California has two varieties of giant trees, the Coast California Redwood and the Giant Sequoia. The Coast Redwood grows in the coastal region from Santa Cruz to the Oregon border and is also referred to as the 'California Redwood' or 'Giant Redwood'. The Giant Sequoia grows farther inland throughout the Sierra Nevadas from north of Yosemite National Park to south of Sequoia National Park. Both are species of redwood and sequoia and equally impressive in size growing more than 300-feet tall and 20-feet in diameter at the trunk. Many date back more than 2,000 years to before our modern calendar. A visit to any Redwood park or Sequoia park is awe inspiring. Unfortunately, a shameful past of logging during the 1800's has left us with less than 10% of the original old growth forests. Evidence of this destruction can be found in most remaining parks in the form of felled trees and behemoth stumps. In the early years of conservation, many trees had tunnels cut through them as a cheap tourist attraction, which also served an ill fate to the tree. Today, millions of visitors per year are humbled by a visit to California Redwood or Sequoia park.
California State Park Closures are expected to begin in 2012 because of California's budget crisis. Check here for an update on park closures.
Butano State Park is located 5 miles southeast of Pescadero and Highway 101, off Cloverdale Road. Butano is situated in a Coast California Redwood-filled canyon in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The main activities are camping and hiking along the many ocean view trails. Nearby Pescadero State Beach offers beach access. Visitor Center on-site.
Portola Redwoods State Park is located west of Saratoga and Highway 85, off Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard). Portola Redwoods has two creeks and some of the tallest Coast California Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The main activities are camping and hiking on nearly 20-miles of trails that wind through a dense forest of coastal redwoods. Visitor center onsite.
Portola Redwoods State Park
9000 Portola State Park Road
La Honda, California 94020
(650) 948-9098 Map |
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Castle Rock State Park is located west of Saratoga off Big Basin Way. Castle Rock features a Coast California Redwood forest mixed with Douglas-fir and Madrone trees. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and rock climbing.
Castle Rock State Park
15000 Skyline Boulevard
Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 867-2952 Map |
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located northwest of Santa Cruz and Highway 9, off Highway 236 (Big Basin Way). Big Basin features a dense Coast California Redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Activities include hiking and backpacking along the many ocean view and waterfall abundant trails. General Store and visitor center on-site.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin Way
Boulder Creek, California 95006
(831) 338-8860 Map |
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Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located north of Santa Cruz and Graham Hill Road. Activities include camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and fishing. The San Lorenzo River passes through the park and offers salmon and steelhead fishing in the winter. Roaring Camp Railroad is situated next to the park and offers historic train rides through the redwoods and down to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Visitor center onsite.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 North Big Trees Park Road
Felton, California 95018
(831) 438-2396 Map |
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Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Stockton and four miles northeast of Arnold on highway 4. Big Trees is a Giant Sequoia forest with a self-guided trail and campgrounds. Activities include hiking and camping. Some campgrounds are located adjacent to the Giant Sequoia park but other, more secluded camps, are farther into the park. The self-guided tour is the most interactive we've seen in a Giant Sequoia park with multiple walk-through Sequoia trees and a bench that tilts back perfectly to relax and view the entire span of the Giant Sequoia trees. The hardpacked trails and boardwalks through the forest are wheelchair accessible when dry.
Yosemite National Park is located north of Fresno, east of Modesto and west of Lee Vining in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas. Renowned as one of the world's natural wonders, Yosemite is an expansive playground of glacier-carved granite. Natural features include shear granite megaliths, Giant Sequoia forests, waterfalls, meadows and many lakes and streams. Activities include camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, inner tubing, snow skiing and so much more. There is so much to see and do in this park that we've dedicated an entire page to Yosemite National Park.
Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias is located near the intersection of Tioga Pass and Big Oak Roads in the northwest portion of the park. This Giant Sequoia park is accessible via a 2.5 mile round trip hiking trail. The trail drops steeply from the trailhead parking lot to a small grove of Giant Sequoia trees including a walk-through tree.
Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias is located 2 miles west of Tioga Pass and Big Oak Road intersection in the northwest portion of the park. This Giant Sequoia park is accessible via a 3 mile round trip hiking trail. This is a small Giant Sequoia grove.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is located off Highway 41 at the southernmost entrance gate. This is Yosemite's largest Giant Sequoia park and also the most accessible. The grove is split into an upper and lower portion. Choose to explore on foot or by tram. Total distance is 5 to 6 miles round trip but there are nearly a dozen dirt trails that wind through the grove making it easy to spend an entire day there. Multiple interesting trees include the Grizzley Giant, Fallen Monarch, California Tunnel Tree, Telescope Tree and many more. There are Visitor Centers at the parking lot and the top of the grove where there are restrooms and souvenirs. Parking can be tight in the summer months - consider parking at the Wawona store and catching the Mariposa Grove shuttle.
Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park is located east of Fresno and Visalia off Highway 99. Both regions can be accessed from Highway 180 out of Fresno or Highway 198 out of Visalia. This is a huge wilderness area with camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, caving and picnicking. Park features include Giant Sequoia forests, waterfalls, and caves. Tours depart daily into Boyden Cavern and Crystal Cave which both contain impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Join a horseback riding trip from one of several pack stations in the region.
