Best Redwood National and State Park Photography Locations
The Redwoods are a dream destination for photographers and non-photographers alike. There is a certain type of allure the often gloomy, foggy, wet, and unpredictable weather paired with the lush, green undergrowth and towering trees have.
Fun Facts
1. Redwood National and State Parks is actually four parks, not one.
Is Redwood National Park the same as Redwood State Park? A lot of people get confused with this fact when planning a trip. It is actually a cooperative system made up of Redwood National Park plus Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek Redwood State Parks. The parks have been jointly managed by the National Park Service and California State Parks since 1994. Humboldt is another great State park separate from the cooperative system. See source
2. The parks protect nearly half of California’s remaining old-growth coast redwoods.
NPS says 96% of the original old-growth coast redwoods have been logged, and Redwood National and State Parks protect 45% of what remains in California. See source
3. Coast redwoods can get 30% or more of their annual water from fog.
Summer fog condenses on redwood leaves, some water is absorbed, and the rest drips down to the roots. This is one reason redwoods thrive along the cool, wet Northern California coast.See source
When to go?
When should I go to the Redwoods? Well, it depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for milder, warmer weather with great hiking, limited weather interruptions with rain and wind, summer will be the best time. The main downside with going to the Redwoods is the traffic and crowds. If you don’t like crowds, avoid this peak season.
For most people, I would find it hard to recommend anything but the mid - late spring. Around this time of year you get moody weather, rain, mist, and fog. Late May to early June will also see most wildflowers blooming (depending on seasonal rain / temps). Pacific rhododendrons, and various other wildflowers will line many trails this time of year. Along with that, the undergrowth will be luscious- with bright green ferns and clovers all over.
Where to stay?
Because the overall park system is so large, there is a wide array of locations to visit. This leads to the question, where is the best place to stay in the Redwoods? This is highly subjective, however I believe that the best general location would be in Crescent City. The reason is that it is just so close to Jedediah Smith State Park, and a very short drive away from other parks like Del Norte. Along with that, it is also the largest city you will find in the area, so you won’t struggle to find creature comforts.
Beyond Crescent city, there are many RV Parks, campgrounds, and cabins / lodges to stay at along HWY 101- particularly near the various reservation towns.
What gear do I need?
What gear should you bring to ensure you get the best photos in the Redwoods? Something I found was basically stuck on my camera the entire trip was my CPL filter. This is 100% a non-negotiable, and I’ll tell you why.
A CPL (Circular Polarizer) filter filters light at different angles. This allows you to cut down on harsh, reflective light. Why is that so important in the Redwoods? Well- the redwoods is a very, very wet place. Often you will find the green underbrush is coated in a light layer of mist / rain. Because of that, any light that contacts the plants will reflect off of the water- causing often washed-out, gray-looking greens. Using a CPL allows you to remove that reflective light and deepen the richness of the colors.
A CPL is the one type of filter you cannot replicate by any other means. Get a good one, and use it.
Let's talk about lenses. I will generally always recommend having your focal ranges of 16mm - 200mm (full-frame) covered with quality glass. I personally have a Canon 14-35mm f/4, a Canon 28-70mm f/2, a Canon 70-200mm EF II, and a Sigma 14mm f1.8 (for astrophotography). This loadout– while heavy– gets me very high quality coverage for most photos I would need in a given circumstance. It is also perfectly fine if you just have one or two zoom lenses that do the job of three or four. As long as you get your wide / ultra-wide, and medium - telephoto ranges covered, that is all you need.
Shooting the Avenue of the Giants
So we’ve sorted out when to go, why to go, what not to do, and gear, so the only last question is where?
Grove of Titans
Jedediah Smith State Park
Misty morning along a quiet trail winding through the towering Redwoods of Northern California, where soft light filters through ancient trunks and the air carries the scent of damp earth and wood.
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This trail- nestled in the Jedediah Smith State park was the first trail we hiked on our trip. And let me tell you something- no other trail on the trip was as incredible as this one.
This trail is a super easy 1.8-mile out-and-back style trail that leads you along a very well maintained path through some of the largest and oldest Redwoods in the park system. Every turn you make will leave you astonished.
Additionally, this park has an outhouse-style bathroom at the trailhead which is very convenient. If you do choose to walk this trail I highly, highly suggest it is your first stop of the day. We chose to arrive at the trailhead around sunrise, and we had the entire trail to ourselves for nearly 2 hours in some of the truly most peaceful, serene, and amazing hours of my life.
