The redwood forests of California offer much to see for potential travelers. Located along California’s Pacific Coast, there are various national parks dedicated to seeing redwood forests. These forests offer plenty of potential for family outings. There are hundreds of thousands of acres to explore.
When visiting California’s redwoods, you should first prepare yourself with the knowledge to have the best experience possible. You will need to know how to travel along the Pacific coast, how to spot a redwood, where to lodge, which trails are best for hiking, and how to handle wildlife.
With so many forests to see, choosing where to go and what to do can seem daunting. There are five essential tips for potential visitors to California’s redwood forests. By following these tips, visitors will have a clear game plan without feeling overwhelmed. If you want to visit any of California’s redwood forests, read on so you can keep these tips in mind.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit a Redwood Forest?
As with any travel plans, visiting redwood forests will depend on the season. While California is not known for extreme weather conditions, some seasons are better to visit than others. When planning a trip, maximizing the trip potential will be important.
Summer is usually the best time of year to visit the redwood forests of California. While travel can be done during other seasons, summer usually yields the best experience. Summer is generally the best time of year to visit due to the following factors:
- Summer is a low rainfall season with warm temperatures. This tends to create the best hiking conditions.
- Summer offers a lot of tour guide packages that are only available in that season. This is helpful for travelers without endless amounts of time to spend.
- Park Rangers set up fun events and activities over the summer.
- A mist from the coast tends to blanket the trees over the summer and no other season. This gives a unique “wow” factor that can only be seen during summertime.
As mentioned, summer is not the only time you can visit the redwood forests. Summer does tend to offer the best conditions for visiting, however. There are good times to travel in other seasons, yet they bring more challenges compared to the summer. Preparing for different travel seasons is important as different seasons bring different conditions.
Spring offers decent conditions, yet rain tends to make the hikes more challenging. Winter brings the rainiest conditions and temperatures in the 40s and 50s. More protective gear to stay warm and dry will be needed in winter. Fall can offer good times to travel in the redwoods, though the rainy season begins in October.
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Where Is the Best Place to See the Giant Redwoods of California?
There are many national parks to see redwood forests in California. Unlike other states and localities, California divides its redwood forests into several different national parks rather than one big one. This offers great variety, yet can also make choosing a park seem daunting. The best place to see giant redwoods, however, is in one particular national park.
Sequoia National Forest, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is the best place to see giant redwoods in California. Sequoia National Forest is considered the best place to see giant redwoods due to the following:
- Sequoia National Forest holds the greatest among giant redwoods, located side by side with mammoth sequoias.
- Sequoia National Forest holds some of the oldest redwood trees in the world. The oldest tree in the park is General Sherman, which is estimated to be 1,800 to 2,700 years old.
- Sequoia National Forest offers some of the best hiking conditions over the summer, allowing visitors to get the most out of their hike while searching for giant redwoods.
It should be noted that certain times of the year bring rough travel conditions to Sequoia National Forest. Summer is usually the best time to visit the park, as with other redwood forests in California. During winter, rain and potential snow can close off many trails and paths, making hiking nearly inaccessible. If you want to travel here over the winter, it is best to consult rangers and local authorities beforehand.
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5 Essential Tips for Visiting the Redwoods of California
There are various suggestions one can give for how and where to travel in California’s redwood forests. In this case, there are five distinct tips that will help any potential traveler in the redwoods. These tips range from what to bring to the best lodging.
Traveling, especially to wilderness areas, should be well planned. It is best to be prepared for the environment and be familiar with what to see.
How to Spot a Redwood
As mentioned, redwoods and sequoias have many similar features. Indeed, many first-time travelers may find it difficult to tell a redwood apart from other evergreen trees in the forest. There are ways to identify a redwood that even novices could notice.
Identifying a redwood tree boils down to a couple of factors. When searching for redwoods, it is best to look for the following:
- The shape and height of redwoods make them distinct. Redwoods tend to grow straight, without many lower branches.
- Many redwoods have burls (deformed bumps) on them. These tend to grow on the trunks and will look somewhat out of the ordinary.
- Redwoods will have a specific color to their bark. Their bark color is red and usually furrowed.
- Redwoods do not grow in hilly areas near the ocean. Redwoods do not grow in areas where the air is too salty, such as right on the coast near the ocean.
When looking for redwoods, these are the best factors to use in finding them. Redwoods will look similar to other evergreen trees in the forest. Telling them apart is not too difficult, as long as you follow the specifications given here.
Lodging and Redwood Forests
As with any travel arrangement, lodging is important. Many may want to camp in the redwood forests for a more authentic outdoor experience. As mentioned, however, many of these national parks operate on a first-come, first-served basis. It is hard to make camping reservations beforehand.
