Welcome to Coast Redwoods and Redwood National Park

Coast redwood hiking, photography and
redwood adventures in Redwood National Park,
Humboldt Redwoods and Avenue of the Giants.

Updated January 2022

by Mario D. Vaden
Arborist, Explorer and Photographer

When you are ready for Redwood National Park and Humboldt Redwoods State Park, this may be your best resource for information, photos and coast redwood inspiration. This is the the north redwood coast forest and including SW Oregon, the only natural indigenous range of Sequoia sempervirens. Find the menu at the top or side with over 200 pages plus more in the REDWOOD BLOG

The most essential topics are grouped under must see, lodging, park visitor centers and hiking, plus other pages with 100s of coast redwood photos. My goal is to inspire and educate hikers, authors, photographers and explorers. Also for couples, give a call if you need a redwood wedding photographer

IMAGE: The top photo is Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith redwood park. To the right a woman from Arcata is admiring a massive coast redwood in Redwood National Park. An unusually warm day for early May, about 80 degrees. Usually the locals wear jackets and jeans in spring. Available on 20 x 30 print

I'm not a sanctioned coast redwood tour guide but have enhanced adventures for many people in the redwood forest. My arborist experience plus years in the coast redwoods unlock unique adventures. Also, 30 - 60 minute photo consultations are available to help travelers from other regions. For more about this go to: redwood tours

This content began 2008 with one page about the 1998 coast redwood discovery Grove of Titans. Since the grove was disclosed by the parks and CBS News, and a boardwalk installed, I updated another page with directions, news and some myth busting. It's the only resource online with a comprehensive background. Read: THE GROVE OF TITANS

In 2014 more was added about NEW COAST REDWOOD DISCOVERIES found 2008 - 2021 that are wider, bigger or unusual. Coast redwood (Sequoia) now surpasses "giant sequoia" (Seqoiadendron) for height and girth.

The largest coast redwoods vaporize the "giant sequoia" common name for Sequoiadendron. The species in Redwood National Park and along the redwood coast are the only real Sequoia giants or Sequoia semperviens. For example, view the Big Kahuna. Another article removes confusion about common names - see Coast Redwood: The real Giant Sequoia

These pages offer a unique variety of coast redwood information because I'm not constrained by "PC" or agendas like the park service. Every topic should be 100% accurate. I also enjoy documenting certain redwoods over a span of years like the 2006 World record for height

IMAGE: Avenue of the Giants passes through Humboldt Redwoods State Park - 16 x 32 canvas or 12 x 18 photo

Over the years I had opportunity to explore with several people who generously shared insight, knowledge and skill. We found new coast redwood forest discoveries together and wandered many obscure groves. Atkins is the man I spent most time with, including LiDAR coast redwood measuring. Here are pages about these explorers

Michael Taylor
Chris Atkins
Dr. Steve Sillett
Ron Hildebrant
Zane Moore
Dr. Robert Van Pelt

Many largest coast redwoods are undisclosed but the parks will gladly share a bunch of huge ones like the Boyscout Tree, Stout Tree, Corkscrew, Immortal, BIG and GIANT redwoods. See menu under redwood giants. Those are considered landmarks, some marked by signs.

Other largest 15 coast redwoods have pages describing behemoths within Redwood National Park. Most of are not landmark redwood trees, but realizing their characteristics allows people to understand growth potential of Sequoia sempervirens.

Redwood National Park and Humboldt Redwoods State Park visitor centers can direct you to 300' and 360' tall coast redwoods in several parks. But start in the menu under essentials for stuff that is easy to visit.

PAYMENT for REDWOOD TRIP ADVICE or ART

Starting 2020 I will provide phone advice for your redwood park experience. There is plenty online for free, but for longer stays this advice has proved worth the investment. This should be prepaid @ $100 for 1 hour or half that for 30 minutes. See contact page for phone & email to arrange a time discussion and option like paypal. This is similar to the horticulture consultations provided over there years for trees and design. The best hours to contact are 2pm - 7pm Pacific Standard Time. There's no charge for your first inquiry call to find out what aspects I can assist with like prioritize time, preparing back-up plans, choosing a home-base with decent amenities, and how different airports matter.

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I routinely post on Facebook as REDWOOD FOREST but the nexus is here, including pages about awesome and big coast redwoods. It's evident some redwood locations are not advertised. If I do not describe where some coast redwoods are located, remember the pages are meant to show the potential that visitors can dream about.

Just pick some trails and see what outstanding coast redwoods you can spot on your own. If hikers will just slow down, there are plenty of big coast redwoods to spot. If you haven't read Preston's redwood book, check the review The Wild Trees

IMAGE: Mill Creek flowing downstream from the Grove of Titans coast redwoods. The blue color is from serpentine mineral rock. Available 14x14 and 16x20

One section in the menu adds mystery coast redwoods without names that included short stories related to our exploring - what happened, thoughts, or what was unusual that day. And I have not spotted Bigfoot, but a Redwood Fairy was encountered near Trillium Falls Trail

The coast redwood forest prompted my journey into photography. I now provide portrait and wedding photography in Oregon and parts of the coast redwood forest or parks.

Keep Scrolling for more below!

The following restaurant and motel are favorites, across the road from each other.

Coast Redwoods Facts

Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, is the only living species of the genus Sequoia. Common names include coast redwood and California redwood, but this redwood is also indigenous to southern Oregon. The botanical or scientific name is Sequoia sempervirens. It is accurate to call them "Sequoia" because "giant sequoia" is a common name reserved for Sequoiadendron giganteum, and only the coast forest holds the real Sequoia genus naturally established.

