Hot to Trot? Here Are 5 Magical Spots In The Redwood National Park

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The Earth still moves at 67,000 miles per hour, 107,826 kilometers as it orbits around the sun, yet contrary to the laws of physics, life seems to slow down in the Redwood Forest. It’s an enchanted place. The kind of place where you have to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming. I half expected to see a caterpillar smoking a pipe on top of a mushroom or a couple of hobbits and a fairy wander across my path. All of these mystical creatures would find themselves right at home amongst the towering giants of bark and leaves, casting shadows of quiet darkness on the forest floor. The Redwood Forests in California provide an adventure where you’ll be able to reconnect with Mother Nature and marvel at her natural beauty.

Here are 5 magical spots in The Redwood National Park:


#1 Avenue of Giants – Avenue of Giants is a resounding welcome to the Redwood National Forest. The 4.5-mile / 7.2km looping drive winds its way through towering Redwoods. Along the route, sunlight peaks through the clearing revealing a wall of 300ft Redwoods, casting a deep cinematic darkness on the forest floor with the fog rolling in making it look even more reminiscent of a movie set. It really feels as if you’re Wayne Knight navigating through lush vegetation as he made a run for the East dock in Jurassic Park, sans dinosaurs. Btw, this comes straight from the heart. No need to ChatGPT up the Redwoods. More about my thoughts on Chat GPT later. Moving on! Be sure to pull over to the side of the road to experience the quiet beauty of the forest and explore massive trees with crevices large enough to fit a family of 4. You’ll also find some banger hikes along the route. Among the hike, highlights were traversing the naturally fallen trees and the way the sun flickered through the forest canopy. Hiking over massive downed trees really helps you grasp the immense size of these magnificent giants. That plus your neck eventually hurts from looking up into the sky in awe. Plan to allocate at least a half day to a day to explore the loop. Driving the avenue is free and parking at the trails is $8.  #Humboldt Redwoods State Park

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#2 Boy Scout Trail – Boy Scout Trail is a 5.5-mile round-trip hike that rewards your persistence with lush forest landscape, opportunities to traverse giant “tree bridges” and the prized payoff, Boy Scout Tree, a massive Redwood in the middle of the forest, well worth the trek. It’s a known trail so not really a hidden gem, but I felt like it was less crowded than some of the other trails in the area which added to the experience. Driving to the trail is a fun adventure in itself. You’ll navigate over hills and up dirt roads all the while surrounded by massive Redwoods. In all, it’s a half-day trip. Nearby, is The Grove of the Titans, which is a more Disneyworldish (developed and crowded) trail, but it’s worth checking them both out to see which you like better. Parking directly at the trailhead can be hit or miss. The area is easily accessible from Crescent City (DM us for places to stay.) #Jedediah Smith State Park

#3 Craig’s Creek – Craig’s Creek is stunning (featured above.) Drive your truck down to the access point and park right on the edge of the creekbed so you can unload your tackle, food, grill, drinks, boom box, Rick Ross CD, and enjoy soaking up the sun hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, rafting or just getting your tan on. The crystal clear waters, calming sounds, and impressive backdrops of pine and Redwoods make this a beautiful spot that you can hit before heaving over to #5 on our list. #Jedediah Smith State Park

#4 Founders Grove – Get comfortable with the panoramic setting on your camera because the trees at Founders Grove are gigantic. The 1,400-year-old Founder’s tree lives here. It’s a gigantic Redwood that was once the tallest tree in the world. Founders Grove Trail is a half-mile-long path in the form of an easily traversable loop. #Humboldt Redwoods State Park

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#5 Stout Grove – Like #4 on our list, Stout Grove Trail is an easy-to-do 0.7-mile loop trail through the Redwoods in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The forest here is dense and beautiful and the road to the trail is windy, narrow, mostly unpaved, and best navigated with a smaller vehicle or 4×4.  Park at the trailhead or Day Use Area ($8 fee required). From the campground walk towards the Smith River and along the riverbank you will find a walking trail heading upstream. This trail is about half a mile and then crosses the summer hikers’ bridge to Stout Memorial Grove. #Jedediah Smith State Park

The serene tranquility of the Redwood forest is such a nice departure from the icy-cold grip of digital media. Grant it we experience our reality through our cell phones, but when you’re done creating your TikTok or Instagram, take a breath, put the phone in your pocket, and lose yourself in the beauty of the forest and its magnificent Redwood trees. Hit us up with your thoughts on the Redwood Forest or let us know about any gems that we missed. @air.dreaming

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