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
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.