Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and first-time backpackers
Vibe · Moderate and fun
Distance · 16 miles round trip and 692 feet of elevation gain
Permits · Yes, apply online for a Redwood Creek Gravel Bar permit and a Tall Trees Day Use Permit (during the summer)
Drive · 6.5 hours from SF
Ideal dates · June to September
Pets · Welcome at certain campgrounds, but not on trails
Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) preserves some of the most majestic forests on Earth. It's home to ancient coast redwoods which can grow up to 360+ feet tall (imagine a 35-story skyscraper!) and live up to 2,500 years old. These towering beauties are why Redwood National Park is designated as a UN World Heritage Site. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park are also part of the joint national-state park partnership. Thank the Save the Redwoods League; they're a big reason why we have 133,000 acres of redwood groves to camp and frolic in today.
Official Redwood Creek Camping Guide
Main image credit: N/A
The CA Department of Parks and Recreation partnered with the National Park Service in 1994 to preserve RNSP: the four-park ecosystem we have today
Thousands of years ago, the Tolowa, Yurok, Chilula, Wiyot, and Karok tribes lived in the North Coast region. The Yurok had around 55 villages and 2500+ inhabitants at one point
When logging began in the 1850s, there were over 2 million acres of redwood forests, but by the 1960s, nearly 90% of all original redwoods were gone
A spacious sleeping bag that will help you stay warm for spring, summer, and fall camping.
Essential Items
Whether it's coffee or cocoa, bring a silicone mug like this one into the wild. Your tummy will thank you.
Kitchen
Leave your backpacking pack at camp, and use this sleek, compressible pack for day hikes.
Shared Gear
An affordable day pack for bringing snacks, sunglasses, and water on your next day hike.
Shared Gear
Handmade in Seattle, Washington, this sleeping bag is pricey, but you can count on it lasting for years.
Essential Items
A fun, affordable tent for beginner car campers that can be used in the spring, summer, and fall.
Shared Gear
An absorbent, antimicrobial fabric that will keep you clean and dry down under.
Personal Stuff
This cook station has plenty of storage and counter space, and is easy to set up and carry out.
Kitchen
If you like to toss and turn at night, this sleeping pad is known for being a quiet, quality option for car campers.
Essential Items
A solid, lightweight, and relatively affordable tent for people are new to backpacking.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.