Redwood
Location: California
Established: October 2, 1968
Nearly 50 miles long and comprising Redwood National Park and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks, the parklands can be a bit overwhelming, so we decided to focus our sights on Jedediah Smith, which is right outside Crescent City and considered by many to be the most scenic and unspoiled redwood park. A few miles inland from the ocean, the park is densely forested with huge ancient trees. However, the park’s largest trees can’t be seen by most visitors, as their location has been kept a secret to protect the trees from damage. Not to worry, as there is still plenty to see.
We started with Howland Hill Road, which passes through the center of the park. Cut into a hillside, the road provides some nice views of the lushly-vegetated ravine below as it descends through an otherworldly landscape. Next was a hike along Stout Memorial Grove. This small grove by the side of the Smith River is the most scenic redwood grove in existence.
