Redwood Creek Trail - 15.6 Miles Round-Trip

The Redwood Creek Trail runs 7.8 miles from Bald Hills Road to the Tall Trees Loop in Redwood National Park. This long but moderate trail passes through a diverse riparian corridor lined by old and second growth redwoods, bigleaf maple canopies and miles of edible berries. Runners, backpackers and families will enjoy mild grades and a chance to cover long distances with relative ease.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

There are many places to access the creek and explore open gravel bars. Autumn colors are quite good through lengthy stretches of maple and leafy vegetation.

Redwood Creek offers highly desirable camping along gravel bars, and connections with the Elam Creek and 44 Creek loops can be linked for multi-day trips.

Salmon and steelhead run in Redwood Creek, osprey nest along its path and bears are drawn to the watershed's rich food sources. All combine to make this one of the most complete backcountry destinations in the Park.

Two bridges across Redwood Creek are installed each summer once water levels have receded, and removed again in the fall before rains return.  When not in place you must ford the creek, which can be difficult if not impossible. Only experienced hikers should attempt this ford. Call for bridge and creek flow status before setting out: 

The trail heads south from Bald Hills Road through level intervals of salmonberry, blackberry, redwoods and bigleaf maple.

It skirts the edge of a bramble-filled clearing (1.0 mile : 72') and weaves through tall Sitka to the first bridge / creek ford (1.8 miles : 73').

Identify orange trail symbols on the west bank before crossing; you may have to push through dense brush to find the trail if crews have not yet cleared seasonal damage.

Once across the trail narrows through potentially obstructive brush to the McArthur Creek Bridge (2.1 miles), past which travel clarifies on a level path to the Elam Creek Loop Trail split (2.9 miles : 90').

The Redwood Creek Trail continues south and level through mature redwoods and bigleaf maple. Higher concentrations of redwoods are located upslope, and you'll have to make some effort to reach them (3.65 miles : 150')

Large trees are replaced by uniform and tightly packed second growth beyond 4.7 miles, and the trail generally runs above the creek with limited access for some time. This is a fine point to turn back if not aiming for other destinations.

Short up-down segments lead to Bond Creek (5.75 miles : 115'), past which the trail rises to its highest point (323') and drops to a high bridge over 44 Creek (6.9 miles : 235'). Guardrails may be damaged - caution is a must.

The trail rises back and dips again through alders to the 44 Camp - 44 Creek Loop split (7.4 miles : 240').

Follow signs for Tall Trees Grove on a steep descent to the second bridge / ford across Redwood Creek (7.65 miles : 160'). Identify the orange trail sign across the bank before fording, which is around a bend to the right.

Once across the trail levels to its terminus at the Tall Trees Loop (7.8 miles : 160'). Having come this far it's worth walking the mile loop through some of the Park's largest redwoods and oldest maple groves before turning back.