Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park plays host to some of the most lovely (and accessible) redwoods in Northern California. The park has old growth North Coast Redwoods, which are the tallest redwoods in the world. The park is perfect for anyone who wants to get outside and go forest bathing.
This guide for Jedediah Smith will help you plan a visit with tips on the best hikes, other things to do, ideas for where to stay and other practical planning advice.
About Jedediah Smith
The park protects 10,000 acres of primeval redwood groves, a lush undergrowth of
rhododendrons and azaleas, and tons of ferns.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is an unusual animal. It’s co-managed by California State Parks and the National Park Service. So if you Googled “Redwoods National Park” and was wondering how you ended up at a state park article, don’t worry, these redwood groves are covered by both entities.
There is a visitor center along Highway 199, just before Hiouchi. They have exhibits and staff inside, but also a large map outside in case you visit when they’re closed.
There isn’t a gated entry to the park, so entrance to the various groves is free. You do need to pay to visit or stay in the official campground.
The trails in the park are officially not dog-friendly. However, when I asked a park ranger about it, they said that they don’t much worry about it if you have your dog under control. So use good judgement.
Getting to Jedediah Smith
The park is located in a remote area of far northern California and getting there requires time and patience. If you want to fly in, the nearest airport is in Crescent City, but it has very limited services. Check out our guide for flying into the redwoods for other nearby airports.
If you’re driving driving south from the Oregon coast, the visitor center is an easy 35 minute drive from Brookings, OR.
If you’re coming down Highway 5 from Oregon, go west on Highway 199 at Grants Pass. From there, it’s 1.5 hours and 74 miles. This routing is also faster from Redding, CA.
If you’re coming north on Highway 5 (like from Sacramento), go west on Highway 299 at Redding. It will take 7 hours to drive the 400 miles from Sacramento.
From San Francisco, the drive is 7 hours and 364 miles on Highway 101.
My Favorite Trails in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods
Fern Falls via Boy Scout Trail
- 5.2 miles
- Trailhead off of Howland Hill Road
This peaceful trail is perfect if you want a somewhat longer hike. The boy scout tree itself is ENORMOUS, and the small falls at the end is a nice diversion. Go early as the parking lot gets full.
Grove of Titans
- 1.7 miles
- Trailhead off of Howland Hill Road
This is a nice, short hike. It’s perfect for people who only have one day in the park as it gives you plenty of time for other stops. The hike has explanatory signage about the flora, fauna and the Native Californians who lived in the area. It’s not technical and very kid-friendly. Parking does fill up, but there’s space along the roadside if you don’t mind getting creative.
Stout Memorial Grove
- .6 miles
- Trailhead at the north end of Howland Hill Road
This is hands down the most popular place in Jedediah Smith Redwoods. I don’t like how crowded it gets and the dust from the traffic really coats the ferns. But it’s worth a visit for the concentrated strand of huge old growth trees. Time your visit for early or late in the day. There is a decent sized parking lot, but it does get full and roadside parking is very limited.
Simpson Reed Trail
- .9 miles
- Trailhead at Walker Road
This area has quite a few fairy rings and tall trees, and it gets much less visitation than Stout Grove, giving you a more peaceful stroll. And if you have time, drive further up Walker road and do the 2 mile Leiffer and Ellsworth loop trails. This trail gets even less visitation. And you can take a spur to get to an overlook for the Smith River.
Other Things to Do in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (and Nearby)
If you’re driving up from San Francisco, be sure to use our Redwoods itinerary. It lists ALL of the key groves, scenic drives, cool hikes and roadside attractions in a flexible 4-7 day itinerary.
Howland Hill Road is only about 8 miles long, but it’s one of my favorite scenic drives in California. It provides access for three of the four groves listed above. But it’s also worth driving for its own sake as you meander through the tunnel of trees. The road isn’t paved, but it’s well graded and do-able for all but the lowest passenger cars.
Battery Point Lighthouse is a 170 year-old lighthouse in Crescent City. It sits on a pretty little tidal island, which you can visit…but only at low tide. The parking lot near the lighthouse is also a nice spot for sunset.
Trees of Mystery is a wacky roadside attraction with a canopy walk, redwood chain saw sculptures, a canopy chair lift and a talking Paul Bunyan sculpture. It’s located 25 minutes south of Crescent City. Here’s our guide for visiting.
Newton B Drury Drive and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park are located 35 minutes south of Crescent City. The drive itself is a well-worth-it detour off of Highway 101. But you should make time to get out and see some of the groves at the many pull-outs. Or make time for a longer hike like the Cathedral Trail (3 miles), Redwoods Big Loop (5.5 miles), or Fern Canyon (requires reservations). If you’re lucky, you may even see some of the Roosevelt elk.
(This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.)
What to Expect: Weather, Services & Cell Service
We have a whole article on the best time to visit the north coast redwoods, so check it out for the detail. But the short answer is…not in the winter. This region is green for a reason and it get a lot of rain between December and March. Temperatures are always a bit cool there, so layer up accordingly.
This area is a beautiful protected space with a lot of undeveloped land. This means that mobile reception in the area is very iffy. So, cache your maps before going. Or buy the California Road Atlas. It has super detailed maps with recreation information, and I never go on a road trip without it.
Crescent City is a good sized town with grocery stores, drugstores, restaurants and other typical services. And while gas stations are pretty easy to come by, the next large-ish town is 75 miles south. So, stock up on snacks.
Where to Stay
The state park manages a campground with 89 sites. They all have a picnic table, fire ring and cupboard. Some sites can accommodate trailers or motorhomes up to 36 feet, but there are no hook-ups. You can also rent one of four cabins in the campground. Check availability and reserve at Reservecalifornia.com.
If you do want hook-ups, the Redwood Meadows RV park is right near all of the top spots in the park. In addition to RV sites, they have a glamping tent and a yurt. They also offer regular tent spots if the nearby Jedediah State park campground is full. The same outfit runs the Crescent City KOA, which is a little further away. The KOA has RV and tent slots as well as cabins.
Other camping options include the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground, Ramblin’ Redwoods campground, Ruby van Deventer County Park campground, Florence Keller County Park campground and disbursed camping along the Smith River national recreation area.
The Lighthouse Inn is a full-service hotel with ocean views. It’s walkable to downtown Crescent City and the actual lighthouse. The Westward Inn is a well-rated, conveniently located budget option.
More Redwoods in California
Check out our guide to ALL of the redwood groves in California. This includes the North Coast redwoods as well as the Sequoia redwoods more commonly found in Central California. The article describes each park and also has a map.
If you’re looking for groves closer to San Francisco, we have state park guides for Hendy Woods and Van Damme state parks. Both are close to Mendocino.
I’ve also got an itinerary that takes you from San Francisco to Yosemite. It includes groves in Yosemite and near Sonora.
And if you want more nature, we have a guide that lists ALL of the California state parks and California national parks. Each article has a map and a brief description for each with links to trip planning resources.
Happy trails!
