The Friendship Ridge Trail

Loop hike with the Coastal Trail

Length 8 mi · Climbing 960 ft

California > Redwood National and State Parks > Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

The Coastal Trail

Background

This very enjoyable loop starts with an easy stroll through coastal meadows, then climbs into attractive old-growth redwood uplands. A stroll through Fern Canyon completes the varied and scenic hike.

The Coastal Trail is often muddy, even in summer. Also, there are a lot of mosquitos along the Coastal Trail, so either bring bug repellant or walk the whole trail without stopping.

The hike is best during sunny weather, when the sunshine fills the woods and brings out the colors of the trees and the brilliance of the ferns. On cloudy days, the woods have a dull look, with all the trees an identical grey color, and there's little variation along the entire trail.

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Hike description

The loop starts from the Fern Canyon parking lot, which is reached by a 4-mile-long dirt road that starts at the elk viewing area between the Lady Bird Johnson and Lost Man Creek turnoffs. The first half of the dirt road climbs over a ridge; the second half runs along the beach at the base of the bluffs. You'll have to drive through three streams along the way.

Starting from the Fern Canyon parking lot, walk north on the Coastal Trail past Fern Canyon. The trail runs near the base of the bluffs, at first passing through light, open woods of maple and birch. It then emerges onto a coastal meadow filled with birdsong and, in spring and early summer, dotted with wildflowers. Three small waterfalls, reduced to a trickle in summer, stream down the sheer bluffs. The beach and the ocean are hidden from view by a low rise and can't be reached from this part of the trail. Nonetheless, this is a very pretty trail.

The West Ridge Trail

The trail re-enters the woods shortly before the intersection with the West Ridge Trail. Turn right onto this trail, which starts with a brief, steep climb before leveling out. The trail follows an old road bed for a while, then begins climbing steeply again and enters the redwood forest. As the trail climbs, it gets less steep and the forest gets progressively more scenic, with larger, more attractive redwoods. The crash of the surf emanates up through the trees.

The Friendship Ridge trail meanders downhill through lush redwood forest. For much of its length the trail is not top of the ridge but partway down the hillside, which helps make the trail more scenic. Over the first mile the scenery is at its best. The trail curves around ravines covered with an unbroken sea of ferns, with good-sized redwoods emerging here and there from the riot of fronds. The woods are surprisingly bright and open. The ocean is a continuous dull roar, sounding a lot like the inside of a jet in flight.

The Friendship Ridge Trail

Two dead-end spurs branch off near the beginning of this trail. The first spur leads downhill to several memorial groves. The second spur also leads downhill, soon leaving the redwoods and following Boat Creek along what seems to be an old logging trail. Soon after a large redwood that's fallen across the path, the trail peters out. These spurs appear to be seldom-traveled, and neither offers any particularly exceptional scenery.

The trail eventually straightens out and gains the top of the ridge. The scenery is less interesting after this point. Although it's still lush old-growth redwood uplands, the woods are denser and darker and there are few big trees.

Descend to the James Irvine Trail and turn right. A short walk brings you to the trail into Fern Canyon. The bottom of the canyon is its own little world, removed from the forest, with the sounds of the burbling creek echoing between sheer fern-covered walls. As you approach the beach, the walls get shorter and shorter.

The Friendship Ridge Trail