IMAGE: one of many new coast redwood discoveries in Redwood National Park. The near 28 ft. trunk diameter, volume and height exceeds any Sequoiadendron in one or more aspects. Age estimated over 4000 years. This is available 20 x 30 photo print or canvas. For more about this find, see huge coast redwood

Coast redwood is evergreen and monoecious, forming male and female reproductive parts on one tree. Pollination occurs mostly during winter. Apparently seeds from coast redwoods over 250 yrs. old are more viable than seeds from young redwood trees. It is the tallest species, exceeding 380 to 386 feet and over 29 ft. diameter. Maximum age can exceed 2500 years and there is one estimated over 4000 years.

Foliage leaves are needles about 1 inch long with pointed tips and may have white stripes beneath referred to as stomatal bloom. Foliage higher up in old coast redwoods may be tiny and almost awl-shaped. Small upper foliage is not the result of sun exposure (myth) but due to drawing water from roots to extreme height.

IMAGE: redwood trunks on the left without any moss and spruce on the right laden with moss.

Presently, coast redwood species exceeds General Sherman (Sequoiadendron) 1321 points of the national registry. It is also the widest diameter species in the country. As shown, coast redwoods of extreme size exist around Redwood National Park. So big, the existence perplexes some Sierra Nevada rangers.

Coast redwood used to grow around planet Earth in other eras but climate or geological events reduced the natural range to a narrow strip along the Pacific Ocean coast of northern California and SW Oregon. There is a man-made coast redwood forest in New Zealand.

Coast redwood shares forest with Douglas fir which also grow to over 300 feet tall and 9 feet diameter or more. Cones are very different. Small coast redwood cones feel hard and woody. Unlike true firs with cones disintegrating up in the canopy, Douglas fir drops entire cones with a triple pointed bract protruding from the scale. Some compare the bracts to a mouse hind legs and tail. Coast redwoods may not produce many cones certain years, so few that someone could hike a mile and struggle to locate a few.

Coast Redwood is the only living species of the genus Sequoia. Common names include coast redwood and California redwood. The botanical or scientific name is Sequoia sempervirens and it can be accurate to call them Sequoia because "giant sequoia" is a common name reserved for Sequoiadendron.

IMAGE: a large Douglas fir overlaid with its own cone top right and a coast redwood cone bottom right for comparison. This was at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Coast redwood does not require fog for survival. They may need fog for extreme mass or height, but for survival of established redwoods there are substantial coast redwoods planted decades ago in areas with as little as 20 inches yearly rainfall and no summer fog. A related page covers certain claims about climate and fog in relation to coast redwood survival and also demonstrates redwoods can stand alone. Do not believe every claim you hear about redwoods at face value. I added a narrative about how and why solo redwoods are stronger than grove redwoods. Look for a bold heading near the end of my Del Norte Titan Page

Redwoods and other trees are not stronger growing in groves. Many do grow in groves but there are drawbacks and advantages. Sometimes one redwood will fall and take down another that would not have fallen had it stood alone. Sometimes several redwoods will be demolished after a single one falls over. For more visual, see this video about fallen redwoods

Groves can cause weaker redwoods with more shallow roots and slimmer trunks compared to solo trunks of simlar ages. A grove can buffer wind and provide some protection but the benefit can be a matter of reliance and dependence instead of individual strength.

IMAGE: coast redwood foliage shown on the left and Pacific yew foliage on the right.

Around 2017, rangers in a Redwood National Parks Facebook video claimed redwoods have weakly attached branches. But redwoods prove contrary. In the parks, just look up. There are branches to 7 feet diameter, centuries old. Normal branches are strong. Given many years - storms, other falling redwoods and fire will eventually break off some branches. Then weaker epicormic branches or sprouts can grow in addition to the sturdy branches. But normal redwood branches are plenty strong like the limbs canopy scientists hoist rope over, entrusting their lives.

Near the Pacific coast, Yew may be the only other indigenous evergreen that could be confused with coast redwood, but only in the early years of growth or size development.

At a quick glance, Taxus brevifolia (Yew) has similar looking needle foliage to Sequoia sempervirens, including tapered tips. But the underside of Yew leaves lack white bands (stomatal bloom) whereas redwood should have two white bands beneath.

Yew foliage has the appearance of two bands but the needles should appear pale. And redwoods have small, almost woody feeling cones with multiple seeds, whereas yews have a single seed with a modified coating called an aril which is red, pulpy and berry-like. Yews normally don't reach even 100 ft. in old age.

IMAGE: This is a bugs-eye-view of a carnivorous plant indigenous to the west coast, sharing natural range with the coast redwoods. The name is Darlingtonia or Cobra Lily. This photograph shows the flower and the plant, near Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. These tend to grow in bogs or areas wet all year.

Shown in another photo above, redwoods rarely have moss on the trunks - minimal if any. Some redwoods like Del Norte Titan may have patches of lichen. Otherwise, most mossy trunks will be spruce, hemlock and sometimes Douglas fir. The moss example was one of many spruce entering Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Redwood bark tends to repel moss growth.

That Del Norte Titan (DNT) mentioned can teach several lessons. It has huge branches overhead, showing strong attachment overhead after many wind storms.

That DNT coast redwood is also far beyond most other for size and dispels myths about coast redwood trees and group survival. It stands mostly in the open where wind moves like a funnel along the adjacent creek. Redwoods can buffer each other but grove trees tend to be reliant instead of stronger.

