Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
A redwood park on high coastal bluffs
California > Redwood National and State Parks
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park from Enderts Beach Road
Perched on a steep hillside above the Pacific Ocean, Del Norte Coast Redwoods is the only major redwood park that doesn’t have any lowland redwoods. Surprisingly, though, the park still has some very impressive groves. The high, west-facing hillside is perfectly positioned to catch the summer fog as it streams off the ocean, keeping the trees well-nourished through the summer droughts. Because the higher slopes get more fog (and because redwoods don’t like salt spray), the trees get bigger toward the top of the hill — exactly the opposite of what you’d find in any other redwood park.
With its often-foggy weather and its abundance of rhododendrons, the park is especially photogenic. If you’ve ever seen a picture of huge redwoods in the fog with masses of pink flowers at their bases, it was probably taken here.
As a hiking destination, though, Del Norte Coast Redwoods is a little disappointing. Highway 101 runs right through the narrow band that contains the largest and most scenic redwoods, just west of the park’s highest ridge, so those photogenic scenes are usually accompanied by the roar of trucks. Also, there are only two old-growth trails, and the longer of the two (the Coastal Trail), while very scenic, misses most of the really good redwoods.
Old-growth redwood trails
★★★
Damnation Creek Trail
Length 4.0 mi · Climbing 1170 ft
The park’s most scenic trail descends through old-growth redwoods from Highway 101 to a small rocky beach.
★★
Coastal Trail, Last Chance section
Length 13.0 mi · Climbing 2810 ft
Follows an old alignment of Highway 101 through mixed-species woodland on high coastal bluffs, then turns inland and runs through old-growth redwoods. No views after the first half-mile.
★★
Coastal Trail, DeMartin section
Length 12.6 mi · Climbing 2370 ft
This enjoyable hike starts in attractive mixed-species woodland and climbs into old-growth redwoods. One of the most enjoyable sections of the Coastal Trail.
Other trails
★★
Coastal Trail, Klamath section
Length 7.8 mi · Climbing 1390 ft
Runs along steep, spruce-covered bluffs high above the ocean, with no roads or other development in sight. There are no rewoods, but the last half-mile has some great ocean views.
★★
Enderts Beach
Length 1.5 mi · Climbing 200 ft
A short, popular walk along the bluffs to an isolated beach with tidepools. Sometimes closed due to landslides.
★
Hobbs Wall and Saddler Skyline
Length 7.0 mi · Climbing 1260 ft
A loop through second-growth redwoods on a steep hillside above the Mill Creek Campground.
★
Yurok Loop
Length 1.2 mi · Climbing 100 ft
A short loop with some nice ocean views that starts from a rest stop alongside Highway 101.
Drive-in campgrounds
★★★★
Mill Creek Campground
May–Sep · $35/night + $8
A relatively new campground that’s somewhat out of the way, but feels less congested than the more centrally located campgrounds.
Backpacking campgrounds
★★★
DeMartin Backcountry Camp
Open all year · Free
Part of the Coastal Trail, this campground is near Highway 101, on a sunny plateau with patchy spruce and alder woodland but no redwoods.
The Mill Creek Watershed
★
Overview of the
Mill Creek Watershed
A huge property with miles of old logging roads open for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
★
Crossover Road
Length 15.8 mi · Climbing 2000 ft
A long, peaceful hike that explores the old logging roads of the Mill Creek Watershed.
★
Picnic Road
Length 3.1 mi · Climbing 70 ft
This trail is now permanently closed.
The Coastal Trail near the Damnation Creek Trail
Getting to Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
The park is on Highway 101 just south of Crescent City and about an hour north of Arcata. There’s no main entrance, no visitor center, and like most of Redwood National and State Parks, no entrance fee.
The Damnation Creek Trail
© 2008, 2014 David Baselt