West Ridge
and Prairie Creek

Short loop with the Zig Zag #1 Trail

Length 5.8 mi · Climbing 760 ft

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

The West Ridge Trail

Background

The first half of this loop is a moderately difficult, undulating trek through Prairie Creek's uplands. The trail then descends to Prairie Creek for an easy stroll through Prairie Creek's signature lowlands, featuring several superb redwood groves interspersed with more open streamside vegetation. Unnfortunately Prairie Creek is near Drury Parkway and traffic noise intrudes on the serenity. Nonetheless, the contrast between upland and lowland makes for an interesting and rewarding hike.

The Prairie Creek Trail is particularly nice in the first half of October, when the maples along the creek turn a brilliant yellow, glowing against the gloom under Prairie Creek's dense redwood canopy.

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Hike description

Start at the main trailhead behind the Visitor Center and take the big bridge across Prairie Creek, then turn right at the second intersection (until mid-2007, the James Irvine Trail). Here, in a broad valley that's home to the aptly-named Godwood Creek, is one of the most magnificent redwood groves anywhere. The forest of huge, stately trees is lush yet open, with a serene look of age that's unique to Prairie Creek.

Turn right at the West Ridge Trail. The trail starts climbing through very impressive redwoods, offering some nice views of the grove below. Soon, though, the grove gives way to less-impressive redwood uplands. Most of the West Ridge Trail is in fact kind of dull for an old-growth trail; although it does have some huge trees, all the trees are the same drab color and there's practically no change in the scenery as the miles pass by. What's more, the trail constantly undulates up and down, adding a lot of climbing to the hike.

The Prairie Creek Trail

Turn right at Zig Zag Trail #1 and start descending. The scenery improves markedly as you approach the bottom; the trees have more interesting colors and textures, and the forest is more open with more really big trees.

The redwoods apparently can't grow near the creek, so the Prairie Creek Trail alternately dives into stately redwood groves and then emerges into open areas. The open areas are coved with chaparral-like streamside vegetation that's composed of a thick tangle of ferns, blackberries, and small shrublike maple trees and often overgrows the trail.

The redwood groves are quintessentially Prairie Creek and are among the most impressive in the park. If this trail were more isolated it would rank among the very best redwood trails, but unfortunately the experience of hiking here is somewhat spoiled by traffic noise from Drury Parkway. Ideally, visit early in the morning when traffic is at a minimum, but even then there's enough traffic to constantly remind you that you're just a few steps from a road.