Chasing Giants: My Ultimate Guide to Exploring California’s Coastal Redwoods
A Lifelong Love of Redwoods
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been enamored with trees. They feel like living beings — strong, wise, and watchful. It’s no wonder I’ve always dreamed of visiting the redwoods in California. I’ve now been fortunate enough to wander among these incredible giants several times, and in this guide, I’ll share the best places to see redwoods across California, from north to south.
Where to See Redwoods in California
Most people think you must visit Redwood National Park to see redwoods. While that’s the most famous destination, groves of coastal redwoods stretch all along the California coast — each offering unique scenery, locales and experiences.
Northern California Redwoods
🌲 Redwood National and State Parks
Includes:
- Redwood National Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
These four parks form a UNESCO World Heritage Site on California’s northernmost coast. They’re home to countless trails, towering redwoods, and wildlife like Roosevelt elk and banana slugs.
Top Tips:
- Camp at Elk Prairie Campground in Prairie Creek SP for easy trail access and numerous elk sightings.
- Hike to the Tall Trees Grove (permit required 24+ hours in advance).
- Visit the Big Tree Wayside, just 200 yards from the parking lot — perfect for a quick stop and photos. There is also access to other trails from this spot.
- Don’t miss the Grove of Titans Trail in Jedediah Smith SP, featuring elevated boardwalks and some of the most magnificent redwoods in the region. This is a short (1.5 miles) but popular trail.
🌿 Humboldt Redwoods & Grizzly Creek
South of Eureka, you’ll find two more redwood parks worth visiting:
- Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park — A quiet park along the Van Duzen River with about 5 miles of scenic trails.
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park — Home to the largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world. Drive the Avenue of the Giants, a 32-mile scenic route with eight must-see stops. This is the easiest and most accessible way to see Redwoods.
Central California Redwoods
🌲 Redwood Parks Between Mendocino and the Bay Area
As you travel down the coast, you’ll find smaller but beautiful parks featuring redwood groves and excellent camping:
- Richardson Grove State Park
- Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
- Navarro River Redwoods State Park
- Hendy Woods State Park
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Each offers unique trails, picnicking, and a glimpse of California’s diverse landscapes surrounding the redwoods.
Redwoods Near San Francisco & the Bay Area
🌲 Muir Woods National Monument
One of the easiest places to see redwoods near San Francisco, Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Established in 1908, it preserves one of the last stands of old-growth redwoods in the Bay Area.
Know Before You Go:
- Reservations are required for parking or shuttles — no cell service on-site, so plan ahead.
- Stroll the Redwood Creek Trail for an easy walk among ancient giants.
Redwoods Near Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Mountains
🌳 Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve
Just southeast of Half Moon Bay, this peaceful preserve offers secluded trails among lush redwoods. Managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, it’s one of several beautiful redwood preserves near Santa Cruz.
🌿 Butano & Portola Redwoods State Parks
Halfway between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz:
- Butano State Park features redwoods, coastal grasslands, and wetlands.
- Portola Redwoods State Park offers 18 miles of trails — try the Slate Creek Trail or the Nature Trail near the visitor center.
🌲 Big Basin Redwoods State Park
California’s oldest state park, established in 1902, lies in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Though the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire devastated the area, Big Basin is rebounding.
- Visit the 0.6-mile Redwood Loop Trail, near the temporary visitor center, to witness nature’s resilience.
🌳 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Located in Felton, this park is one of my favorites. The 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop Trail offers an easy stroll through magnificent trees — and you might spot albino redwoods, a rare mutation, growing alongside the giants. For a longer adventure, hike to Cathedral Grove for more breathtaking views of the rewoods and surrounding ecosystem.
🌲 The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Just south of Santa Cruz, this park is about 80% redwoods, mostly second-growth. The Old Growth Loop Trail passes by what was once The Advocate Tree, one of the oldest and tallest redwoods before it fell in 2017.
Redwoods in Big Sur and Southern California
🌲 Pfeiffer Big Sur & Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Parks
Big Sur marks the southernmost range of coastal redwoods.
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park offers short walks like the Redwood Deck Trail and Colonial Tree viewpoint.
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park features the scenic Ewoldsen Trail, with ocean views framed by towering redwoods.
Further south, a few redwoods remain in the Los Padres National Forest, though the Southern Redwood Botanical Area is protected and not open to the public.
🌲 Final Thoughts: California’s Living Giants
From the misty groves of Redwood National Park to the serene forests of Big Sur, California’s redwoods are living monuments to time and resilience. Whether you want a peaceful walk among giants or an epic hiking and camping adventure, there’s a redwood park in California waiting to be explored.