It is true trees may exchange substances by roots but over 40 years I learned how weak some other groups of evergreens developed compared to various individual trees. For some extra insight see my Coast Redwoods and Roots Video. Be sure to see the devastation at 3:41

IMAGE: Battery Point Lighthouse with Monterey cypress, spring flowers and fog starting to roll in. Near Crescent City, west of Jedediah Smith redwood park. Available 16 x 48 canvas print

2018 ushers-in a new Youtube Channel for redwoods. I'm not a videographer so don't expect a cinema experience. It will be a mix of coast redwood and other tree care stuff.

Old Growth and Redwood Climbing

I posted a few minutes of random video clips showing climbing experts in a huge coast redwood at The Trees of Mystery. See Redwood Climbing Video

Climbing old growth redwoods near Redwood National Park and Humboldt Redwoods State Park is usually not permitted except for researchers.

IMAGE: Climbers in a large old growth coast redwood. The trunk is still 10 ft. wide 110 feet up off the ground. The base is 19 ft. diameter and height close to 300 ft.

That redwood is not available for routine climbing. This was a special 2019 event coordinated by Expedition Old Growth and Archangel Ancient Tree Archive at Trees of Mystery in Klamath for a special purpose and covered by NBC, BBC and French Broadcasting.

I was invited to this and ascended 200 ft. in another redwood a few hundred feet down the path from the other redwood. Rain falling through a mist was icing on the cake, watching moisture decend through layers of evergreen species, foliage colors and textures.

A good alternative are old growth canopy climbs from Expedition Old Growth. They take newcomers and skilled climbers into other old growth evergreens. The team has a solid reputation.

Mobile vs. Computer

This main redwood page is the only one partially optimized for mobile devices with the rest meant for computer viewing. The menu and top should resize on tiny screens.The bigger your screen the better to view these coast redwoods. A monitor is the best anyway. It's amazing how much life gets sucked out of photos on mobile device displays.

IMAGE: a married couple retreats to the hollow center of an ancient old growth trunk after their redwood wedding ceremony (redwood wedding photography by Mario Vaden)

Wide Spectrum of Content

This resource and offshoots cover mostly redwood parks of Northern California. Read feedback about lodging, camping, redwood hiking, visitor centers, photography, redwood explorers and canopy research. Comments for redwood trails are in the menu under hiking listed under 5 park names plus an extra link to redwoodhikes.com which has even better maps than the redwood parks.

Adventure vs. Photography

A shout-out to photographers!

Consider how much photography you want to take back home proportionate to your hiking. If you hike and take just a handful of photos, any redwood park will do. But for photographers, the Avenue of the Giants may be the icing on your cake depending upon time of year.

From June to November, deciduous shrubs in Redwood National and State Parks thicken the forest. It's great for hiking but limits view and photo compositions. July to October, Howland Hill Rd. in Jedediah Smith redwood park is super dusty. In the rainy season it gets washed clean and provides spectacular photos. But summer and early autumn you need to get on a trail for photos without dust. Prairie Creek park Drury Parkway is paved but much of that park is also thick with leaves in spring and summer. In late fall winter, the moss on old growth bigleaf maples is much more prominent and vibrant.

Avenue of the Giants main roads are paved and the forest and spacing of trees is much more open. That park seems easier to photograph during the entire 12 months. The Avenue of the Giants and Humboldt Redwoods State Park offer more open space in which to manuever and get more keepers.

IMAGE: an amazing Dec. 31st sunset at a beach of Crescent City. I may try this on metal. Avaialbe 12 x 18 photo print

I am not saying to stay south of Eureka. There are redwoods and trails and certain spots up in Redwood National Park area that Humboldt Redwoods has no equal for. This is an encouragement for photographers to absolutely include Avenue of the Giants in addition to Redwood National and State Parks.

If the entire day will not remain cloudy, start early morning before the sun shining scatters bright hot spots among the redwoods. The last couple hours of daylight are often rewarding.

Redwood Parks Differ in Character

The 15 largest coast redwoods (2013) are included because most visitors will never see them, as well as Hyperion the tallest redwood (2006) discovered in Redwood National Park.

The very tallest and the largest (published) are dispersed throughout Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Redwood National and State Parks. But all the parks have an abundance of very tall and large coast redwoods.

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park has some big redwoods but is often recognized for Damnation Creek trail leading to the ocean, foggy redwoods with "God rays" and Rhododendron blossoms late spring.

Most superlative trunks are not destinations. Those coast redwoods and others are shown in redwood giants under largest plus awesome & big coast redwoods. A handful of them are landmarks.

IMAGE: two years after spotting this cathedral redwood, I crossed a river to get a photo to put in our home office studio. It exemplifies the beauty of coast redwood and spirit of exploring. The trunks stand 6 minute trek from the camera. This may not be in the menu but I made a page with a bigger sample. See ZoZo's Tree. Available 20 x 30 print.

There are so many big coast redwoods in the park - even the greatest ones blend in. You will have a remarkable trip even if you just see redwoods near trails.

The north parks of Humboldt and Del Norte is specifically where coast redwoods reach 380 ft. tall and over 29 ft. diameter. The area stretches near Crescent City, Klamath, Orick, Eureka and toward Garberville.

