The Stephens Grove Loop Trail

Length 0.7 mi · Climbing 30 ft

California > Southern Humboldt County > Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Stephens Grove

Background

This unmarked but apparrently official trail winds through an old-growth grove next to the Avenue of the Giants. The grove has some good-sized trees but is less attractive than most of the nearby groves. It is, however, fairly typical of the southern Eel River Valley. At the trailhead is an area of large trees in an arid-looking environment with no groundcover. Further in is a somewhat disheveled-looking groundcover of ferns and sorrel, but the trees are a lot smaller. The Pioneer Grove and Bolling Grove, both a short distance north, are both more attractive although neither has a real trail.

Directions: If you're headed north, the grove is just past the town of Miranda. As you leave the town, the road descends slightly. Just as it bottoms out, look for a small pullout to the left. There is a "Stephens Grove" sign on the Avenue of the Giants a hundred yards south of the trailhead. Strangely, there aren't any signs to indicate the presence of the trail, although its decent condition and a few footbridges suggests the loop is officially maintained.

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Hike description

The trail begins in a fairly impressive redwood grove. From the trailhead, which is elevated a few feet above the grove, you get a good view of the big trees around the pullout. It's not the most attractive vista, since the trees are all about the same color, there's practically no groundcover in this area other than a few sparse patches of sorrel, and the entire grove has a somewhat worn, disheveled look.

Just a few yards from the trailhead is a Y intersection. Go right and cross the little footbridge. A huge redwood has been cut and left on the forest floor, lying across the trail.

Stephens Grove

The trail winds through the somewhat dry-looking forest and passes some large trees. Cars whiz by on the Avenue, just a few yards away. As you walk the trees get smaller and a groundcover of ferns and sorrel appears. At the apex of the trail are some signs of logging as well as a dirt road that leads into Miranda. The trail crosses a few creeks on its way back to the trailhead. The groundcover continues almost all the way back to the Y-intersection.

Stephens Grove trailhead