The Hatton Trail

including Lohse Grove and the Hatton Loop

Length 4.3 mi · Climbing 360 ft

California > Redwood National and State Parks > Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Lush, jungle-like forest near the bottom of the Hatton Trail

Background

The Hatton Trail is a very attractive route that starts across from the Simpson-Reed Trail and climbs a hillside high above Highway 199, leading to a plateau and a slightly anticlimactic memorial grove. The entire route is lined with old-growth redwoods set among a lush mixture of sorrel and ferns. Although the entire trail is very scenic, the best redwoods are at the beginning of the trail and the trees gradually become less impressive as the trail climbs. The biggest drawback to this hike is the constant traffic noise, which rises and falls in volume but is present throughout almost the entire hike.

Parts of the hike are remniscent of the Prairie Creek uplands, but there's a lot more variety here: for example, there are more species of groundcover plants and more of a change in the character of the forest as the hike progresses. Typically for Jed Smith, on sunny days the woods are remarkably bright and filled with light, except at the lowest elevations.

Included in this hike is the Hatton Loop, a short loop across the road from the Simpson-Reed Trail. The Hatton Loop is less spectacular than the Hatton Trail or the Simpson-Reed Trail and is heavily affected by traffic noise.

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Hike description

There's an interesting progression in the appearance of the forest along this trail. At its lowest point, the forest has an overgrown, rainforest appearance, much like the Simpson-Reed Trail across the street. Thick layers of moss cover all non-redwood trees (living redwoods shed their bark and don't accumulate moss), lichens drip from branches, and a riot of different plant species occupies the understory. Within a few hundred yards the trail begins to climb and the environment changes to a rich redwood forest, with huge trees in contrasting colors, some light and some dark, and a deep-green carpeting of five-finger and sword ferns. Next the forest becomes a bit more mundane; the redwoods are mostly small and have a very light greyish color, and the ferns seem to be lighter in color too. The plateau hosts a mixed redwood forest containing Douglas Fir and smaller redwoods with light-grey bark.

The lower elevations are the most scenic; the trail winds around ravines, offering superb views of giant trees. After the transition to lighter trees, the trail runs closer to Highway 199 and the noise of trucks roaring by intrudes on the hike; you can actually see the highway below you. The final segment, on the plateau, is the most isolated from traffic noise and Lohse Grove itself is the only part of the hike with no traffic noise.

The Hatton Trail

The dead-end spur trail to Lohse Grove is less-used than the main Hatton Trail and is partially blocked by several fallen trees that are easily stepped over. A sign once marked the end of the trail but only a single post now remains; a large fallen tree prevents you from going much further.

The Hatton Trail continues past the Lohse Grove spur and ends at a T intersection with the Hiouchi Trail. Shortly before this intersection, the redwoods diminish greatly in size and attractiveness. The Hiouchi Trail itself is much less interesting than the Hatton Trail, running through non-redwood forest for much of its length.

The Hatton Loop is a very short trail that's less impressive than the main trail. A short spur leads to a nice grove very near Highway 199.

The Hatton Trail