Redwood National and State Parks are a string of protected forests, beaches and grasslands along Northern California’s coast. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park has trails through dense old-growth woods. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is home to Fern Canyon, with its high, plant-covered walls. Roosevelt elk frequent nearby Elk Prairie. Giant redwood clusters include Redwood National Park’s Lady Bird Johnson Grove.
Recreation Map of Lacks Creek Management Area (MA) in the BLM Arcata Field Office area in California. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of the southern part of Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) in Six Rivers National Forest (NF) in California. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of the northern part of Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) in Six Rivers National Forest (NF) in California. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Brochure of World Heritage Sites in the United States. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/redw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_National_and_State_Parks
Redwood National and State Parks are a string of protected forests, beaches and grasslands along Northern California’s coast. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park has trails through dense old-growth woods. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is home to Fern Canyon, with its high, plant-covered walls. Roosevelt elk frequent nearby Elk Prairie. Giant redwood clusters include Redwood National Park’s Lady Bird Johnson Grove.
Most people know Redwood as home to the tallest trees on Earth. But the Parks also protect vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild rivers, and 40 miles of rugged coastline. People have lived in this verdant landscape since time immemorial. Together, the National Park Service and California State Parks are managing and restoring these lands for the inspiration, enjoyment, and education of all.
Redwood National and State Parks is located in northernmost coastal California - almost on the Oregon border. The parks are about 60-miles long, with four visitor centers from north to south. We are a six to seven-hour drive (325 miles) north of San Francisco, a six-hour drive (330 miles) south of Portland, OR and a four-hour drive (170 miles) west of Redding, CA.
Crescent City Information Center
Located in the bottom floor of park headquarters. Picnic area and retail sales.
Corner of 2nd and K Streets in downtown Crescent City.
Hiouchi Visitor Center
Northern-most park visitor center located 9-miles east of Crescent City on Hwy 199. Exhibits about Tolowa culture and art, redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger program, bookstore and retail sales.
Jedediah Smith Visitor Center
Located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground, near the amphitheater. Small visitor center with information, exhibits, junior ranger program, bookstore, and retail sales. Seasonal operations, only open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
9 miles northeast of Crescent City. Located inside the Jedediah Smith Redwoods Campground.
Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Located just off the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway - in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Exhibits about the Civilian Conservation Corps and redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger program, bookstore and retail sales.
Located in the southern end of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway - in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. 6.5 miles north of Orick.
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
Southern-most visitor center in the park and located right on the beach. Exhibits about Yurok culture, art and history, redwood ecology, park information, junior ranger program, bookstore and retail sales. Park film available.
1-mile south of Orick, located on Freshwater Beach. Look for the brown highway signs for Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center / Park Information. Do not rely on online maps to give accurate directions: this visitor center is NOT in the town of Orick.
Elk Prairie Campground
Enjoy ancient coast redwoods, grazing Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer in Elk Prairie, easy access to over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails, and seasonal ranger-led programs. Cabins available. Located in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, 6 miles north of Orick, CA.
Standard Camping Fee
35.00
This is the standard nightly fee for tent and RV sites.
CA State Parks Disabled Discount Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Disable Discount Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
CA State Parks Distinguished Veterans Camping Fee
0.00
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
Federal Senior & Access Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for Federal “America the Beautiful” Senior or Access Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in. Federal Annual Passholders pay the standard camping fee.
Elk Prairie Campground Sign
Brown and yellow park sign.
This developed campground is located on the edge of a large meadow.
Elk Prairie Campground entrance kiosk
Two vehicles next to a brown building. Redwood trees in the background.
Reservations are essential for this popular campground.
Elk Prairie Cabin
Brown and green building with ADA ramp.
Four ADA accessible rustic cabins can be reserved.
Restrooms at Elk Prairie Campground
Brown building in front of redwood trees.
Basic facilities are located at this campground.
Example of site at Elk Prairie Campground
A trailer, picnic table and bear-proof storage box.
Several sites have little shade or privacy.
Example of camp site at Elk Prairie Campground
A tent and picnic table in the shade.
Most sites are located under trees and offer some privacy.
Campers at Elk Prairie Campground
A park ranger chats with a family sitting at a picnic table. Two tents are nearby.
Camping under the redwoods is enjoyed by many here.
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
Experience the wild Pacific coastline and grazing Roosevelt elk in this campground, with easy access to a secluded stretch of beach, Fern Canyon, and 70 miles of hiking and biking trails. Located on the coast within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - in the southern part of the parks. Access is on with a narrow, dirt road. Recreational vehicles and trailers are not advised.