That region has 5 coast redwood parks with old growth forest and trails. Each coast redwood park is different. Jedediah Smith seems more Jurassic including the spectacular drive along the old Howland Hill Rd. Redwood National Park feels like a Wilderness experience with more mountain and fewer visitors during rainy seasons. Humboldt Redwoods with Avenue of the Giants is more open and spacious in the understory and seems more like a cathedral. Prairie Creek has so much lush vegetation it almost feels tropical, and can be a trail runner paradise with 70 miles of trails.

Those 5 parks have redwoods are over 100 ft. taller than the tiny Muir Woods National Monument near San Francisco.

Avenue of the Giants may be easier to photograph for groves and road scenes but for gnarl and Jurassic, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks seem better.

Four parks managed as Redwood National and State Parks account for 133,000 acres. Those are Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. Up farther north.

IMAGE: the south fork of the Smith River about 2 minutes away from Redwood National and State Parks' Jedediah Smith park. In winter, the water deepens and blue intensifies.

Approximately 30 minutes south of Eureka is Humboldt Redwoods State Park with over 50,000 acres. It includes Rockefeller Forest and Avenue of the Giants. This is managed separately and has its own visitor center, one of the best. It also has campgrounds and a well-maintained road.

90% of people should find a good lead here about coast redwood travel. Photos include Jedediah Smith redwoods, Avenue of the Giants, Prairie Creek redwoods, Del Norte redwoods and Redwood National Park. The emphasis remains on coast redwoods but images from local places are added.

Those 5 parks have redwoods over 100 ft. taller than the tiny Muir Woods National Monument near San Francisco. So Marin county trips alone won't really show the full potential of a coast redwood forest.

IMAGE: Chris Atkins (co-discoverer of Hyperion redwood (2006) faces a window to the forest. Redwood National Park has countless hidden scenic groves like this. He and Michael Taylor explored together for years. Their discoveries fueled interest and data for continued research.

There are are at least 8 coast redwoods over 370 feet tall (2013). Four were in Redwood National Park and four in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Visitor centers will not provide maps for those except maybe the National Geographic redwood in Tall Trees Grove of Redwood National Park. They can easily point you to redwoods 300 to 350 ft. near Avenue of the Giants, Drury Scenic Parkway, Bull Creek Flats, Howland Hill Rd. and Redwood National Park. There are world height records in Prairie Creek and Redwood National Park but the visitor centers don't have the locations, nor will it matter because there are plenty other satisfying tall groves.

Most largest coast redwoods are not landmarks like giant sequoias you may have seen surrounded by signs and rails. But the park visitor centers have maps to some very large and interesting coast redwoods. A few have decks. And the coast redwood parks of the far northern coast is a more serene experience than many giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron) groves.

Each coast redwood park has its own character and are all worth visiting.

It's Not Just Redwoods

The Redwood Coast is not merely tall and giant coast redwoods. There are beaches, rivers, lagoons, prairies, harbors, lighthouses, campgrounds, art galleries, trails and forests.

IMAGE: the forks of the legendary Smith River, upstream from Stout Grove and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. This photo has so much detail that only larger prints do justice. Feel free to ask and I can email a sample to check on your monitor. Available photo print 16 x 20 and 20 x 30 on metal, print or canvas

I made an effort to show the diversity in the photos. The redwood coast has kayaaking, fishing and marathons. There are festivals, plus the Ferndale kenetic sculpture contest and several breweries. Ferndale also boasts the world's tallest living Christmas tree. In 2010, someone from Humboldt asked me to measure it because the town has a rivalry with Coeur d' Alene. We learned that Ferndale boasts the tallest; another feather in the cap for the redwood coast.

Horseback trail riding is available from Orick adjacent to Redwood National Park. Ask or drive near the fairgrounds. You can get horses and enjoy trail rides through spectacular old growth redwood forest.

Car buffs can attend the Sea Cruise auto show each October in Crescent City. The Curly Redwood Lodge looks retro that time of year as repeat customers fill covered parking with vintage vehicles from end to end.

Image: fallen coast redwood and roots by a bridge at Boy Scout Tree hiking trail. This is Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

North of Redwood National Park in Klamath there's smoked Salmon, jet boat tours and the Klamath River overlook to spot whale pods. On the way up to the overlook, the Requa Inn has homemade bread. Although it's an Inn, they don't mind drop-ins for meals.

There is no shortage of breweries. Between Redwood National and Humboldt Redwoods in Eureka, keep an eye out for Lost Coast Brewery. And adjacent to Jedediah Smith redwood park in Crescent City, you can find Port O Pints and Seaquake. Those are three favorites.

In Crescent City area there is a town visitor center where Front Street meets Highway 101. And that is a one minute walk from the Redwood National Park visitor center across Front St. by a couple hundred feet.

If you want variety, the redwood coast has it. And one other resource to keep in mind on your redwood journey is the Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Photos Can Do Justice

Ever heard this quote of John Steinbeck?

"The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It's not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time."

Image: Lupine blooming near Bald Hills Rd. above Redwood National Park. This photo is from April. The floral display is more profuse during certain years. This spot is about 10 miles farther than Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Quite a few people rehearse those lines adding that photos don't "do justice" for coast redwoods. It's true that a photograph does not capture sound, scent or feeling, but I've seen photos that prove them wrong.

Have you seen the image of the massive tree in National Geographic, October 2009? It shows a redwood in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, top to bottom with about 5 researchers throughout the canopy for scale. If we combined what all five men could see when the photo was taken, their combined views would be a mere fraction of huge centerfold photo.