Cedar Grove - Kings Canyon Park is located off Highway 180 high up in the Sierra Nevadas at Cedar Grove Village. Consider exploring on horseback from the Cedar Grove Pack Station.
Indian Basin Grove - Kings Canyon Park is located off Highway 180 approximately 7 miles north of Grant Grove Village. Small Sequoia park is accessible via an easy 6-mile trail from Princess Campground. Points of interest include the Boole Tree and Chicago Stump. Indian Basin Grove has smaller Sequoia Redwoods with plenty of evidence of Giant Sequoias that were felled in the early 1900's in the form of massive stumps.
Converse Basin Grove - Kings Canyon Park is located off Highway 180 approximately 5 miles north of Grant Grove Village. Large Sequoia park is accessible via an easy to moderate 2.5-mile trail. Points of interest include the Boole Tree and Chicago Stump. Converse Basin is the largest contiguous Sequoia Redwood park in the world and contains approximately 60 large trees.
General Grant Grove - Kings Canyon Park is located off Highway 180 at the northwestern entrance to the park. This Sequoia park contains two of the top 12 largest known Sequoia Redwood trees including the General Grant. Consider exploring on horseback from the Grant Grove Stables.
Redwood Mountain Grove - Kings Canyon Park is located off Highway 198 (Generals Highway) approximately 5 miles east of the Big Stump entrance station at the northwest portion of the park. The turnoff is open during summer only and leads to the largest Giant Sequoia Redwood park in the world. Two of the top 25 largest trees grow here. Over 10 miles of trails traverse this Sequoia park.
Lost Grove - Sequoia Park is located off Highway 198 (Generals Highway) approximately 1 mile south of Stony Creek Village at the border between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. A 3-mile round trip trail traverses this small but relatively manageable Giant Sequoia park. Trail links up with the Muir Grove Trail. Trailhead begins at Dorst Creek Campground.
Muir Grove - Sequoia Park is located off Highway 198 (Generals Highway) approximately 1 mile south of Stony Creek Village at the border between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. A 4-mile round trip trail traverses this small but relatively manageable Giant Sequoia park. Trail links up with the Lost Grove Trail. Trailhead begins at Dorst Creek Campground.
Giant Forest - Sequoia Park is located off Highway 198 (Generals Highway) approximately 5 miles south of Lodgepole Village. This large Sequoia Redwood park includes several highlights including the Auto Log, Tunnel Log and General Sherman Tree, the largest known tree in the world by volume. Three of the top five largest trees in the world are found in the Giant Forest.
Atwell Grove - Sequoia Park is located off Highway 198 (Generals Highway) approximately 15 miles east on Mineral King Road, near the southernmost entrance to Sequoia National Park.
Dozens More Giant Sequoia groves are located throughout Sequoia National Forest and are mostly small and secluded. Some of these include Windy Gulch Grove, Suwanee Grove, Redwood Meadow Grove, Castle Creek Grove, Eden Creek Grove, Dillonwood Grove, McKinley Grove, Freeman Creek Grove, Balch Park Grove and more. Talk with a Ranger at the National Park Visitor Center for directions and maps to these lesser-known groves. The stables at Balch Park Pack Station offer horseback riding trips through Giant Sequoias.
Redwood National Park is located along Highway 101 north of Eureka. Three California State Parks dedicated to preserving old-growth redwood forests are within the Redwood National Park boundary. Redwood National and State Parks are home to some of the world's tallest and oldest trees. They can live to be 2000 years old and grow to over 300 feet tall. Rich red tree trunks against the lush, fern canopy make strikingly beautiful contrasts. Much of the park ends at the ocean with steep, rocky cliffs meeting redwood forests. Some areas level out to form lagoons and estuaries. Activities include camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, biking, horseback riding, river rafting, and more.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is located nine miles east of Crescent City on Highway 199. Named after the famous explorer that led the first expedition from the Great Salt Lake to the California coast. This is one of three state redwood parks in the region that are part of Redwood National Park. This park features 10,000 acres of old growth Coast California Redwood including Lost Monarch, the largest known Coast California Redwood. A dense canopy of ferns, moss and lichens fill the forest floor. Black bear, river otter, beaver and fox still roam these lands. King salmon and steelhead trout spawn in the Smith River and Mill Creek. Activities include camping, biking, hiking, swimming and horseback riding.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is located 7 miles south of Crescent City off highway 101. This is one of three state redwood parks in the region that are part of Redwood National Park. This park features 6400 acres with approximately 50% old growth Coast California Redwood and eight miles of wild coastline. Hiking trails throughout and two traverse the steep cliffs to the sea. A sand beach awaits with tidepool exploration at low tide. Activities include camping, hiking and biking.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
1375 Elk Valley Road
Crescent City, California 95531
(707) 464-6101 Map |
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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is located 50 miles north of Eureka off Highway 101. This is one of three state redwood parks in the region that are part of Redwood National Park. Activities include camping, fishing, tidepool exploration, hiking and horseback riding. This park is known for its nature trails through lush fern canopy beneath towering Coast California Redwoods. Four of the top ten tallest trees in the world are found in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Fern Canyon and Rhododendron Trail are two popular trails in the park. Fern Canyon follows a creek bed to the ocean and features several species of fern protruding from the canyon walls. Every year in May, Rhododendron Trail features blooming rhododendrons and azaleas that grow wild in the park.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
127011 Newton B. Drury Parkway
Orick, California 95555
(707) 465-7347 Map |
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Lady Bird Johnson Grove - Redwood N.P. is located off Bald Hills Road just north of Orick on Highway 101. A one-mile loop encircles the grove where rhododendrons and azaleas color the forest floor during the fall.
