Redwood National and State Parks are a series of parks along the northern California coast. Together, they protect and preserve the coastal Redwoods, the tallest trees on earth.

The easiest way to access a large portion of the park is via Highway 101, which runs up and down the Pacific Coast. Many of the preserved areas are located amidst or just off of the highway. Within these areas there are many trails that lead hikers through Redwood forests. The Lady Bird Johnson Grove Nature Trail is located just a couple miles off of Highway 101 and offers a nice, 1.5 mile stroll through stands of Redwoods. Walking among and next to these giants gives you a sense of wonder and awe–it’s difficult to describe just how massive the trees are without experiencing it in person. You can simply walk up to some of these trees and get an up-close view of the thick bark of the Redwoods; other trees are hollowed out in some way, and you can even stand inside of them! Many trees, however, are located off the trail, but they also provide a nice perspective on how tall the trees are–they dwarf their non-Redwood neighbors.

You can even catch some great views of the Redwoods from your car. As you drive along Highway 101 you will see a sign for the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, which parallels Highway 101 but detours through a large grove of Redwoods. While there are plenty of places along the scenic parkway to get out and hike, we decided to just enjoy the scenic drive, which is simply spectacular. Because you’re located a little farther away from some of the trees, you can really take in the whole forest as opposed to individual trees. We drove through twice and enjoyed it both times, though we particularly enjoyed driving through early in the morning. There were very few cars, so we could drive as slowly as we wanted, and the early morning fog gave the forest a mysterious, almost mystical, quality. We also got to see some wildlife at the conclusion of the drive–a fox and a herd of elk.

While the Redwoods get the most attention, there are also other natural areas to see at Redwood National and State Parks, including some lovely parts of the northern California coastline.

Redwood National and State Parks is a beautiful area of the country that preserves a natural wonder of the United States that is located in few other places outside these parks–the coastal Redwood. These soaring trees are a wonder to stare at, and the forests of Redwoods are enchanting to behold.