Likewise, I've taken redwood photos with a 200mm lens reaching details that were basically impossible to see with just my own eyes. Afterward, I could enjoy and print these scenes. And sometimes I can remember what it felt like. If photographs can capture the redwood coast and surpass what human eyes can see, then photos are do justice and redwoods can be successfully photographed. Photos can increase education.

Sometimes, the shortcoming is just printing too small. It may require a 30 inch print to properly show some images. That's why most redwood photos in our home and office are 30 to 60 inches.

Coast Redwood Hiking & Maps

Use the top menu for my reviews of popular coast redwood trails, official park maps and visitor center contact numbers. They are in the hiking and maps option.

My reviews are listed under:

• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Redwood National Park
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park

I recall seeing redwoodwoodhikes.com maps at the parks visitor center racks. Those redwood trail maps are well worth the purchase.

The other redwood hiking website is provided from the menu Look for redwoodhikes.com. Our reviews are not identical. Read both and compare. redwoodhikes.com may whack a rating for traffic sound more than I do.

To avoid re-inventing the wheel, I add content when I feel the trail should be described differently with added emphasis, or given a different rating. My experience with redwoods and trees as an arborist is extensive and there's plenty I can add to the mix. I worked outdoors most of my life from about 1975, and as an arborist from 1980, and continuing.

My emphasis is different. Both of our redwood trail reviews combined will offer you more.

Image: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park near the visitor center. This is the approach to 3 hiking trails. James Irvine trail, Westridge trail and Prairie Creek trail.

redwoodhikes.com is worth 5 stars for redwood hiking destinations, photos, trail ratings, detailed maps and mre. See the 2nd menu next to the hiking heading.

Muir Woods

If you need a good "shot in the arm" but can't go much beyond San Francisco, Muir Woods National Monument and Coast Redwoods is an option in Marin County.

Compared to the north coast redwood parks, Muir Woods' redwoods are smaller but has plenty of character. The small park 12 miles north of San Fran has 554 acres with 240 acres of old growth. For comparison that's about 1% the size of Humboldt Redwoods State Park south of Eureka. Or about 10% the size of Forest Park on Portland's west side.

Image: Richardson Grove visitor center south of Avenue of the Giants and Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Muir Woods' tallest redwood is under 270 ft. whereas Humboldt and Del Norte have tallest over 350 ft. and 370 ft. If redwoodhikes.com implemented a serenity scale to rank Muir Woods for a trip and all day experience, it could end up as just 1/2 star some days. Let me quote one of the park's July site alerts:

"Take the Muir Woods Shuttle. Weekends are the busiest time for Muir Woods. Parking limited. Muir Woods is experiencing high numbers of visitors. Traffic and unsafe parking behaviors are adding stress to visitors and residents. Expect delays on Hwy 1 as people drive to and from Muir Woods and local beaches."

Again, Muir Woods may give you that shot in the arm unless you find the stress. Muir Woods could be compared to pharmaceutical commercials with disclaimer warnings and Redwood National and State Parks compared to natural food stores.

Exploring the Coast Redwoods

After many of my own redwood trips, I suggest for travelers from afar to consider lodging reservation rather than camping to get more out of adventure and cover more ground. It buys time, not just a room. If your time is limited, you can skip camping setup, drying tents and waiting for showers.

IMAGE: Crescent City harbor at sunset. Two minute stroll from the Curly Redwood Lodge. Available 16 in. x 32 in. canvas

Coast redwood camping is a lot of fun, but if the forest will give you that shot in the arm, get a motel or bed & breakfast room. It also provides a place to keep items that are less secure in a car or tent.

Expect park staff & rangers to be very helpful. The rangers at the redwood visitor centers are indispensable. Most don't understand redwoods as well as arborists, but they sure know their way around the trails, roads and facilities.

My time in the redwoods is hiking, camping, photography and exploring. The redwoods are an outdoor museum which led to interesting conversations, new friends around the world and a few world record discoveries. It's a recreation overlapping my work and education. It literally changed my life, leading me into professional photography also.

IMAGE: Crescent City harbor and fireworks during sunset on July 4th Independence Day. Available 16x32

Keep in mind that north California has the best places to see redwoods. Oregon has just a little for old growth redwoods and trails. Places to the south like Big Basin and Montgomery Woods are very lovely too, but the coast redwoods of Del Norte and Humboldt are in a league of their own, almost like another planet.

The biggest list of giant and tallest coast redwoods discovered over the years came from two men who explored for decades: Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor. They explored alone and with others, and their discoveries provided a basis for much of what Dr. Steve Sillett at HSU researched some years. For example, the Atlas redwood Grove study project with the redwood Iluvatar that eventually became the cover of 2009 National Geographic. It's only because of redwood discoverers like them that park rangers realize there are world records around Redwood National and State Parks.

Think about that for moment. If the tallest redwood wasn't found and measured, how could any ranger claim Sequoia sempervirens reaches taller than Eucalyptus regnans?

IMAGE: Eel River in Autumn and Humboldt Redwoods along Avenue of the Giants. Available 16x32

At least in the United States, Michael Taylor's coast redwood exploring almost reminds me of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Michael had the benefit of returning home and certainly didn't face certain dangers like the Corp of Discovery. But he spent years of his life exploring most of the coast redwood parks in California, treading through the wilderness far beyond the trails.

Read more about: Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor.

Taylor is an interesting fellow, a mechanical engineer who is expert with species ID and forests, understanding algebra and trigonometry. He has a huge appreciation for gadgets and drones. Atkins is a family man who used to look like a beach stud, and seems to know where every health food store is between Sanoma and Del Norte. Chris is no slouch with math either.

