State: California
Location: Redwood National Park
Length: 8.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 40 feet
Maximum Elevation: 700 feet
Elevation Change: 660 feet
Best Season: Summer
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Grapevine Rest Stop
Trail Information
The Redwood Creek Trail in Redwood National Park provides access to the Tall Trees Grove and the Emerald Mile. This is the only trail in the national park that requires a backcountry permit. Permits are free and available on a first come, first served basis from the Redwood Information Center. The trail is accessed from Bald Hills Road via a short dirt road. A picnic area and trailhead are at the end of this access road.
The Redwood Creek Trail begins at an elevation of approximately 40 feet. The trail follows the path of Redwood Creek gaining little elevation in the first mile. Approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead, Redwood Creek Trail crosses Redwood Creek and continues leading southward on the western bank of the stream. Be careful, this stream crossing and another close to the Tall Trees Grove can be dangerous during winter and spring. Immediately after crossing Redwood Creek, the trail crosses a tributary and begins to gain elevation. The trail quickly climbs to about 200 feet, then descends slightly before crossing another tributary.
Beyond the second tributary crossing, Redwood Creek Trail turns eastward following a bend in the river. Continuing to trace the stream bed the trail makes a rounded turn southward, reaches 250 feet then crosses another small creek. Beyond this crossing the trail descends to 150 feet then turns slightly west rounding another bend. The next mile and a half leads southwestward to Bond Creek. The trail crosses this drainage then immediately turns eastward remaining on the western bank of Redwood Creek. Follow the creek east and then south for a mile to reach Forty-four Creek. Cross this small stream then turn east following a bend in the creek. After a short distance the trail turns south for a quarter mile, then turns abruptly westward to a trail junction. This trail leads northward a quarter mile to Forty-four backcountry camp.
Walking past the trail junction, the Redwood Creek Trail and Redwood Creek make a large turn to the east. Redwood Creek Trail fords Redwood Creek before then bend straightens and leads into the Tall Trees Grove. Before the stream crossing is the best vantage point of the world’s tallest tree, which stands in the grove just across Redwood Creek. At this point, the trail joins the path of Tall Trees Trail, follow the trail to the left to wind through the redwood grove. One mile east of this stream crossing, the trail reaches the trailhead at the end of C-Line Road. A quarter mile past the trailhead to the south, the trail joins the Dolason Prairie Trail.
Camping is permitted along the Redwood Creek Trail on the gravel bar of Redwood Creek. All camps must be made a quarter mile from the Tall Trees Grove and to the south of the first foot bridge from the picnic area at the northern end of the trail. A wilderness permit is necessary for day and overnight use of Redwood Creek.
Bridges across Redwood Creek are in place during summer months only. Stream crossings can be dangerous during the winter and spring months.
Directions
From Orick:
Follow U. S. Highway 101 northward approximately 1 mile to Bald Hills Road. Turn eastward and drive .25 miles to the Redwood Creek Picnic Area and Trail access road. Follow the dirt road .25 miles to the trailhead.
