There are some places that don’t look quite the way you expected when you finally see them in person.
The redwoods are one of them.
We visited Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in early September, and photographs really don’t give you a sense of the scale. You can photograph an enormous tree, but it’s hard to capture what it feels like to stand at the bottom of one and look up.
And then realize you’re surrounded by them.
Jedediah Smith is in far Northern California, near Crescent City, and it’s part of Redwood National and State Parks. If you’re planning a trip through this part of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, this is absolutely somewhere I’d make time for.
Here’s what I’d want to know before going.
Start With the Redwoods
This sounds obvious, but you don’t need to turn a visit here into a major hiking expedition to have an incredible experience.
You can walk among old-growth coast redwoods on relatively short trails, and that’s where I’d start if this is your first visit.
These aren’t simply unusually large trees. Coast redwoods are the tallest tree species in the world, and some of the old-growth forest protected here has been standing for centuries.
But you don’t really need the statistics once you’re underneath them.
Walk slowly. Look up.
This is one of those places where the thing you came to see really is enough.
Walk Stout Grove
If we were sending someone to Jedediah Smith for the first time, Stout Grove would be high on the list.
It’s a short loop, roughly half a mile, through one of the most photographed groves in the park — flat, easy walking, right along the Smith River. The trailhead is off Howland Hill Road, and the parking lot is small, so getting there earlier in the day helps.
It’s a relatively short walk through old-growth redwoods, which makes it a good choice if you want the experience of walking through the forest without committing to a long hike.
And don’t rush it because the trail is short.
A half-mile through redwoods isn’t the same thing as a half-mile you’re trying to finish for exercise. Stop. Look around. Take pictures. Notice how completely different the forest feels depending on where the light comes through.
Drive Howland Hill Road
Howland Hill Road is another reason I’d make time for Jedediah Smith rather than simply driving through the area.
It’s a narrow, mostly unpaved road that winds right through the redwoods, and we drove it as part of our day in the park. The trees are incredibly close to the road in places, which gives you a completely different perspective than you get walking the trails.
We used the drive to explore the park and get to the Grove of Titans, then continued on toward Eugene after we finished.
Before going, check current road conditions and vehicle recommendations — the road isn’t suited to RVs or larger vehicles, and weather or road work can affect access.
Consider the Grove of Titans
The Grove of Titans is another option if you want more time walking among some of the park’s enormous old-growth trees.
The trail is reached from Howland Hill Road via the Mill Creek Trail and runs about 1.5 miles round trip, including a 1,300-foot elevated boardwalk built specifically to protect the forest floor and the redwoods’ root systems after years of unofficial foot traffic damaged the area.
That’s worth respecting.
Stay on the established trail and boardwalk rather than trying to get closer to a particular tree for a photograph. Part of getting to see places like this is making sure the people who come after us get to see them too.
You Don’t Need to See Every Redwood Grove
This is one of those destinations where I’d resist turning the day into a checklist.
You could spend a lot of time researching which grove has the biggest tree, the prettiest trail or the best photograph.
Pick a couple of places and actually experience them.
Once you’re standing in an old-growth redwood forest, you’re probably not going to be thinking, I wonder if the trees three miles away are slightly better.
At least we weren’t.
Accessibility at Jedediah Smith Redwoods
Accessibility varies considerably depending on which part of the park you’re visiting.
Some developed areas and trails offer more accessible surfaces and facilities, while other routes — including Stout Grove and the Grove of Titans — include natural surfaces, narrow access roads, stairs, or uneven terrain that may not be workable for everyone.
If accessibility matters for your visit, check the current official accessibility information for Redwood National and State Parks before choosing your trails. Look specifically at trail surface, grade, parking, restroom access, and whether the particular attraction you want to see can be reached without stairs.
Redwood National and State Parks accessibility information →
Before You Go
Check current trail and road conditions before leaving, especially if you’re planning to drive Howland Hill Road or hike a particular trail.
Bring layers. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need.
And don’t spend the entire visit looking through your phone trying to get a photograph that shows how enormous the trees are.
It won’t.
Take the picture anyway.
Then put the phone down and look up.
Nearby Attractions
Jedediah Smith is a destination on its own, but there’s more worth seeing nearby.
Redwood National and State Parks — Just a short drive away, with additional hiking and scenic drives through the broader protected forest system. If you have time, the Avenue of the Giants is worth the detour — a long drive through more old-growth redwoods if you want to keep going.
Crescent City — Good food, local shops, and Battery Point Lighthouse, which sits just offshore and can only be reached when tide conditions allow.
Smith River — Known for clear water and good fishing, kayaking, or rafting. A different kind of day if you want a break from walking through the forest.
Every Friday, one thing we noticed, tried, or figured out — plus one small way to approach the week differently.