In Northern California, there are some towns that offer key lodging for travelers interested in exploring the redwoods. These towns include, but are not limited to:
- Crescent City, California: Located in Del Norte County, Crescent City offers a range of lodging accommodations for travelers in redwood country. Crescent City also offers family-friendly activities such as the “Kidtown” playground.
- Eureka, California: Located in Humboldt County, Eureka offers a wide range of lodging for redwood visitors. Eureka has many lodging areas, some close to the ocean.
- Klamath, California: Located between Crescent City and Eureka, Klamath offers lodging accommodations for those more interested in being close to the forest. Klamath offers “off the beaten path” lodgings, as well as other natural beauties. The Klamath Overlook is a good natural beauty for sightseeing.
There are also many visitor centers. Crescent City has the largest visitor center in California’s redwood forests, located in Redwood National Park.
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Hiking in the Redwoods of California
Hiking is by far the most popular activity in California’s redwood forests. Hiking requires preparation, especially if it is a long hike you are planning. When planning a hike through the redwoods, keep the following in mind:
- Bring plenty of bottled water from home. You may encounter what appear to be clean creeks and streams, yet the water is unsafe to drink.
- Do not wander off the trails. Also be wary of poison oak, which likes to grow near the sides of these trails.
- Bring water shoes for potential creeks and streams to cross.
- Bring hats and sunscreen during the summer months to prevent too much exposure to direct sunlight.
- Use the restroom before setting out on a hike, especially for kids. There are pit stops at visitor centers and picnic areas, yet they can be spread out across the park.
- Know the dirt roads. Some hiking trails can only be accessed by driving through dirt roads, which can be tricky.
Having a good hike requires preparation and knowledge of the area. Bring important resources and research the area before setting out on a hike. Be wary of the areas you will hike through. It is never wise to venture into the wilderness unprepared.
Hiking in the Redwoods of California
Hiking is by far the most popular activity in California’s redwood forests. Hiking requires preparation, especially if it is a long hike you are planning. When planning a hike through the redwoods, keep the following in mind:
- Bring plenty of bottled water from home. You may encounter what appear to be clean creeks and streams, yet the water is unsafe to drink.
- Do not wander off the trails. Also be wary of poison oak, which likes to grow near the sides of these trails.
- Bring water shoes for potential creeks and streams to cross.
- Bring hats and sunscreen during the summer months to prevent too much exposure to direct sunlight.
- Use the restroom before setting out on a hike, especially for kids. There are pit stops at visitor centers and picnic areas, yet they can be spread out across the park.
- Know the dirt roads. Some hiking trails can only be accessed by driving through dirt roads, which can be tricky.
Having a good hike requires preparation and knowledge of the area. Bring important resources and research the area before setting out on a hike. Be wary of the areas you will hike through. It is never wise to venture into the wilderness unprepared.
Traveling the Redwood Coast
Many of the redwood national parks are located along California’s Pacific Coastal areas. While redwoods do not grow next to the ocean, they are not far from them. The coast offers beaches and many fun activities for individuals and families alike. Families may want a reprieve from the forest and enjoy what the ocean has to offer.
There are many activities on the redwood coast. Beaches are fun for both individuals and families. When visiting the beaches of the redwood coast, keep the following in mind:
- The beaches can get foggy and chilly over the summer months. It often clears by noon, but may still linger. Bring a light jacket or long-sleeved shirt in case of this.
- Explore tide pools. Tidepool exploring is a great activity for families. Just be aware that the rocks can get slippery during low tide. Try not to disturb the creatures that live in these pools.
- Whale watching is another popular activity. Grey whales migrate in this area every year, though only do so from November to May. If you travel the redwood coast over the summer, you likely will not see whales.
While a deviation from hiking the redwood forests, going to the coast can be a fun side activity. As with hiking, bring necessary resources and research the area before going to a beach on the redwood coast.
Wildlife in the Redwoods of California
Forests offer many animals to be seen while hiking. California’s redwood forests are no different. There are challenges when dealing with wildlife, of course. When encountering wildlife in the redwoods, keep the following in mind:
- Do not feed the wildlife. Many animals may look adorable, but human food (such as most household snacks) is not good for them. It also lessens the chance of them depending on humans for food.
- Beware of elk. Roosevelt elks can be found across many redwood national parks, especially in Northern California. They can be aggressive, however, especially during their mating season between August and November
Be wary of the wildlife you encounter. Follow a “look, no touch” policy. These animals are wonders of nature and are great to admire. Avoid interfering with them directly, as they will be happiest if left alone.
These rules are meant to protect the animals, as well as people. To protect wildlife and people from potential harm, listen to rangers and local authorities when they ask you not to feed or interact with the animals.
Conclusion
Visiting California’s redwoods is an unforgettable experience. These majestic trees are unlike anything else on earth. It is important to prepare ahead of time with these tips and tricks so that you can have the best trip possible without running into any issues on the way.
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