For photographers, there are so many frames to be had here. Most of which occur after the first ½ mile of the hike. the trail allows for wonderful leading lines that shape your shots for you.
2. Boy Scout Tree Trail
Jedediah Smith State Park
A lovely path winds through a grove of Redwoods in the Jedediah Smith State Park.
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The Boy Scout Tree Trail is a very close second to the Grove of Titans. This 5.5 mile out and back style trail takes you through some absolutely jaw-dropping scenery.
The sights, smells, and sounds of this trail are magical. One particular thing to note about this trail compared to the Grove of Titans is this trail has a decent patch of Pacific Rhododendrons- along with many other various wildflowers.
You will hit a patch of trail about 1 - 1.5 miles in that has an ankle-break worthy level of roots so be cautious. All of that however- is worth it. Because of the length of this trail, the further you go, the less likely you are to encounter people.
We first hiked this trail on a Friday afternoon and found that in the most beautiful stretch of trail (in my opinion) about 2 - 2.5 miles deep— there were hardly any people! It was even better in the morning. The basic idea is the same with this trail. If you want to avoid people, and have the best light. Go there around or just after sunrise. You won’t regret it.
3. Lyons Ranch
Redwood National Park, CA
An abandoned sheep ranch atop a ridge-line in the Redwoods National Park, Ca.
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Lyons Ranch offers a distinctly different experience from the rest of the redwoods. A high mountain pasture that housed a renowned sheep farm until the 1960’s.
After a very long drive atop Bald Hills mountain, you will find a mountaintop that feels arid in comparison to the luscious green forests below. Hundreds of years ago the Natives would do controlled burns of the area to allow for farming and cattle herding. That left a a permanent on the hill that remains to this day.
This mountaintop receives a lot of snow in the winter, and the spring melt will often reveal stunning Lupins that stick around until the summer. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of a Lupin bloom in early June. Few remained but the ones that did were gorgeous, and allowed for a stunning frame of the old barn that once housed remarkable sheep.
4. Damnation Creek Trail
Del Norte State Park
A magical foggy morning walk along Damnation Creek Trail in Del Norte State Park.
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In Del Norte State Park there is a trail that leads all the way from US HWY 101 all the way to the beach. This trail- Damnation Creek Trail is very, very challenging. Around 2000ft of vertical gain over the length of the trail makes for a tough hike.
But… For photographers, or those who just love wildflowers, you will find that Pacific Rhododendron are blooming within the first ½ mile of the trail! No need for anything intense.
Something else that makes this trail special— Fog. This section of coast has fog almost every morning in the spring. When we arrived at the trail before 9am, we found that fog was starting to roll in and quickly became dense.
You have to be very quick with the fog though— just as fast as it came, it left.
Along this trail are plenty of wonderful photo-ops for rhododendrons, redwoods, and foggy trail shots that are truly one of a kind.
5. Rockefeller Loop Trail
Humboldt State Park
A stunning grove of Redwoods illuminated by early morning light-beams in Humboldt State Park.
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We almost didn’t even go here- but I am so glad we did. This loop is short, and easy. Anyone can walk it without issue. This .6 mile loop gives a wonderful look into a very old section of Redwoods along Bull Creek- a beautiful and peaceful section of river.
For photography comps, there aren’t many- but the ones you do find are astonishing. Lots of fallen trees along the trail make for distracting and challenging photo comps, but right where the trail continues on the loop, or breaks off to the Bull Creek trail- you will find a top 5 grove of redwoods. Gorgeous clover paths, clean underbrush, no fallen trees, and STUNNING light in the mid-morning.
While I didn’t expect it, this ended up producing one of the best photos of my entire trip.
6. Drury-Chaney Loop Trail
Humboldt State Park
A truly magical pathway winding through a grove of clovers and towering redwoods illuminated in early morning light.
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This trail- just off of the Avenue of the Giants looks like it has been manicured by a team of gnomes. Its hard to describe it any other way.
about 1/8 mile into the loop, a small wildlife trail breaks left and leads you into a clover covered forest bed that give you a remarkable photographic experience.
Beyond this section, there are minimal comps, and LOTS of poison oak— to proceed with caution. It is still well-worth the entire hike of about 2.3 miles.
After this hike, you can enjoy a nice drive along the scenic Avenue of the Giants!
