Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park from Enderts Beach Road
Unlike every other major redwood park, where the biggest trees are found at the lowest elevations, Del Norte Coast’s biggest trees are found at the top of a steep west-facing hill that perfectly catches the summer fog streaming off the ocean, keeping the forest giants well-watered.
With its huge redwoods, frequent fog, and an abundance of rhododendrons, the park is one of the best places to photograph redwoods.
The drawback of Del Norte Coast Redwoods is that it only has two old-growth trails, and Highway 101 runs right through the narrow ridgetop strip where the largest and most scenic redwoods are found. So the park’s most photogenic scenes are usually accompanied by the roar of trucks.
There’s no main entrance, no visitor center, and like most of Redwood National and State Parks, no entrance fee.
The Coastal Trail near the Damnation Creek Trail
The park’s most scenic trail descends through old-growth redwoods from Highway 101 to a small rocky beach.
Follows an old alignment of Highway 101 through mixed-species woodland on high coastal bluffs, then turns inland and runs through old-growth redwoods. No views after the first half-mile.
This enjoyable hike starts in attractive mixed-species woodland and climbs into old-growth redwoods. One of the most enjoyable sections of the Coastal Trail.
Runs along steep, spruce-covered bluffs high above the ocean, with no roads or other development in sight. There are no redwoods, but the last half-mile has some great ocean views.
A short, popular walk along the bluffs to an isolated beach with tidepools. Sometimes closed due to landslides.
A picnic area on a high bluff with a commanding view of the coast. A trail descends to a viewpoint far below, but the view from the parking lot is actually better.
A loop through second-growth redwoods on a steep hillside above the Mill Creek Campground.
A short loop with some nice ocean views that starts from a rest stop alongside Highway 101.
A relatively new campground that’s somewhat out of the way, but feels less congested than the more centrally located campgrounds.
Part of the Coastal Trail, this campground is near Highway 101, on a sunny plateau with patchy spruce and alder woodland but no redwoods.
A huge property with miles of old logging roads open for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
A long, peaceful hike that explores the old logging roads of the Mill Creek Watershed.
This trail is now permanently closed.
The Damnation Creek Trail
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