The Nature Trail

with the Revelation and Redwood Access trails

Length 1.0 mi · Climbing 110 ft

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

The Nature Trail

Background

The Nature Trail originally followed Prairie Creek from the Visitor Center to the south end of the campground, effectively a southern extension of the Prairie Creek Trail. With the destruction of the a bridge across Prairie Creek, the southern two-thirds of the trail has long been abandoned and is now overgrown. The northern third of the loop remains and can be hiked in summertime, using a seasonal bridge to cross the creek.

Click map to resize; click again to show all trails and roads
Map excerpted from the Trail Map of Redwood National and State Parks (Redwood Hikes Press, 2009)

Hike description

Start at the Visitor Center trailhead. Cross the large bridge across Prairie Creek and continue straight, passing the Prairie Creek, James Irvine, and Miners Ridge Trails. The trail briefly emerges from the forest and passes through streamside vegetation for a few steps, then plunges back into impressive redwoods and begins a climb that's surprisingly steep for a nature trail. High above the creek, the trees are noticably smaller. Soon the trail descends back into the big trees, leveling out at a trail intersection. To your right is the abandoned southern portion of the Nature Trail, which climbs another steep hillside and descends back to the creek through some impressive redwoods, then disappears in a jumble of fallen trees and overgrown vegetation. Skip this trail and continue straight, following a sign that says "Summer Trail / Campfire Center / (Summer only)".

The trail crosses the creek on a footbridge that's installed when the water is low. The creek at this point is about three feet deep during the summer and deeper in the winter.

Once across the footbridge, go left toward the Revelation Trail. Stay left at each of the next two intersections as well. You'll walk a short section of the Revelation Trail, a short loop with a trailside cable to guide visually-impaired visitors. The second left will put you on the Redwood Access Trail. There are some large trees on this side of the creek but, perhaps due to heavy trail use, the forest in this area is a bit of a disappointment, lacking the lush, stately, and ancient look that it has across the creek.

The trail emerges next to the visitor center.