In June 2011, Michael Taylor, Chris Atkins and myself broadened exploration into Southern Oregon and the Sierra Nevada, adding pines and Douglas fir to the coast redwood adventures. By 2013 and afterward, Taylor was most active outside of the coast redwoods. Partly due to ongoing re-measure of LIDAR redwoods and business, Atkins remains close to Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park. I remained near the redwood coast for photography, and because we were certain more remained out there for discovery.

2008 to 2020 provided many opportunities to explore with Michael Taylor, Chris Atkins, Dr. Robert Van Pelt and Dr. Steve Sillett, in Redwood National and State Parks. The days were vigorous and memorable. Part time during 2 to 3 years, there was opportunity to work with locating and measuring tall redwoods related to LIDAR. I helped Atkins tag, measure and acquire data which was relayed to Sillett. With GPS and tags at all the tallest redwoods, that enables Atkins to measure a lot of them again solo.

After 2014, a few of us invested much more of our energy again into the coast redwoods and found remarkable new champion redwoods. Many new giants. See Discovery under Redwood Giants in the menu to find out more.

IMAGE: a coast redwood named Gizmo. It stands in a grove with a long elk trail on a natural bench. A raised elevation called Carbon Ridge is behind the trunks in the background

Publishing ... Yea or Nay

Some people have followed my redwood pages and photos for years. A few of them understand why I don't post certain redwoods. But for new readers, I will share a few thoughts.

More than 99% of people looking for already-discovered coast redwoods could not find them without a photo. And over the years we found that when people had to really work locating certain redwoods, they left the area in better condition.

For that reason, some coast redwoods haven't ever been shown, like Capt. Jack Sparrow (Jupiter) which is wider than all known giant sequoias.

Some redwood giants are shown, but not location. One reason is reducing wear and tear, but the other is preserving a form of adventure and recreation. Some people enjoy searching for others' discoveries without having the location merely handed to them. They prefer a real challenge. It's almost like the quest of finishing Zelda The Ocarina of Time, but even better because they are out in nature. We suggest they bring a compass and GPS to get back out before dark.

Redwood Coast Restaurants & Lodging

Here are some restaurant & motels for dining and lodging in Humboldt and Del Norte counties of Northern California. Most are are clean, affordable and comfortable.

Curly Redwood Lodge CRESCENT CITY on Highway 101. Just 5 minutes from the redwood park. Huge rooms. This is the one I stay at most often. Some of my photo prints are in the lobby. The covered parking is a treat during fog or rain. There is a restaurant directly across the street and more just a few minutes walk away.

Marlo's Restaurant Greek & Italian CRESCENT CITY. Food was excellent. They may have a lunch buffet. My father was Greek, so this should be fun place to put the meals to the test. The inside was clean and service friendly.

IMAGE: this massive coast redwood is one of the Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith park. Approximately 26 ft. diameter, it's known as the Lost Monarch. Available 20 in. x 30 in. print for $100

Arcata Stay ARCATA. Upscale California Lodging accommodations. The only lodging network in Arcata with an excellence rating by Tripadvisor. The 8 Stays are walking distance to Humboldt State University and downtown.

Discovery Inn EUREKA. First stay at this motel was 2012. Comparable value to Motel 6 nearby. Its a coin toss. Clean room and bath. Fridge and WIFI. Convenient location. On Broadway / Highway 101

Bayview Motel EUREKA. Not a budget motel. On hill overlooking the town and bay. First stay was with two other explorers. We got a 2 Queen Suite & adjoining single King. Nice balcony on 2nd floor

Redwood Hyperion Motel GRANTS PASS, Oregon. If you need a place close to I-5. An extra stepping stone to to Jedediah Smith redwood park if you are too tired for an extra 1.5 hour to Crescent City, or need to wait during snow.

Humboldt Redwoods Inn GARBERVILLE. Liked the convenience of this motel right at the turn around for downtown and close proximity to restaurants, grocery and fuel. South end of town.

Historic Hiouchi Cafe HIOUCHI / CRESCENT CITY. Located in the quaint community of Hiouchi, almost adjacent to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Smith River. Along redwood highway 199. Hiouchi Cafe got new owners as of 2016, who also purchased the Hiouchi Motel next door. As a result, the menu and hours are growing.

There are a few more restaurant & motels to suggest for dining and lodging in Humboldt and Del Norte counties of Northern California. Most are are clean, affordable and comfortable.

For lodging and restaurants continued read:

Redwood Vacation Lodging & Restaurants

IMAGE: this photo shows men and a redwood named Elk Herd. In the red shirt is M. D. Vaden. Wearing blue is Mark from back east

BREWERIES

Here are a few redwood coast breweries worth trying:

Port O Pints Brewing CRESCENT CITY. A clean family run pub style operation with snacks and occassional music. Located at 1215 Northcrest Drive. Barely 10 minutes from Jedediah Smith redwood park campground.

Seaquake Brewing CRESCENT CITY. A spacious family-friendly atmosphere. A big city look with small town friendliness. Great food. They claim the best beer and food. I'd say their food and and beer rate with the best in the far north redwood coast. Located at 400 Front Street, about 1 minute away from Battery Point Lighthouse.

Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe EUREKA. Great Food and Beverage. The atmosphere reminds me of the McMenamins found around northern Oregon. Located at 1600 Sunset Drive, in Eureka. This place has an exceptional apricot ale that is only available on tap. Only 40 minutes north of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Redwood Parks and Visitor Centers

Redwood National and State Parks visitors centers are handy for some questions beyond what I provide like:

• Dates are camping reservations?
• Wedding permits - how to get one?
• How to get camping permits for Redwood National Park?
• Is Howland Hill Road open today?

Links - Redwoods Parks and Visitors Centers

List of Redwood Park Information Centers & phone

Current Conditions information updates

IMAGE: huge Paul Bunyan & Babe at the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, with man for scale. This is adjacent to Hy. 199 just north of Prairie Creek redwood park.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park - that park's camping & hiking is managed separately from Redwood National and State Parks above. Go to:

Humboldt Redwoods State Park Information

Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association

Photography Workshop ?

Here's where I'm at on Photography Workshops ...

Down the road, I hope to offer workshops in the Coast Redwood parks. Technically permits are required, but there are alternative options along main routes and places like Florence Keller park where I did a workshop in 2016. If you have a small group interested give me a call to see what we can arrange.

My strength leans toward composition and picking the right location for time of day and weather. And I photograph a lot more portraits than typical redwood forest photographers.

IMAGE: Howland Hill Rd. in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. One of 4 scenes I photographed when Redwood Empire distillery needed an image for a 10 ft. x 10 ft. print. They chose another, but I saved this early morning scene. Available 16 x 20

I can't be the sharpest tool in the drawer, but I look at workshop pages of other photographers and realize I like my own photos better than a lot of the others'

I did my first workshop, September, 2016, near Crescent City, in a redwood park that didn't require the state park permit. It went smoothly and I hope to help out again.

If professional photographers contact me for help getting around in the redwoods for photography, I will entertain the idea. But keep in mind that Redwood National and State Parks asks for a permit and $2,000,000 insurance.

I already have coverage for my other work, but the permit hurdle is somewhat of a hassle for a non-routine outing.

If you need comfort of photographng with someone who knows the lay of the land, drop a note and maybe we can arrange something. But a lot of pro could easily self-guide themselves.

To Professional Photographers ...

Technically, the parks require permits for some photography. The center at Crescent City can clarify this. If your equipment is compact like camera, tripod and backpack, no permit is required for landscape photography and redwoods. If you plan to use a model for commercial use that may need a permit, but could be "grey area". I say this because if a typical visitor poses family for Flickr or Instagram, that can be portfolio-building as much as a photographer posing one person by the same coast redwood.

IMAGE: My mother at Simpson Reed grove. A more recent page honors my mother Eleanor Vaden, 1919-2017, who rests in this spectacular forest.

Also, models can be friends, and then the playing field is identical to other friends. Light stands or reflectors may be commercial photography from their point of view. Photography workshops need a permit and insurance (and why many photographers go under the radar). Scenic redwood photography does not require a permit even if you sell prints.

A group of friends or photographers just getting together casually with cameras and tripods do not need a permit. Oddly, it's nearly identical to a photography workshop when it boils down to the outward presence of the people. My own work is a combination of photography and artistic. Ansel Adams did likewise with film camera and darkroom.

Wish you well on your photography adventures !!

Photography Tips for
Coast Redwoods

IMO, the wet season, October - June, is the best for redwood photography:

• Views more open with leaves fallen
• Rain moistens, intensifying colors.
• Rain washes dust off ferns
• The color of moss is better
• Lichens on trunks revive, vibrant
• Colorful mushrooms more abundant

Photo Tips Continued

IMAGE: Chris for scale with a redwood called Mother Lode and a Sitka spruce with moss on the trunk.

Other Photo Stuff

North California and Redwoods Virtual Photography PIck a 360 degree tour

Images by Lowell Cottle Redwoods, birds and more.

North Coast Photos with Redwoods North Coast

Redwood Image Archaeology Redwood Post Card and Image Archive.

Dr. Van Pelt the Artist. Scientist, and author of Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast.

Image: Trillium Falls trail in Redwood National Park. A fairy girl from Humboldt

Redwood information, facts
and education

Redwood Education Guide Nearly 100 pages. For those who want to learn about coast redwood community and help others.

Provides human history of the redwoods region, science to coast redwood ecosystem, how to conduct a field trip to a redwood park, lessons for a park visit.

Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Along the Eel River, Humboldt Redwoods State Park has over 53,000 acres, old-growth redwoods. 250 camp sites, 100 miles of hiking, biking, riding trails

Redwood Parks Association Established to assist California State Parks. Educational & Interpretive.

The Redwood Park Association merged with North Coast Redwood Interpretive Association. Both have a history funding interpretive staff, events, exhibits, signs, and publications

Redwood Profile by Flower Essence Society. Coast Redwood is Sequoia sempervirens

Highway 199 ~ Redwood Highway Check out the Coast Redwoods Information and Map option too. Hy 199 is the main travel corridor between Redwood National Park and Crater Lake National Par

Sequoia sempervirens And informative page on Coast Redwoods with info and photos

Coast Redwood and Giant Sequioia: Compare Coast Redwood with Giant Sequoia at Wikipedia.

Exploring, Guides, Tours & Fun

M. D. Vaden & Redwoods Time in the Coast Redwoods with Mario Vaden, aka M. D. Vaden... Exploring and Photography ... Exploring as time permits. Available to those who have a huge appreciation for coast redwoods. Friendly adventure.

