledge for ya!

THE BASICS

• State: California (Northern)
• Nearest “big-ish” City: Redding
• Closest International Airport: Sacramento (SMF) or San Francisco (SFO)
• Ancestral Lands: Yurok, Tolowa, Wiyot, Chilula, and others
• Best season to visit (in my opinion): Summer and fall
• Transportation: You will need a car

What’s the Deal?

Before we get into the fun things to do in Redwood National Park, I want to give you a little backstory.

First of all, what is even up with this place? The Redwood Forest. Is it a National Park? Or National Forest? Is it a state park? Wait, but is it a World Heritage Site? What the heck is it and -most importantly- is it included in that fancy dancy “USA National Park” scratch it map hanging in your hallway?

Errr…well, I suppose the answer is tricky. Because it’s kinda all-of-the-above.

It IS a National Park. But unlike basically every other National Park – visiting Redwood IS FREE! Say what??? Yeah, even though the Redwood National Park headquarters is in Crescent City, there is actually no entrance stations! So explore to your heart’s content! So note, because there is no entrance gate, you can’t actually buy a National Park pass or anything. #welovefreeparks

But Redwood is also comprised of multiple state parks as well, including Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. You may find the general area of all the parks referred to as RNSP (Redwood National and State Parks).

Redwood trees that once thrived in the Northern Hemisphere are now only found on the coast of California (and a bit into southern Oregon), the United Nations also declared the RNSP a World Heritage Site.

What About Before all the Global Acclaim?

Cool cool, so the redwoods are pretty protected. NOW. But what about before? Why do the trees need protection anyway?

It all comes down to western expansion. Good ol’ Manifest Destiny, the California Gold Rush, and the country’s unrelenting efforts of genocide and displacement of Indigenous peoples of America. Before RNSP was established, the area was Yurok, Tolowa, Karuk, Chilula, Wiyot, Hoopa, and Whilkut land.

But the surge of white settlers (~1849) brought extreme violence, disease, and land/culture/history fragmentation. Colonization caused the Yurok Nation to lose 75% of their population, and 95% for other Tribes in California. Treaties were negotiated, formed, re-negotiated, and formalized – but ultimately Congress rejected these treaties, but failed to notify the involved Tribes.

To fight back against the massacres, a group comprised of multiple Tribes in the area joined together to resist the violent settlement of white miners. The result was the Klamath and Salmon River War, also known as the “Red Cap War” [sic]. The resistance nearly halted all invasive settlement, but hearing that there might be loss in mining opportunities (aka MONEY), the US Federal Government used military force to suppress and regain control.

Soo…what happened then??

The Federal Government established the Yurok Reservation in 1855. Then the Smith River and Hoopa Valley Reservations within the decade. The Indigenous people of the area were forced to relocate onto these small reservations, which were made even smaller by the introduction of redwood mills and salmon cannery factories.

Unregulated logging practices resulted in a drastic reduction in the cultural significant redwood forest, depletion of the salmon population, the contamination of the Klamath River, and the desecration of sacred Indigenous sites.

The Redwood National Park was established in 1968.

That’s over A CENTURY of intentional genocide, destruction, and pillaging of the people and environment of the area. When you visit Redwood National Park, keep that in mind and be respectful.

It is stolen and occupied land.

Although the National Park Service “strives to work together” with local Tribes, 2020 is actually the FIRST year that California State Parks hired Native people to work as interpreters at Sumeg Village (within RNSP). That said, Native American interpreters like Maiya Rainer are making huge lunges forward in bringing representation to the “mainstream” outdoors.

Oh, and by the way, “Keehl” is redwood in Yurok.

WHEN TO VISIT

Okay! So now that you’re a bit familiar with the general idea of the park, it’s time to start planning your trip! Thankfully, there are a ton of things to do in Redwood National Park!

My personal favorite time to visit is during the fall, when all of the leaves are just starting to change to hues of yellow, red, and orange. Specifically, the month of September, when daylight is still long, temperatures are pleasant, and the summer crowds have returned home.

I’m a sucker for warmer weather, so my 2nd favorite season is summer. Summer has the greatest availability for ranger-led programs (including a summer-only guided kayak tour). Seriously, there are TONS of things to do in Redwood National Park in the summer months. But it’s also the season of fog in the RNSP. I kind of like the spooky fog look, but something to keep in mind.

Winter and spring have the most rain. If you have a lot of outdoor allergies, winter might be a better call for you, but it is also the coldest. There are less crowds, but also limited restaurant and visitor center hours.

So pick whichever works best for you. In any case, the temperatures aren’t too extreme either way, so it really just depends on your rain and/or crowd tolerance.

GETTING THERE

Before you can get to all of the things to do in Redwood National Park, you have to get there first. Your easiest and most convenient bet would be to rent a car. Like most National Parks, the roads are well maintained so you don’t need a 4×4 or anything.

Buuuut if for whatever reason, renting a car or driving is not an option for you, there are a few other alternatives.

