Look Prarie and Peavine Ridge

Length 13.4 mi · Climbing 2610 ft

California > Southern Humboldt County > Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Peavine Multi Use Trail

Besides the short lowland redwood trails along Bull Creek and the Eel River, Humboldt Redwoods also has miles of backcountry trails. Called "Multi-Use Trails" because horseback riding and mountain biking is allowed on them, these trails are mostly old logging roads and, as such, mostly run through logged areas.

The Look Prairie, Peavine Ridge, and Thornton loop is no exception, and most of the hike consists of pleasant if unspectacular woodland without redwoods. However, the loop still has about 4 miles of old growth, most notably a remote ridgetop grove and the extraordinary Bull Creek Flats. The route also crosses grassy prairies with brief but amazing views over the Bull Creek valley.

The hike can be exhausting since there's a lot of climbing, but none of it is especially steep or technically challenging.

This loop provides a new perspective on the redwoods of the Bull Creek Flats. Descending to the flats after a 12-mile hike through the backcountry is a much different experience than just getting out of a car and strolling into the redwoods. Before reaching the flats, the hike passes through a wide variety of woodlands, spanning the distance from the bottom to the top of the Bull Creek Valley, and none of it is remotely like the lowland redwood forests of Bull Creek. It's not just that the lowland trees are bigger; it's that there are so many big trees, and in such an expansive space.

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Hike description

Start at the gate to Look Prairie Road, just off Mattole Road. You can park either in the small pullout in front of the gate, or a few yards down Mattole Road in the Big Tree parking area.

Look Prairie Road climbs at a persistent 10% grade. At first the road mostly passes through unremarkable, non-redwood forest, interrupted by two prairies that offer some views of the valley a short distance below. At 1.8 miles, the scenery improves quite a bit as the road enters old-growth redwood uplands. Some good-sized trees are scattered here and there among small tanoaks and huckleberry shrubs.

When you reach the "T" intersection at Peavine Ridge, turn left. The road continues to climb for another half-mile before starting a steep descent. The old-growth uplands end and you descend through unremarkable woods. As the road undulates along the ridge, it both logged redwoods and a few small patches of old growth.

Peavine Multi Use Trail

After several miles, the road enters a more substantial old-growth grove that continues for about a mile. This grove is very different from the standard-issue uplands on Look Prairie Road. Strikingly light in color, the grove has a lush groundcover of ferns and redwood sorrel, with big redwoods mixed in with Douglas-Fir. From a few spots you get glimpses of conifer-covered ridges and hilltop prairies to the north.

The old growth gives way to logged redwoods just before the road comes to a intersection with the Thornton Multi-Use Trail. About half of this trail follows a dirt road that has been converted to singletrack (the trail also goes through some long switchbacks that weren't on the original road). Signs at the top and bottom of the trail explain that the road-to-trail conversion was done to reduce erosion. However, it's also made hiking the trail a much more enjoyable experience, since dirt roads have a way of isolating you from the woods.

Thornton Multi Use Trail

Along the trail are a few interesting groves of distinctive-looking Madrone trees. The dark-brown bark of these trees has peeled away from the upper branches, leaving them gold-tipped, and the leaves are a strikingly rich green. You'll also find a few restricted but nontheless impressive views of the Bull Creek valley floor far below, a series of ridges stretching off into the misty distance.

The trail briefly passes through an old-growth redwood upland grove, but then passes through logged redwoods and a long stretch of tanoak-and-fir forest with no redwoods. Eventually the trail, which had been patiently switchbacking down the hill at a low grade, gives up and dives straight down toward Albee Creek Campground.

At the end of the trail, walk through the campground, turn left onto the campground entrance road, cross a bridge, and immediately turn right onto a poison-oak-infested connector trail. This trail leads to the Tall Trees Trail

Thornton Multi Use Trail