Standard Camping Fee
35.00
This is the standard nightly fee for tent and RV sites.
CA State Parks Disabled Discount Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Disable Discount Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
CA State Parks Distinguished Veterans Camping Fee
0.00
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
Federal Senior & Access Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for Federal “America the Beautiful” Senior or Access Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in. Federal Annual Passholders pay the standard camping fee.
Tents at Gold Bluffs Beach campground
Two tents sit in sand dunes and at a grassy site
Gold Bluffs Beach campsites are all exposed to fog and strong winds.
Gold Bluffs Beach restrooms.
A small building and a tent are seen in front of a steep bluff.
Basic facilities are located at this cliff-side campground.
GBB food lockers
Metal food storage locker, campfire ring and picnic table.
Proper storing of food will keep bears away from the campground.
Campsite
Picnic table, fire ring and food locker
Each campsite has a picnic table, food locker and fire pit.
Hike and bike site
Sandy trail leads to a signed "hike and bike" site.
A backcountry hike and bike site is for those that arrived without a vehicle.
Jedediah Smith Campground
Situated in a magnificent old-growth redwood grove on the banks of the wild and scenic Smith River, this campground offers hiking trails, swimming, fishing, and seasonal campfire programs. Cabins available.
Standard Camping Fee
35.00
This is the standard nightly fee for tent and RV sites.
CA State Parks Disabled Discount Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Disable Discount Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
CA State Parks Distinguished Veterans Camping Fee
0.00
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
Federal Senior & Access Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for Federal “America the Beautiful” Senior or Access Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in. Federal Annual Passholders pay the standard camping fee.
Jedediah Smith Campground Entrance Kiosk
A pickup pulls upto the campground
Jedediah Smith Campground ampitheater
Wooden seats in front of a slideshow screen
Ranger-led evening programs are offered in the summer.
Jedediah Smith tent camping
Tent camping in the redwoods.
Campground sign
A brown and yellow campground sign.
Wooden campground sign.
Cabin in Jedediah Smith Campground
A brown cabin with accessible ramp and stairs
Some bare cabins are available in this campground.
Campground site
A typical sized site at this campground.
Jedediah Smith campground site
A picnic able and food storage lockers surrounded by vegetation.
Small campsites are common in this campground.
Mill Creek Campground
Sleep beneath towering maples and young redwoods. Access to Mill Creek, miles of varied hiking trails, and summer programs. Campers at Mill Creek may hear restoration work including saws and heavy equipment through October 15. For more information, visit the Redwoods Rising page at go.nps.gov/RedwoodsRising. Located in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. This is 6.7 miles south of Crescent City.
Standard Camping Fee
35.00
This is the standard nightly fee for tent and RV sites.
CA State Parks Disabled Discount Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Disable Discount Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
CA State Parks Distinguished Veterans Camping Fee
0.00
This is the nightly fee for California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in.
Federal Senior & Access Camping Fee
17.50
This is the nightly fee for Federal “America the Beautiful” Senior or Access Pass holders. Pass must be presented at the time of check in. Federal Annual Passholders pay the standard camping fee.
Mill Creek Campsite
Picnic table, fire ring and food locker
Second-growth forests surround this campground.
Facilities at Mill Creek Campground
Wooden building underneath trees
Basic facilities are located at this campground.
Mill Creek Amphitheater
Wooden benches in front of a an outdoor screen
Ranger-led programs are offered here.
Mill Creek Amphitheater seating
Large redwood stump behind wooden seats
Stumps from old-growth redwoods are common at this campground.
Campsite at Mill Creek Campground
Picnic table, fire ring and food locker
Leave No Trace means leaving no food out for bears.
Mill Creek Campground Entrance Kiosk
A small brown building bisects a road. A car is on the right.
The entrance kiosk is staffed.
Fish-eye view of Redwood canopy
View from forest floor looking straight up. Ferns as seen close up and redwood trunks meet.
The redwood forest is a complicated and beautiful series of habitats.
Howland Hill Road
Redwood trees line a narrow dirt road.
With a small car, you can expericne close-up Redwoods along a century old, narrow road.
Tide pooling at Enderts Beach
Two visitors looking at tidepools.
We have forty miles of coastline to explore.
Visitors Plan Their Redwood Trip
Five young women read the park map.
A great redwood trip starts with good trip planning.