You COULD catch a bus, however most of them take over double the amount of time and include at least one transfer. Or you could fly into the Arcata regional airport and grab an Uber (or bus) from there, but that would add a lot to your costs.

My suggestion, if you don’t have access to a car, would be to visit some of the redwoods closer to the city. After all, RNSPs are HUGE. There are tons of opportunities to see them – that don’t require you traveling all the way up to Eureka.

If you’re based in San Francisco, Muir Woods is a great spot to see the redwoods and is only about 35 minutes outside of the city. Or, if you’re taking a visit to Mendocino, the coastal city is right outside of Mendocino National Forest which has some amazing recovering and second-growth redwoods!

Where to Stay

I highly recommend staying at The Historic Requa Inn. Located in the small town of Requa (pronounced Rek-wah), and is one of the longest, continuously inhabited places in California. The Inn is Indigenous family-owned, and each of the rooms has a unique decor and style. IT’S REAL CUTE!! The experience alone is one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park haha. And their breakfast is literally TOP KNOTCH *chef’s kiss*

But, if you’re looking for a more secluded cabin vibe place, here are some great options for the area! I’ll eventually put together a post of the best cabins in the Redwoods, but for now, here are some links!

Wheelchair Friendly

Pet Friendly

Cute and Cozy

Dog Friendly??

Errrr….I MEANNN kind of. Like any National Park, dogs are not allowed on any park trails. This is mostly for the safety of your dog -because there are bears and mountain lions and coyotes- but also for the safety of the non-carnivorous animals.

But thankfully, RNSP is much more forgiving to pets than any of the other National Parks I’ve been to. Because RNSP is made up of both a National Park AND state parks, you have a few other options for enjoying the redwoods with your dog! So if you’re looking for things to do in Redwood National Park with pets – you’re in luck.

In Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, I would suggest the Walker Road trail, and in Prairie Creed Redwoods State Park, I would suggest Cal Barrel Road trail! They are both (leashed) dog friendly!

WHERE TO GET FOOD

Since RNSP is so spread out, I’ll sort it by general area! You’re going to be driving anyway, so if you happen to stay somewhere that isn’t close to one of these fabulous restaurants, it isn’t the end of the world. You don’t really visit the area for the food per say, but if you’re looking for cuisine-related things to do in Redwood National Park, you’re not completely out of luck.

Crescent City: SeaQuake Brewing, Cristina’s, Art’s BBQ

Requa/Klamath: The Historic Requa Inn, Steelhead Lodge, Log Cabin Diner

Trinidad: The Larrupin’ Cafe

Eureka: Oaxaca Grill Restaurant, Cocina Mariposa, Brick & Fire, Donut Mill (yummm), Humboldt Cider Company

Willow Creek: Early Bird

THINGS TO DO IN REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK

Hiking

Well, it’s kind of THE things to do, in any National Park really. The main draw to hiking in the Redwood National Park is seeing the massive redwoods up close. Here are some of my favorite hikes:

• Lady Bird Johnson Grove (1.3mi/34min): One of the more popular hikes (for good reason), AND it’s short. Win-win. It’s a good option for all ages and athletic ability.
• Fern Canyon (1.1mi/30min): Probably my favorite hike, even though there are no redwoods, haha. There’s a TON of ferns (well, obvi), and it feels like you’re walking through a huge terrarium. Or Jurassi Park. Whichever makes you feel more at ease. The dirt road leading to the trail is a little suspect, but even smaller cars ~should~ be fine.
• Cathedral Trees Trail (3mi/1h30): Has a lot of old-growth forest, and on some trees you can even see the scorch marks near the top of a fire that happened decades ago!
• Big Tree Circle Trail: (0.3mi/20min): A good trail for wheelchair users or non-hikers, and one of the most accessible redwood hikes with very clear and well-maintained paths.

I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to do too many hikes, but one of my favorite blogs, Embrace Someplace, has a round up of all of her favorite hikes in RNSPs! Hiking is easily one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park.

Trees of Mystery

Yoooo, Trees of Mystery is so strange….but so weirdly cool. Surprisingly, there’s a lot of…abstract things to do in Redwood National Park. Again, here you’ll see some super big trees. But you’ll also semi-follow the mythology of Paul Bunyan as you make your way through the trail. Then, at the end of the trail, there is a tram to take you to the top of the overlook! However, if you are unable to easily walk the trail, there is also a free shuttle that can take you to the tram.

When you make it back down, you can stop by The End of the Trail Museum, one of the largest privately owned museums, and learn about the region’s Indigenous people. The trail is open 9am-4pm most days, and pricing is as follows:

General Admission (13-59): $20.00
Seniors (60 and over): $16.00
Kids 6-12: $11.00
Kids 5 and under: Free

Dance Demonstrations

July marks the Tolowa Tribe’s annual Ne’-dosh, a renewal ceremony. The ceremony is to celebrate, commemorate, and reenact the act of Xvsh, the beginning of time. If you are able to attend, it is hands down one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park.

