Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving this Life

Redwoods National & State Parks – California

Located along the northern coast of California, between the city of Eureka and the Oregon border, the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) – comprised of Redwood National Park  and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods state parks, the combined RNSP contain 133,000 acres and are located entirely within Del Norte and Humboldt Counties.  Together the four parks protect about 45% of all remaining old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.

Found within the ecosystem of the RNSP, a number of threatened plant and animal species are preserved – species such as the Brown Pelican, Tidewater Goby, Bald Eagle, Chinook Salmon, Northern Spotted Owl, and Steller's Sea Lion.  In 1980 the park was designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.  The National Park itself is located about 260 miles north of the city of San Francisco, and about 300 miles south of Portland, Oregon.

It has been estimated that old-growth redwood forest once covered nearly 2,000,000 acres of coastal northern California, but unfortunately through decades of unchecked logging throughout the latter 1800’s, more than 96% of all old-growth redwoods have been removed.  Nearly half of the redwoods that remain are found in Redwood National and State Parks. The parks protect 38,982 acres of old-growth forest.  While you might not yet have personally visited the natural wonders of the RNSP, more than likely you have encountered these majestic trees on tv or on film.  The RNSP has been the featured backdrop in many major motion pictures, including “Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi” where it played a major role as the forest home of those lovable Ewoks, who lived on the Forest Moon of Endor.  Additionally it was featured in films such as “Jurassic Park: The Lost World”, “Time of the Titans”, “Dinosaurs Alive!” and most recently in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

While the state parks have front country campsites that can be driven to, the federal sections of the park do not.  Hiking is the only way to reach back country campsites within the national park portion.  Front country campsites are found at Mill Creek campground in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park; in Jedediah Smith campground in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park;  in Elk Prairie campground and Gold Bluffs Beach campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.  Combined there are a total of 351 campsites available. Other than camping facilities, lodging is not directly available within the borders of the RNSP, but nearby communities to the south, north and east provide ample accommodations.

While the parks are more sedate than other national parks, RSNP does provide various recreational opportunities.  Back country camping is by permit only and is only allowed in designated sites, but access to the back country is highly regulated to prevent overuse. Therefore camping in the back country is limited to five consecutive nights, and 15 nights in any single year. As with any habitat that is home to bears, proper food storage is strongly enforced, and hikers and backpackers are required to take out any trash they generate.

With nearly 200 miles of hiking trails in the parks, park guests will find an abundance of up close and personal opportunities to discover these natural wonders.  But be forewarned, some temporary footbridges are removed during the rainy season since they would be destroyed by high streams. Throughout the year, trails are often wet and hikers need to be well prepared for rainy weather. Additionally, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular but only allowed on certain trails. Kayaking is popular along the seacoast and in the various rivers and streams, and both kayakers and canoeists frequently travel the Smith River, the longest remaining undammed river left in the state of California.  

Fishing is a favorite pastime in the parks and is best in the Klamath and Smith rivers.  Salmon and steelhead, a highly prized species of rainbow trout are common catches in the parks.  A California sport fishing license is required to fish any of the rivers and streams.  Hunting is not permitted anywhere in the parks, but is allowed in nearby National Forests.

The RNSP offers three different visitor centers where park guests can obtain general information, as well as guided nature walks.   For more information about the RNSP area, or to explore the possibility of creating your own vacation memories in or near this majestic playground in America’s portfolio of National Parks, don’t hesitate to visit my website, or call 855.776.1733.