Ranger Program at Klamath River Overlook
Visitors chatting with a ranger above a river mouth.
Coastal overlooks provide amazing places to whale watch.. and more.
Visitors on walkway to Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Three people stand on a walkway in the trees. It is foggy.
Visitors to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove cross a road using a walkway.
A New Junior Ranger
A ranger helps a father and son learn about being a junior ranger.
Becoming a junior ranger at Redwoods is a fun and educational for the whole family.
"Big Tree" wayside.
Visitors pose with one of the widest Redwood trees.
For those short of time, the "Big Tree" offers easy access for all to a very photogenic tree.
Incoming Tide at Redwood National Park
Rocks, rockpools and waves
40 miles of coastline are part of Redwood National Park
Nurse log on the side of a trail.
A tree stump is covered with plants.
A fallen redwood tree will be on the forest floor for centuries providing habitat for a new generation of plants and animals.
Trillium Falls
A small waterfall cascades past different trees
The Trillium Falls Trail is a popular, easy and family friendly walk.
How Tall is that Redwood?
Three adults stand and look curiously toward the tree tops
From the forest floor we can only see about a third of any old redwood tree.
Having fun under the redwoods
Four adults stand on a trail surrounded by redwood trees
Taking a walk on the trail through redwood groves is great fun
Redwood Ranger in the mist
Fog surrounds tall redwoods on a trail. A park ranger stands in the distance.
Park Rangers help tell the stories and meanings of the park to visitors.
Tall Trees Grove from the creek
Gray cobbles on the foreground and 300foot redwoods behind.
300 foot redwood redwoods next to Redwood Creek.
Footbridge to Lady Bird Johnson Grove
A footbridge with people crosses a road on a foggy day
Summer fog is frequent in the redwoods
A family walks in Stout Grove
A trail meanders into a grove of tall trees. A family is seen at the far end of the trail.
Redwood forests are wonderful places to walk, relax and look up.
Coastline at Redwood National Park
Waves run-up on a beach, and sea stack rocks are seen in the distance.
40 miles of protected coastline are part of Redwood National and State Parks
Fern Canyon
Green ferns cover two natural walls cut by a creek. A calm creek is covered with grey cobbles.
Fern Canyon is a popular - and busy - summer desination.
A Redwood Grove
Reddy-brown colored redwoods
Over a hundred miles of trails lead you to places like this.
Fire scarred giants
A circle of redwood trees with black fire scars.
Fire has always been a part of a redwood tree's history.
Redwoods Resprouting
Young redwood sprouts grow off a horizontal redwood log
New shoots grow off a fallen redwood tree.
Trillium Falls Trail
A trail and bridge crosses a tree-line gully.
A short walk leads visitors to a series of small cascades.
Surrounded by old-growth redwoods.
A visitor stands next to a forest of enormous red and brown colored trees.
Walking though redwood forests is a beautiful experience.
Autumn leaves in the redwood parks
Orange and red leaves on maple trees.
Maples and oak trees show fall colors in the redwood parks.
Enderts Beach
Rugged coastal cliffs drop to blue ocean and waves. Pink flowers in the foreground.
The park protects forty miles of rugged coastline and marine protected areas..
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Redwood National Park and State Parks, California
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park.
sunlight through trees
California Groundcone
Curious about the California groundcone in Oregon and California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Purple groundcone standing next to similar looking Douglas-fir cone.
2010 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2010 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
California Condor
Species description of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus).
An adult condor with the wing tag label number 80 stands over a juvenile condor.
NPS Structural Fire Program Highlights 2014 Intern Accomplishments
Carpenter Ant
Curious about carpenter ants? Explore their natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
close up photo of carpenter ant
Come for the Redwoods, Stay for the River
In honor of the 2018 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the National Park Foundation funded new gear for Redwood National and State Parks’ free ranger-led kayak program on the Smith Wild and Scenic River.
Kayakers float down the calm green river with yellow safety gear on.
Park Air Profiles - Redwood National and State Parks
Air quality profile for Redwood National and State Parks. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Redwood NSP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Redwood NSP.
Candlelight walk in redwood forest
Gold Bluffs Beach Dune Restoration
Youth and crew leader discuss dune restoration
Redwood Creek Winter Birding
In spring 2018, local bird watchers (commonly called “birders”) have been a twitter over several unusual or rare birds sighted near the Redwood Creek estuary.
