Redwood National Park

Year Established: 1968
Annual Visitors: 436,000
Size: 131,983 Acres
State: California

Best Time to Visit Redwood National Park

March to November

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Redwood National Park

• Boy Scout Tree Trail
• Tall Trees Grove Hike
• Stout Grove
• Fern Canyon Hike

A Brief History

The Redwood National Park is apart of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) which is comprised of one national park and three state parks that are managed together. The RNSP is made up of Redwood National Park, which opened in 1968, and three California State Parks from the 1920s: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek. Together, they cover 139,000 acres and have old-growth temperate rainforests.

This land protects the coast redwood old-growth forest that holds the tallest, oldest, and one of the biggest trees in the world. In addition to the redwood forests, the parks protect other native plants, animals, grassland prairies, cultural resources, rivers and untouched coastline.

In 1850, there were more than 2 million acres of old-growth redwood forest along the California coast. Native Americans used to live in the northern part of that area, but gold seekers and people who cut down trees forced them to leave.

People came to cut down the huge redwood trees to help with the gold rush in the southern parts of California and the growing population in San Francisco and other places on the West Coast.

After many years of unrestricted clear-cut logging, people started to work hard to protect the environment. In the 1920s, Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Parks were all made possible by the work of the Save the Redwoods League, which was started in 1918 to protect the last old-growth redwoods.

About Redwood National and State Park (RNSP)

As its name suggests, this American park is distinguished by the spectacular coastal redwood forests. These trees, which have been there for an incredible 160 million years, will be safe thanks to their inclusion on the World Heritage Site list- and most redwoods live up to 2,000 years.

After almost all of the original old-growth coastal redwoods were cut down, the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) now care for roughly 40,000 acres of ancient forest, or nearly half of what is left. While the parks are best known for housing the world’s tallest trees, visitors will also find oak woodlands, beaches, grasslands, wild streams, mountains, and nearly 40 miles of jagged coastline. 

Due to the variety of ecosystems, the parks are home to an astounding variety of wildlife. Just in the ancient coastal redwood ecosystem, one can find anything from black bears to sea anemones among the massive redwoods and tidepools.

Planning ahead is essential for a successful trip to this area, but fortunately most activities don’t require reservations. You can just show up, park, and then take in the natural beauty.

A lot of the visitor centers provide interactive programs for kids as well as hikes, biking trails, scenic drives, and ranger-led tours, such as kayaking and fireside talks.

Although seascapes might not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering the RNSP, the west coastal region is just as important for biodiversity as the forests.

Short walkways lead directly to a wild beach, a freshwater lagoon, or a creek from the Thomas Kuchel Visitor Center in the south, where most visitors stop to learn about the redwoods. Other treasures further north include the beach and campground at Gold Bluffs as well as a plethora of shorter hikes like the Yurok Loop Trail.

For bird watchers, the beautiful coastline’s steep, rocky cliffs are broken up by gentle slopes, intertidal zones, and rocky outcrops. Puffins, cormorants, gulls, and guillemots can all be seen nesting on sea cliffs because about half of the park’s species are marine-based.

The RNSP also has a cultural heritage site. Native Americans have been residing among the redwoods for thousands of years, and they still carry out many of their customs, including hunting, fishing, holding traditional ceremonies, and maintaining crafts.

To create the ideal redwood journey, use official park maps.

Redwood RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Redwood National Park or in California, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in California
• Best RV Resorts in California

Visitor Information

Fees

There is no fee required to enter this national park!

Contacting Redwood National Park

Visitor Centers

Kuchel Visitor Center

The visitor center is on a beach and is the most southern one in the parks. There are displays about Yurok art, history, and culture, as well as information about the park, a junior ranger program, an orientation film, a bookstore, and retail sales.

While you are here, make sure to walk to the beach out of the back door of the center. You will find a beautiful beach scenery to enjoy!