Ne’-dosh was originally held at Yan’-daa-k’vt (Yontocket), as it is the center of the Tolowas’ spiritual world and the site of world creation.

However, the centuries long tradition was interrupted by white settler militias massacring the village, and remains one of the largest mass killings in American history.

The Tolowa tribe attempted to move the ceremony to other villages and towns, but again, they buildings and people were violently ambushed, burned, and pushed out.

In case you didn’t know, the State of California at the time dedicated $1.6 million USD to militias for the extermination of Native Americans in Northern California. (that’s legally and technically defined as genocide by the United Nations btw).

So during the ceremony, please be respectful as it honors not only tradition, but also the thousands and thousands of lives unjustly ended. They are CHOOSING to share their culture that the USA (thankfully unsuccessfully) tried to snuff out – and you are a guest.

Members of the Tolowa and the Yurok tribes conduct dance demonstrations at the Jedediah Smith Campground’s (near the community of Hiouchi). The dances are open to the public for viewing and free of charge, though photography and video are strictly prohibited. However, after the event, dancers may voluntarily choose to pose for photos in their regalia. Just make sure you ASK before taking any of their photos after the dance.

Avenue of the Giants

This goes along with “looking at big trees,” but I wanted to specifically point out this place because it is so easily accessible and if you can’t go on one of the many fantastic hikes to see the trees up close, this is a perfect option for you. At Avenue of the Giants, you are able to drive through some of the biggest redwoods, without even having to get out of your car! It’s especially great for those just passing through the area with not much time to explore. I love when things to do in Redwood National Park are super easy haha.

Canoe Tour

One of the most unique things to do in Redwood National Park is to take a canoe tour down the Klamath River. The Yurok Tribe hosts their own canoe tour, Yurok Redwood Canoe Tours, which will take you behind the scenes of how these canoes are made out of redwood trees and the integral role they play in Yurok culture. Then, after a quick safety explanation, you’ll get to float down the river in the canoe! No prior experience necessary!

The guided 2 hour tour (RECOMMEND!!!) is $125 per person. Tours are Wednesday through Saturday with three tour start times, 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm.

TRUSTTT MEEEE if you are able to do this, it will hands down be one of your favorite things to do in Redwood National Park. And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t even really like being on water.

Redwood Hotel & Casino

Need a break from the outdoors? Head to the casino!

Located right in the middle of the park, Redwood Hotel & Casino is a casual atmosphere for some light fun, and the casino floor is non-smoking (a plus for me!). PLUS, aside from the normal casino activities, it offers plenty of other things to do in Redwood National Park that don’t include poker chips.

The casino also offers exclusive tours such as speed-boating on the Klamath River, a guided tour of Su-Mêg Village (a replica of traditional Yurok villages), and full and half-day guided fishing tours! Plus, if you visit in August, you can catch the Klamath Salmon Festival, featuring over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts, art, and gifts, live music, and the best fresh salmon on the coast!

Horseback Riding

I love a good horseback tour, and doing it through the majestic redwoods is a sight to see! It’s a super unique way to explore the trees, and a fun adventure-y option for things to do in Redwood National Park.

I’d recommend booking a riding tour with Redwood Creek Buckarettes! They are a family-owned tour group run by two sisters, Kimberly and Kristina, and prices range from $70 USD to $125 USD depending on the type of tour and tour duration. Tours start from Orick, California and there’s a morning (10am) and afternoon tour (2pm).

Yurok County Visitor Center

And, of course, before you head out, visit the Yurok County Visitor Center. There’s LOADS more information about the people, culture, and history of the region. Y’all know I had to include someeee kind of enriching museum in my things to do in Redwood National Park hahha. But my favorite part is that there are incredible souvenirs and trinkets to shop, especially pieces made by Yurok artists!

Things to Do in Redwood National Park: CONCLUSION

I absolutely LOVE Redwood National Park. It’s hands down one of my favorite in the USA. It just feels…otherworldly. You’ll know what I mean when you get there! The fact that there are so many things to do in Redwood National Park is just icing on the cake.

And if you’re thirsty for more National Park, monument, and recreation spots, you’re in luck. Redwood National Park happens to be SURROUNDED by others! Well, I use the term surrounded lightly, they’re all actually quite a bit of a drive. But if you’re looking for a road trip, might as well add them to the itinerary! I mean, does it count as one of the best things to do in Redwood National Park if it includes leaving the park? Eh, whatever, it’s my post imma do what I want.

From Crescent City, California:

• Oregon Caves National Monument: 1.5 hours
• Crater Lake National Park: 3.5 hours
• Whiskeytown Recreation Area: 4.5 hours
• Lassen Volcanic National Park: 5 hours
• Lava Beds National Monument: 6 hours

Have you ever been to Redwood National Park? What did you think of it? What are some of your favorite things to do in Redwood National Park? Let me know in the comments below!

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