A Tundra Swan is flanked by two Common Mergansers
Riverbank Lupine
Curious about riverbank lupine (Lupinus rivularis) in northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
tall stems bearing purple and white flowers, with green grassland and mountains in the background
California Condor Reintroduction & Recovery
A tagged California condor flies free. NPS Photo/ Don Sutherland
A wing-tagged California condor flying in the blue sky.
Pileated Woodpecker
Curious about the pileated woodpecker in Oregon and California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Face and front of a woodpecker, with black body, red crest, and small blue berry in its beak.
Wildland Fire in Douglas Fir: Western United States
Douglas fir is widely distributed throughout the western United States, as well as southern British Columbia and northern Mexico. Douglas fir is able to survive without fire, its abundantly-produced seeds are lightweight and winged, allowing the wind to carry them to new locations where seedlings can be established.
Close-up of Douglas fir bark and needles.
Rough-legged Hawk
Curious about our wintering visitor to Oregon and California, the rough-legged hawk? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Large hawk in flight with dark and light coloring underneath.
Vascular plant hyperdiversity in high-elevation riparian communities of National Park Service units in the Klamath Network
Monitoring data provide evidence of high vascular plant diversity in riparian environments. This surprising pattern indicates a high conservation significance of these park environments.
Stream and forest scene at Lassen Volcanic National Park (Credit: NPS Photo)
Pacific Poison Oak
Curious about Pacific poison oak in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
A dense thicket of wavy edged, green leaves with some smaller, shiny, reddish leaves in the center.
Short-eared Owl
Curious about the short-eared owl in Oregon and California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Owl with short feather tufts above eyes, buffy, streaked breast, and brownish body.
Giant Water Bug
Curious about giant water bugs in Oregon and California? Explore their natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.”
Brown, flattened but with many whitish, columnar eggs attached to its back.
Coast Redwoods v. Climate Change
Climate change caused by human greenhouse gas emissions has already begun to take a toll on trees in California. In fact, it is tied to a doubling of tree mortality in the Western US from 1955 to 2007 via increasing droughts, wildfires, and insect infestations. But what might climate change mean for California's iconic coast redwood trees?
Grove of coast redwoods.
Ladybug
Curious about ladybugs in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore their natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Cluster of small orange ladybug beetles with black spots on their backs, on vegetation.
Redwood National Park - Managing a Landscape with Prescribed Fire in an Era of Increasing Wildland Fire Complexity
Early FY19 was a challenging time for Redwood National and State Parks to complete its fuels management program of work due to an especially destructive wildfire season in northern California, including the Carr fire and the Camp fire. Despite these factors, the park was able to complete six prescribed fires for a total of 840 acres.
A firefighter in a forest holds a driptorch, while small flames climb the nearby wooded hillside.
Anna's Hummingbird
Curious about the Anna's hummingbird in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Small, green hummingbird with narrow bill and iridescent rose-colored feathers on throat and crown.
White Alder
Curious about the white alder in Oregon and California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Oval, dark green and ridged leaves of a white alder, with small, round, cone-like female catkins.
World CA Condor Update – 2019
An update on the world California Condor population for 2019.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
Preserving Historic Orchards at Redwood National and State Parks
In August of 2019, the NPS held a training program at the Boyes Prairie Orchard, part of Redwood National and State Parks. Participants learned how to maintain historic orchards, including pruning tools and techniques, and then practiced their skills as they helped to maintain and preserve the Boyes Prairie Orchard. The remaining trees in this orchard, which was started about 1884, are a bridge to the historic character of the landscape.
NPS employee in a hardhat prunes a fruit tree from an orchard ladder.
Pacific Border Province
The Pacific Border straddles the boundaries between several of Earth's moving plates on the western margin of North America. This region is one of the most geologically young and tectonically active in North America. The generally rugged, mountainous landscape of this province provides evidence of ongoing mountain-building.
Drakes Estero in Point Reyes National Seashore. NPS photo/Sarah Codde
Orange Sulphur
Curious about the orange sulphur butterfly in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Yellowish-orange butterfly with dark band along the wing edges perches with wings open.
Celebrating soils across the National Park System
First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks.
Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits
Conserving pinnipeds in Pacific Ocean parks in response to climate change
The evolutionary record from previous climate perturbations indicates that marine mammals are highly vulnerable but also remarkably adaptable to climatic change in coastal ecosystems. Consequently, national parks in the Pacific, from Alaska to Hawaii, are faced with potentially dramatic changes in their marine mammal fauna, especially pinnipeds (seals and sea lions).
black harbor seal
Checking the Vitals of Diseased Trees in Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park in northern California is best known for its namesake conifer – the world’s tallest tree species. But beneath these towering giants, and at a more human scale, is a woody plant community of hardwood trees and shrubs. It is here, in the cool damp understory, that a recently arrived species is wreaking havoc and drawing the attention of scientists.
a path leading through s forest of tall trees and understory plants
Great Gray Owl
Curious about the great gray owl in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Large gray-checkered owl with outspread wings comes to land on a post.
National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate.
Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map
Ruffed Grouse
Curious about the ruffed grouse in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Grouse with reddish brown and white mottling and streaking, a head crest and a dark tail band.
Soon Condors Will Soar Over Redwoods
California condors may soon be released in Redwood National Park.
Adult male condor incubates his egg in a redwood tree nest on the Big Sur coast.
Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Briefings: California Condor Management
During the summer of Grand Canyon National Park’s 2019 centennial, scientists and resource managers briefed fellow staff and the public about how they are helping to enable future generations to enjoy what is special about Grand Canyon. This article is from a transcript of a June 5, 2019 briefing about California condor management in Grand Canyon. Its conversational quality reflects the passion and personalities of the people behind the park.
A black bird with its wings out sits perched on a tan rock, with a numbered tag visible on its wing.
Series: Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Briefings
During the summer of Grand Canyon National Park’s 2019 centennial, scientists and resource managers briefed fellow staff and the public about how they are helping to enable future generations to enjoy what is special about Grand Canyon.
Black winged California Condor with a red head sits with its wings spread out.
Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship.
A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Series: Physiographic Provinces
Descriptions of the physiographic provinces of the United States, including maps, educational material, and listings of Parks for each.
George B. Dorr, founder of Acadia National Park
Series: Park Air Profiles
Clean air matters for national parks around the country.
Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ
Whiteleaf Manzanita
Curious about whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) in southern Oregon and central to northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
cluster of oval, gray-green leaves on branches, with reddish, berries that look like little apples
Electrified Cat's Tail Moss
Curious about electrified cat's tail moss in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Electrified cat’s tail moss in its dominant, gametophyte form.
Douglas's Squirrel
Curious about the Douglas's squirrel in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Medium-sized squirrel with tawny belly, gray back, whitish eye ring, and tufts on ears, in a tree.
Scientist Profile: Alice Chung-MacCoubrey, Biologist and I&M Program Manager
Meet Alice Chung-MacCoubrey, ecologist and program manager for the Klamath Inventory & Monitoring Network! Discover how Alice followed her passion for wildlife and the outdoors to the National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring Program, and learn about her work studying bats.
Biologist holds bat with gloved hands.
Sculpins
Curious about sculpins in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore their natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Fish with large head, large pectoral fins, and mottled, brown, orange, and pale green colors.
Listening for Owls: A Multi-agency Collaboration to Preserve Spotted Owl Habitat Across the West
For over 25 years, biologists from the National Park Service and several other agencies have collected spotted owl monitoring data to inform forest management that is guided by the multi-agency Northwest Forest Plan. Yet traditional field surveys for spotted owls have become less effective as their numbers have dwindled. Thus in 2021, the Northwest Forest Plan’s spotted owl monitoring design is transitioning to remote acoustic monitoring (also known as passive monitoring).
Audio recording unit, with microphones on either side, mounted on a tree trunk.
Dragon Cladonia
Curious about dragon cladonia lichen in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Pale green cluster of secondary vegetative growth with brown round discs on top of moss.
World CA Condor Update – 2020
An update on the world California Condor population for 2020, compiled by our partners at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as of December 31, 2020.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
Bigleaf Maple
Curious about the bigleaf maple in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Lush ferns and mosses grow on the trunk of a large maple tree.
Plan Like a Park Ranger: Redwood Top Ten Tips
Planning ahead for a Redwood trip is easy, and it will make your time here even more enjoyable.
Five women gather a Redwood brochure. Behind them are ferns and other vegetation.
Vaux's Swift
Curious about the Vaux's swift in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
A small, pale brown, cigar-shaped bird with narrow, pointed wings, in flight.
Coast Redwood
Curious about coast redwood in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature", brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
View looking up at redwood canopy
Coast Douglas-fir
Curious about Douglas-fir in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Six people in front of a very large Douglas-fir at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve.
