5.8 hr
Overview
This longer loop in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is often touted as the quintessential redwood hike, an outing that spends much of its time in old-growth redwood forests that transition to Sitka spruce as you approach the ocean. A beach or road walk connects the two main trails, Miner’s Ridge and James Irvine. Before you return on the James Irvine Trail, you’ll be hiking up Home Creek in the sheer-walled fantasy ravine of Fern Canyon . There’s a chance of encountering elk at the visitor center and at the coast. In winter and spring, you’ll need to slosh through marshes and up Fern Canyon so, if you don’t like to hike with soaking feet, bring a change of footwear and a small towel. Much of the route is through the Murrelet State Wilderness, which was designated to protect nesting marbled murrelets and spotted owls as well as this significant tract of contiguous old-growth redwood forest.
Trail Stats
18.7 km
421 m
198 m
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