Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, located at 127011 Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Orick, California, is a stunning park and tourist attraction that …
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5.0/5 · 399 reviews
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Sep 21, 2024
The Redwoods never cease to amaze me. They are so magnificent. This park has many great trails to experience them. The Newton B Drury Parkway is a great place to ride your bike to experience them wit…Full review by Jim B
Jul 10, 2024
While I group the State and National Parks together as one amazing place, them each having their own place on Tripadvisor allows me to think about each are on its own. I reviewed Jedediah Smith an…Full review by Indyinin
May 17, 2024
So glad I made it here during my lifetime. My neck was sore with so much looking up at all the magnificent trees. We did the Prairie Creek to Foothilss Trail loop past the big tree. Really stunning t…Full review by Penny M
Hi, I'm trying to plan a trip to the Redwood forests with my mom, two of my brothers, and my two children. Visiting the Redwoods is a bucket list goal of my mom's, and we're going for her 71st birthday on August 7. 1. What is the nearest international airport? 2. We will stay in the region for 2-3 days. Should we try to visit all of the Redwood State and National parks, or where do you recommend we visit for the best experience (considering we will be with an elder and a child as young as 8 y/o)? 3. We are not going to camp, so we need some affordable lodging for a few days. Where do you recommend we stay that is clean, comfortable and offers great customer service? Please advise. Marcus @ marcusharcus . com Thx! mh
A:
I am not sure about the international airports in the area. That region is pretty remote so I am guessing San Francisco like previous posters suggested. Trinidad is a good place to …
I am not sure about the international airports in the area. That region is pretty remote so I am guessing San Francisco like previous posters suggested. Trinidad is a good place to stay because of its proximity to the parks. Adorable town with a good beach as well. I am not sure what availability is like with such short notice, but there are a handful of places to stay. Emerald Forest cabins may fit in your budget. Personally I would avoid Eureka. There is a huge transient population that we saw while driving through in April. My family and I did not feel comfortable in that city and it is about an hour and a half south of Prairie Creek. Depending on the fitness level of your mom there are two hikes that are quite lovely. The first is Lady Bird Johnson Grove which is pretty short without a lot of elevation change. This one is in Prairie Creek. The other is the hike to the Boy Scout Tree which is in the northern part of the park near Crescent City. This one has a little more elevation gain and is around five miles if you hike to the falls. But both offer fantastic views of the redwoods. Hop off the highway at Prairie Creek and drive through the park to really see the trees. They just take your breath away! If you can get into Fern Canyon I would recommend it. Before visiting that part of the park go to the park visitor center to get an update on the road and trail conditions. When we were there in April the road wasn't open. Also being cash because I believe you will have to pay to get into that part of the park and the ranger booth is remote so I don't think they take debit (I could be wrong). Prairie Creek is also home to a herd of Thule Elk so keep your eyes open for them. Trees of Mystery is fun if you like kitsch (I love it). If you are driving north from San Francisco pay a visit to Ferndale. It is a quaint Victorian town that is a historic landmark that has been featured in movies. Personally I would focus on the southern end of the park since you have limited time and may be driving a long distance to get there. There is plenty to for you and your family to enjoy without feeling as if you have been cheated out of the redwood experience. One more tip is weather. It may be California, but the northern coast is not usually the "sunny California" depicted on TV and movies, especially in summer. It is often foggy, cool to cold, and overcast. Layers are a good idea in addition to a water resistant jacket. Have a great trip!
It looks like I can only make reservations after May 15. Is the park open for camping before that? Is it first come basis?
A:
I have never camped there because I live here. I don't believe the campground is open now but the park is. You can always camp at Clam Beach, open year round, on a first come …
I have never camped there because I live here. I don't believe the campground is open now but the park is. You can always camp at Clam Beach, open year round, on a first come basis. It is about 30 minutes South of the campground at Prairie Creek.
Hi! We are from PA and love our local park and recs, but alas it's time to see something different. What airport would be the closest/cheapest to fly into for this park? Not afraid to rent a car and drive about 2 hours. thanks!!
A:
I was just there today, if you need to ask anything else I'll be glad to help.
I read online that there’s a limited number of daily permits for the prairie creek trail? Is this accurate?
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I have never heard of even needing a permit to hike on the trail or a limit to hikers unless you are planning on camping along the trail as you hike. If you are backpacking and wan to camp …
I have never heard of even needing a permit to hike on the trail or a limit to hikers unless you are planning on camping along the trail as you hike. If you are backpacking and wan to camp along the way then you will need to contact them ahead of time. Make you ask about the use of bear proof food storage. There is a gift shop and ranger station there you can call and get all of the details on the park, camp sites, elk viewing and trails. They will know about needing a permit. Tom
Has anyone ever used the cabins here? The ones offered by state park
A:
I worked at the Park as a volunteer and cleaned the cabins, so I can definitely tell you about them. First, realize that they are cabins with heat, electricity, and platforms to put your …
I worked at the Park as a volunteer and cleaned the cabins, so I can definitely tell you about them. First, realize that they are cabins with heat, electricity, and platforms to put your bedding. But nothing more. You need to walk to the restrooms/showers (2 minutes) which are not in your cabin. No kitchen. You need to bring a mattress and/or bedding as well as fold-up chairs, if you want a place to sit. The advantage is that you are right in the park and may look out in the morning to see the elk grazing in the meadow. Ask more if I haven't answered what you want to know.
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Why should I be cautious about moving firewood?
A:
Firewood can carry invasive insects and diseases that can kill native trees. New infestations of these insects and diseases can destroy our forests, lessen property values, and cost...
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