The West Ridge
and Rhododendron Trails

with the Zig Zag and Brown Creek Trails

Length 7.7 mi · Climbing 1433 ft

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

Fall color on the Prairie Creek Trail

Background

The hike features the northernmost and best section of the Rhododendron Trail, which winds dramatically through canyons and over ridges among lush redwood uplands. The Rhododendron Trail pairs nicely with the top-rate Brown Creek Trail, a mostly flat meander along the park's prettiest creek.

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Hike description

The hike starts across the street from the Brown Creek/South Fork trailhead, on Drury Parkway north of the Big Tree Area.

The loop starts with a mile of hiking on the Prairie Creek Trail, passing through some impressive streamside redwood groves (which, unfortunately, are within earshot of Drury Parkway), then breaks out of the redwoods and passes through streamside brush. Continue until you reach Zig Zag #1 Trail.

The suggested route climbs up Zig Zag #1 Trail to the West Ridge Trail, but less energetic hikers can instead continue on the flat Prairie Creek Trail all the way to the start of the Rhododendron trail. However, despite having a few nice redwood groves, this part of the Prairie Creek Trail is mostly brush-filled marsh and is not all that interesting. It's also overgrown and not as well-maintained as most other trails in the park, and gets some traffic noise from Drury Parkway.

The real highlight of the alternative West Ridge route is actually the two Zig Zag trails. The steep slope that they traverse is dotted with huge redwoods, especially at lower elevations. The West Ridge trail is not quite as scenic, since huge trees are not as common on the ridgetop there's a certain isolation from the forest. There's a substantial amount of climbing as the trail undulates over the ridge.

The Rhododendron Trail gets off to a good start, climbing through a steep canyon covered with huge redwoods. Traffic noise from the parkway soon fades into the distance. The position of the trail midway up the steep canyon slope provides nice views of the redwoods across the canyon and below, without isolating you from the forest. The redwoods decrease in size as the trail climbs, but they're still pretty impressive.

Zig Zag Trail #2

After crossing to the other side of the canyon, the trail climbs a ridge and intersects with the dead-end C.R.E.A. Trail. This little-used trail (an optional detour), which is definitely off the beaten path, climbs to a hilltop redwood grove before dropping down to highway 101. Although it is officially maintained, the lower portions of the trail are disguised by a covering of moss and can be hard to follow. The trail is better-established higher up the hill. Freeway noise becomes audible just before the hilltop, which has a dense understory of huckleberry shrubs. If you hike this trail I recommend turning around at the hilltop, since there isn't much of interest after this point. The memorial grove spur shown on some maps has become completely overgrown.

After passing the C.R.E.A. Trail, the Rhododendron Trail descends into a stream valley and then makes a scenic ascent of the other side before looping around a ridge. The ridge, with its smaller redwoods, is not all that interesting but makes a nice contrast with the lowlands that follow. As the trail descends to Brown Creek, the trees get larger and more impressive.

The superb Brown Creek Trail follows a creek through a wide valley. The best part of the trail is here at the northern end. Outside of the cathedral-like alluvial flat groves (which Brown Creek is too small to produce), it's possibly the best example of a creekside redwood forest.