Redwood Adventures REDWOOD ADVENTURES has tours, hiking, more. Orick. Family vacation, romantic holiday, wedding. retreats. Full hospitality to visitors of Redwood parks. They know how to cook

The Redwood Coast Nature Guide Jenny Hanson, naturalist and nature guide for the Redwood Coast. Guided trips for individuals, families, and groups, including people with physical limitations.

Local naturalist services to bus tours, conventions and large groups. Based in Eureka. Services from Humboldt Redwoods State Park in the south to Jedediah Smith State Park and Crescent City in the north

Custom Ceramic Murals CERAMIC MURALS & TOUR. See link for more info. Look for Public Murals. This custom artwork is available for public viewing throughout parts of Crescent City.

FYI - the Guide site www.gilbertredwoodexcursions.com is inactive. But Redwood Ed as he's called, is still out and about,. His site www.redwood-ed.com is operational

3 JETBOAT TOURS

• Klamath: Klamath River Jetboat. Gold Beach, Oregon:
• Jerrys Rogue Jets Grants Pass
• Hellgate Jetboat Excursions - Rogue River

Gifts & Souvenirs

Burl n' Drift 28101 Avenue of the Giants. Family owned and operated since 1967. Quality Redwood Souvenirs .... one of the best redwood gift shops

A the Ancient Redwoods RV Park and home of the Hollow Log Truck When you park, look for the Immortal Redwood

Campgrounds, RV resorts

Redwoods RV Resort RV, tent and cabin camping under soaring Sitka Spruce, Douglas fir and Coast Redwoods.

KOA Redwoods Campground - Crescent City, California. 17 forested acres

Ancient Redwoods RV Park Home of the Hollow Log Truck in Redcrest. This is near Founders grove a mile north of Redcrest, California, on the world famous Avenue of the Giants.

The Immortal Redwood stands in view.

This is also in close proximity to Founders Grove, Rockefeller Forest and Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center.

Riverwalk RV Park Fortuna. Campground by the Eel River. Immaculate. Cabins, RV and Tent camping.

M. D. Vaden Cargo Trailer Conversion One version of cargo trailer camping. A growing trend in do-it-yourself camping

Drive Though Redwoods

It's worth interjecting that a walk-through giant sequoia trunk blew over in a 2017 wind storm. From fragments of news, quite a few people thought it was one of the coast redwoods. But the one that fell was Pioneer Cabin Tree among Calaveras Big Trees park. I added comments about this in my own page for these.

Drive Through Redwoods My redwood page. Information about all 3 Drive Through Redwoods: Chandelier, Shrine and Tour-Thru. It's a fact that the Shrine redwood is disintegrating and I do not recommend it due to safety concerns.

Drive Through Redwood Their redwood page. Leggett Chandelier drive-thru redwood. Gift shop. Dawn to dusk. Best looking of the drive-though coast redwoods.

Drive Through Redwoods Information USDA & Forest Service pages about drive through coast redwood.

Image: Chris Atkins is dwarfed by two enormous coast redwood trees known as the Twin Towers of Humboldt. This is a remote grove on a natural bench above one of the Redwood Creek tributaries.

Coast Redwood Photo Book (currently unavailable)

The genesis of this coast redwood page began years ago as a single page about the Grove of Titans.

After years of exploring, I wanted to offer some form of a photo book combining coast redwood adventures, education and images. In 2016, I designed this hard cover photo book as a souvenir prior to an art show in Crescent City. Every copy was signed.

The photo book is petite with a few sentences to explain photos. I wanted the lion's share to be photographs. Curly Redwood Lodge has a prototype in the lobby. It began with 44 pages, upgraded to 54 pages in 2018.

At the moment, these are unavailable because I wasn't sure if I can acquire, package and ship within a week. Although, if you email a special request, maybe we can arrange a copy for you. Let me be clear, these are spendy for the size. I provided these as a souvenir to restore exploring expense incurred over years.

These were $50 plus $5 shipping. As a signed redwood memorabilia, it's within reason. Size is 8.5" x 11". I order handfuls so my cost runs high per unit.

Images fill most space on pages showing some largest coast redwoods, older discoveries and some photos used for my art prints. The cover is a 2014 coast redwood discovery. One page has the first top-to-bottom photo of Hyperion ever printed, the 2006 world record.

Content includes albino redwood, curly redwood, carniverous cobra lily, Smith River, Eel River Crescent City harbor sunset, redwood Fairy, Howland Hill Rd., God rays, Avenue of the Gants, Prairie Creek elk, lupine at Bald Hills, and various unique coast redwoods.

IMAGE: This is a large redwood with a hemlock rooted alongside. I call this photo "Wild Thing". This is a print available 12 in. x 18 in. for $75 and larger 20 in. x 30 in. for $120

Prints & Canvas

For anyone interested, my prints or canvas prints are sometimes for sale in Crescent City.

• Crescent Harbor Art Gallery

In 2016 I ordered two 40" x 60" canvas prints of a new coast redwood discovery, one of the largest and widest ever photographed. One copy hangs in our home dining room. The other is owned by Houichi Cafe, where hikers and campers can enjoy it in their dining room.

The huge print canvas is a great conversation piece. If anybody else wants one 40 in. x 60 in., I can order it. But you are looking at $600 without shipping. If you are somewhat near Crescent City, a canvas like this could be dropped off at a business in town. Otherwise shipping is over $100.

Tallest redwood on record

IMAGE: This is a sample of new coast redwood discoveries found after 2010, near Redwood National Park. Available as photo print 20 in. x 30 in. for about $100.