Best Redwood Forest Trails to Hike with Kids in Crescent City, CA
Photo credit NPS
Any trip to Crescent City should include see some Redwood giants in some fashion. You’ll be able to spot some from the car as you drive down US 199 if you’re coming from Oregon and drive through Jedidiah Smith Redwood State Park. You’ll also be able to see several large ones if you’re planning a trip over to the Trees of Mystery. But if you’re hoping to have a little adventure hike with your family out in nature to go find these magnificent trees, I can help get you on the right path.
Our family is not really the hiking sort of family so any venture out like this with small children in tow needs to be a little bit organized to get me to sign on. I need something relatively short (under 2 miles) and relatively easy for a few reasons- mainly 1) to keep young kids happy and and entertained and 2) to make an exit as swift as possible should the whole venture go awry and we have to carry a kid back to the car. I was pleasantly surprised to find out there are a few amazing hikes to see the really big Redwood Giants that fell within my criteria.
Stout Grove which boasts having the most scenic view of the redwoods is only a 0.6 mile trail. I feel like this is a such an achievable hike for most families who aren’t regular hikers and who have young kids tagging along. The trees are not the largest but its well worth the hike.
If you’re wanting more of a hike, there’s a 1.5 mile trek to see the biggest trees of them all at the Grove of Titans. It is hard to wrap your mind around what you’re seeing when you get to view these trees in person.
Both trails are accessible via Howland Hill Rd off of US 199. I hope you’ll make an afternoon and introduce your kids to these giants. Hiking with kids to view the giant redwoods near Crescent City is a ‘must do’ trip from Southern Oregon.