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 lightweight, easy to clean customizable leash that comes in a rainbow of colors.
Pets
Pets
A neat way to pack, carry, and organize dirty shoes.
Personal Stuff
Clothes
A cute and colorful patch that repels mosquitoes with a natural repellent.
Self-Care
Self-care
It's pricey, but Supergoop! makes putting on sunscreen feel smooth and easy.
Self-Care
A nesting set of collapsible cookware that saves space in your camp kitchen.
Kitchen
Kitchen
It's pricey, but this picnic/camp/play blanket is easy to clean and lasts.
Shared Gear
Keep water cold and your family hydrated with this sleek, non-leak water jug.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Lighten the load from car to camp with this highly-rated collapsible wagon.
Essential Items
Enjoy the small town charm and enchanting wilderness in Idyllwild for this beginner camping trip.