Tall Trees Grove - Redwood N.P. is located off Bald Hills Road just north of Orick on Highway 101. Visiting the grove requires a 16-mile round trip hike along the picturesque Redwood Creek Trail.
Trees of Mystery is located south of Crescent City off Highway 101. Trees of Mystery features unusual and incredible formations of Coast California Redwood trees. Follow a short interpretive trail through the forest or take the Sky Trail gondola to the peak for astounding panoramic views from the lush redwood forest to the rugged Humboldt coastline. Trees of Mystery also includes a Native American Museum with the most extensive private collection of basketry in the world. View artifacts from the local Yurok, Karok and Tolowa tribes to the Zunis of the southwest and those from the mid-western planes. Also available is a Motel and cafe. Look for Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe.
Trees of Mystery
15500 Highway 101 North
Klamath, Ca. 95548
(800) 638-3389 Map |
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Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park is located 20 miles southeast of Eureka on highway 101 and 17 miles east on highway 36. A more 'off the beaten path' redwood forest, Cheatham Grove is a small but exceptional stand of Coast California Redwood trees that the founder of Georgia Pacific was inspired to preserve. Park features 30 campsites, horse shoe pits, group camp, picnic areas and more. Activities include camping, swimming, picnicking, kayaking, fishing, and hiking.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is located 45 miles south of Eureka along the Avenue of the Giants and 20 miles north of Garberville. Enjoy 53,000 acres of pristine Coast California Redwood forest, 17,000 acres of which is old-growth Coast California Redwood trees thousands of years old. Take a 32 mile self-guided auto tour through Avenue of the Giants. This is California's largest redwood park with more than 100 of the world's tallest trees. Activities include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, camping, canoeing and swimming in the Eel River.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Myers Flat, California 95554
(707) 946-2409 Map |
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Richardson Grove State Park is located 7 miles south of Garberville on Highway 101. The park is located along the south fork Eel River and offers camping, hiking, swimming and fishing within an old-growth Coast California Redwood forest. Richardson Grove contains one of the top ten tallest Coast California Redwoods as well as a walk-through tree. A historic lodge houses a visitor center and gift shop.
Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve is located 4 miles north of Leggett on Highway 101. Park features the Frank and Bess Smithe Grove of Coast California Redwoods. Another park feature is a 60-foot waterfall.
Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area is located just north of Leggett off Highway 101. This park is considered the 'Gateway to Tall Trees Country' and offers the Grove Trail through Giant Coast California Redwoods. Situated along the south fork Eel River, Standish-Hickey offers activities including camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming and fishing.
Standish-Hickey SRA
69350 U.S. Hwy. 101, Box #2
Leggett, California 95455
(707) 925-6482 Map |
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Drive-Thru Tree Park is located at the junction of Highways 1 and 101 in Leggett. This small Coast California Redwood park features the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree as its focal point. Visitors are welcome to enjoy picnic tables and a gift shop.
Drive-Thru Tree Park
67402 Drive-Thru Tree Road
Leggett, CA 95585
(707) 925-6464 Map |
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Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserveis located west of Ukiah off Orr Springs Road. Follow a 3-mile looping trail up Montgomery Creek to five separate Coast California Redwood groves. This redwood park is a striking mix of rich redwood and lush ferns. One of the top ten tallest trees in the world can be found in Montgomery Grove.
Montgomery Woods SNR
15825 Orr Springs Road
Ukiah, California 95482
(707) 937-5804 Map |
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Hendy Woods State Park is located off Highway 128 (Boonville Road) west of Philo. Two miles of trail traverse through two separate Coast California Redwood groves. Popular activities at Hendy Woods include picnicking and swimming and canoeing in the Navarro River. Consider exploring on horseback with Highland Ranch guided horseback riding adventures.
Hendy Woods State Park
Philo Greenwood Road
Philo, CA 95466
(707) 895-3141 Map |
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Armstrong Redwoods State Park is located off Highway 116 (River Road) north of Guerneville. Armstrong features an old-growth Coast California Redwood forest. The park features a visitor center, amphitheater, nature trails and horseback riding stables. Picnic areas feature grills, tables and restrooms.
Armstrong Woods State Park
17000 Armstrong Woods Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-2015 Map |
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General Grant Grove - Kings Canyon Park is located off Highway 180 at the northwestern entrance to the park. This Sequoia park contains two of the top 12 largest known Sequoia Redwood trees including the General Grant. Consider exploring on horseback from the 