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See the Tallest Trees in the World at the Redwood National and State Parks of California

Published by Courtney McConnell, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Driving along the California coastline into the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) can bring you abruptly out of the crystal clear blue skies and glistening ocean into a dark canopy of giant trees. For a moment, it seems as if the redwood forest is a city of trees soaring taller than a New York City skyscraper. After all, these are the tallest trees in the world!

The Redwood National and State Parks is a UNESCO world heritage site spread over 131,983 acres and encompasses four separate areas: Prairie Creek, Del Norte, Jedediah Smith State Parks, and Redwood National Park. Within this area is 45 percent of the world's remaining Coastal Redwood Forest.

Redwood National Park is the place to go if you're into outdoor activities and eager to experience some of the largest trees in the Redwood Forest. Tall Trees Grove, in the Redwood Creek Basin, is home to the current title holder of the world's tallest known tree: "Hyperion," at 379 ft. tall. With over 200 miles of trails and hundreds of backcountry campsites, Redwood National Park offers an endless selection of 'choose your own adventure' options for the intrepid naturalist.

For a different experience, visitors can actually drive through a redwood tree. Three of these tourist sites exist in the forest on private land, where trees have been adapted for the purpose of allowing a car to pass through their base. Even though this attraction advertises a fee, there was no-one working at the site, and I was the only person there for the entire time. I drove through and took photos—it was a fantastic experience.

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Puzzle

When to Go to Redwood National Park

The Redwood National Park is unlike any other, and definitely worth seeing once in a lifetime. There are five visitor centers from the north to the southern end along a 40-mile corridor: Hiouchi Information Center, Jedediah Smith Visitor Center, Crescent City Information Center, Prairie Creek Visitor Center, and Kuchel Visitor Center. Each center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and some are open later until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., where visitors can obtain maps and visitor guide pamphlets (that also explain the rules and regulations of using the RNSP). Several Redwood National Park rangers are on-hand at the centers to answer questions and offer recommendations on places of particular interest.

The Redwood National Park is free to access. Camping for five consecutive nights, or fifteen nights annually is permitted for a fee. Most visitors arrive by car on the 101 Highway, but local public transport, such as the Redwood Coast Transit (http://www.redwoodcoasttransit.org/) travels between Smith River, Crescent City, Arcata, and downtown Orick. There is no longer a shuttle bus operating inside the Redwoods State Park.

Plenty of sealed roads are available inside the Redwood National Park, and horse riding is welcome on the Little Bald Hills Trail, the Mill Creek Horse Trails, and the Orick Horse Trails. Bicycles can only be used on designated trails. Pick up a visitor guide or stop by one of the five visitor centers and talk to a ranger.

Odds n' Ends

Generally, any time of the year is great for visiting this Redwood National Park. The best time of year to avoid the hot temperatures and crowds is during the spring or fall. Remember to pack your rain gear and good shoes. When you are not busy staring skyward at the distant branches of the huge tree-tops, there's plenty of wildlife and birdlife to be seen.

In terms of putting safety first, there are certain animals to be aware of while you are visiting the Redwood National Park: bears, cougars and Roosevelt elk. Bears will usually hear you and avoid you, so it's a good idea to make plenty of noise if walking in a small group; or wear a bear bell. Cougars (mountain lions) are very rare but have been seen and can be dangerous if they attack. They are unlikely to attack a group, and are known to inhabit trees. Be vigilant in both cases and don't walk alone in areas where there are few or no other tourists. The Roosevelt elk is the most commonly sighted of these three animals and is the largest subspecies of North American elk. The adults can be aggressive and kick when approached. As with bears, do not feed them or approach them— especially their young. It's possibly to view them from a safe distance without interfering with them or their territory.

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Books and DVDs

Welcome to Redwood National Park Visitor Guide
Best Short Hikes In Redwood National & State Parks: Including Humboldt Redwoods State Park
California Regional Guide
Redwood National Park, CA - Trails Illustrated Map # 218 (Map)

Elsewhere on the Web

Redwood National - MSN.ca
The coast redwood, the world’s tallest tree and one of its most massive, is protected in these four parks, which comprise 45,572 hectares along the Pacific Ocean in northwestern California.
Redwood Park Website
Stand at the base of a coast redwood and the huckleberry bushes tower over you.
Redwood National Parks Site
Redwood National Park contains the tallest living things on earth, evergreen trees that grow to 350 feet. The park was established specifically to protect these trees...
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Trail Map

Media References

Redwood National Park - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
America's Ultimate Parks 2009: Redwood National Park - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Pacific Coast Highway California - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)

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