By far the most impressive redwoods in the Humboldt Redwoods region are in the low-lying areas along rivers. The trails in these areas are almost all short but pretty spectacular roadside loops. There’s only one all-day big-tree redwood hike, the Bull Creek Flats Trail.
The backcountry areas offer plenty of longer hikes, but also have much less impressive redwoods; most of these are in the “Other trails” section below.
A quintessential and very attractive alluvial-flat grove in a bend of the Van Duzen River, where the famous steadicam shots for Return of the Jedi were filmed.
A superb hike around Upper Bull Creek Flat. Near Albee Creek Campground.
A large and spectacular alluvial-flat grove with huge trees, a remarkably expansive appearance, and relatively little traffic noise.
The quintessential dark, dense, cathedral-like redwood grove. One of the most scenic in Humboldt Redwoods.
An extraordinary grove with a remarkably plush carpet of redwood sorrel. One of the highlights of Humboldt Redwoods.
A large, peaceful, and exceptionally scenic alluvial-flat redwood grove that gets very few visitors. Summer only.
A grand tour of the Bull Creek lowlands, featuring the sublime groves of Upper and Lower Bull Creek Flats. Humboldt Redwoods’ best long-distance hike. Summer only.
A little-used trail with some very nice redwoods next to the Avenue of the Giants.
Features some extraordinarily lush sorrel groundcover at the beginning and some large redwoods further in.
The largest and most impressive grove and the most popular attraction in Humboldt Redwoods. Unfortunately filled with the constant roar of traffic from a 4-lane freeway that skirts the grove.
The southernmost of the really impressive alluvial-flat lowland groves on the Avenue of the Giants.
A tiny, easy-to-explore patch of big-tree lowlands with some mammoth redwoods. One of the more popular stops on the Avenue of The Giants. No official trails.
A remote, little-visited road with a surprisingly nice old-growth Douglas fir and redwood grove.
A little-used trail through a series of forgotton but superb alluvial-flat groves. Summer only.
Climbs to a remnant section of old growth on a hillside above the town of Fortuna. Can only be accessed by a guided tour.
Starts in a very impressive lowland grove and climbs to a much different old-growth upland grove.
A climb to a little ravine with a surprisingly attractive redwood grove.
Starting on an old alignment of the Avenue of the Giants, this loop leads through a small lowland redwood grove to a gravelly beach on the Eel River.
A superb grove of large redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants that’s somewhat overshadowed by its even more spectacular neighbors.
A scenic redwood grove with some pretty big trees on the Avenue of the Giants.
A small patch of old growth just across from the visitors’ center.
Humboldt Redwoods’ southernmost redwood grove. Has a few big redwoods near the beginning of the loop, but most of the other trees are small and embedded in a dense understory.
A small but attractive patch of old-growth redwoods across the Eel River from Redway. No official trails.
A long backcountry loop with about four miles of old-growth redwoods, including a remote and very attractive ridgetop grove.
Runs through mundane old-growth uplands on the west side of the Eel River. Summer only.
Starts in the impressive Jensen Grove, but quickly climbs into rather mundane upland redwoods before descending back to the Avenue of the Giants.
Climbs to a small upland grove with a few dozen widely-scattered, small to medium old-growth redwoods among a lot of small conifers.
A short trail that runs through a redwood flat a few yards from Redwood Road.
An unusually big parking area makes this grove look really important, but it’s actually pretty dull, with no big trees or noteworthy sights.
A small but attractive old-growth redwood grove next to Highway 101. No trails.
All of these trails have some old growth, but they’re not mainly old-growth trails.
A very challenging, remote, and difficult to reach trail over high coastal bluffs and through deep canyons, with a few old-growth redwoods and black-sand beaches.
The longest and most challenging route to the top of Grasshopper Mountain. Four trail camps make it a good backpacking route, but there’s only one brief stretch of big redwoods.
Climbs the somewhat dull Grasshopper Multi Use Trail to the top of Grasshopper Mountain, then returns by way of the Johnson Camp Trail and an exceptionally scenic grove of old-growth upland redwoods.
An epic out-and-back up the east side of Grasshopper Mountain starting from the Visitors’ Center. Summer only.
A little-used old logging road that descends to a remote beach with a campground.
Climbs through dry-looking second-growth uplands, then descends through fairly scenic old growth to a partially-logged flat with a few big redwoods.
This pleasant if unexciting trail starts as an old logging road alongside the Elk River, then becomes a singletrack trail that ascends through second-growth redwoods to reach a small but scenic old-growth grove.
Starts in Bull Creek Flats but almost immediately leaves the huge redwoods behind, climbing through a bright upland canyon with small redwoods. Ends at a 19th-century gravesite.
Features a small but rather bizarre-looking hillside grove with impressively reiterated old-growth redwoods. Next to Usal Campground.
© 2022 David Baselt