Pacific Madrone
Curious about Pacific madrone in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Close up Pacific madrone bark
Oregon Grape
Curious about Oregon grape in southern Oregon? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Bright green, shiny leaves of a tall Oregon grape with a cluster of round blue-black berries.
Tree Lungwort
Curious about tree lungwort in northern California and southern Oregon? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Close of of tree lungwort's upper and lower surfaces
Brandt's Cormorant
Curious about the Brandt's cormorant in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
A colony of black seabirds with bright blue chins sitting on a guano-covered rock near their nests.
West Coast National Parks Work with NOAA to Better Understand Ocean Acidification in the Rocky Intertidal and Beyond
Ocean acidification (OA) is a huge threat to marine life. But it is hard to track remotely on a large scale. So this summer, seven West Coast national parks are teaming up with the 2021 NOAA West Coast Ocean Acidification Cruise. They’ll collect water samples in-person to check several OA indicators. Their data will help paint the most detailed picture yet of OA conditions up and down the coast, from parks’ rocky intertidal zones to dozens of miles offshore.
Collage of different rocky intertidal creatures photographed against a white background.
American Black Bear
Curious about the American black bear in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Black-colored black bear with a dandelion in its mouth.
Roosevelt Elk
Curious about the Roosevelt elk in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Two bull elk with antlers just beginning to grow face each other.
POET Newsletter September 2014
Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from September 2014. Articles include: Sea Star Wasting Disease; Corallivore: Crown of Thorns Starfish Wreak Havoc in American Samoa — The NPS Responds; Seafloor in 3D; and Coral Bleaching Monitoring on Guam.
A large, red-colored sunflower sea star that appears to be melting or disintegrating.
Series: Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) Newsletters
From 2009 to 2015, the Pacific Ocean Education Team published a series of short newsletters about the health of the ocean at various National Park Service sites in and around the Pacific Ocean. Topics covered included the 2010 tsunami, marine debris, sea star wasting disease, ocean acidification, and more.
Ocean waves wash in from the right onto a forested and rocky shoreline.
The Klamath Kaleidoscope: Fall-Winter 2021
In this issue of the Klamath Kaleidoscope, we share news of the newly published geologic type section inventory of Klamath Network parks, the latest results from white-nose syndrome monitoring in bats, our new data workflow system, updates from 2021 vital signs monitoring, and recent publications. We also highlight news about Klamath Network people, including Addis Gonzalez, Sean Mohren, Sonya Daw, Jennifer Chenoweth, and Elizabeth Raynal.
Kaleidoscope image of a flower and other natural scenes.
Sugar Pine
Curious about the sugar pine tree in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Long brown pine cone.
Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks
Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.
Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background
Dare to Imagine: Meghan Whitman
Read about how Meghan Whitman not only leads a crew that monitors vegetation and fuels before and after both prescribed fires and wildfires, but also dedicated herself to creating the Mental Health Matters group in order to help end the stigma around asking for help and mental health issues. This article is part of Dare to Imagine, a National Park Foundation grant-funded project dedicated to highlighting women in parks who are breaking barriers.
woman in a fire uniform text reads Meghan Whitman, lead fire effects monitor
Merlin
Curious about the merlin in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Small, perched falcon with brown back, brown streaked breast, dark eyes and slight white eyebrow.
Laura Perrott Mahan
Laura Perrott Mahan used her prestige as a society woman to fight for the preservation of the redwood groves in Humboldt County and California in general, including in Redwood National Park.
Formal portrait of white woman in black dress with large bustle
Common Snowberry
Curious about the common snowberry in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Round pinkish-white berries grow along a slender stem.
Lucille Vinyard
Lucille Vinyard became known as the “Mother of Redwoods” for her environmental organizing. Her work contributed to the creation of Redwood National Park in 1968 and its subsequent expansion in 1978. The environmental movement in California traces its modern origins to the Save the Redwoods League and to the work of conservationist John Muir, tending to privilege the stories of white men while downplaying, and often ignoring, leaders like Vinyard.
Woman kneels in lush grass next to evergreen sapling in foggy forest
California Condor in the Pacific Northwest
Curious about the California condor in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
A large dark condor sits on nest in burned top of a redwood tree.
World CA Condor Update – 2021 Population Status
An update on the world California Condor population for 2021.
The pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers by Don Sutherland
Battle of the Bark
Trees shade us from the sun, provide homes for wildlife, stabilize Earth’s surface, and produce food for humans and animals alike. Some are massive, and others are miniscule by comparison, but what makes one better than the other—we’ll let you decide! Check out our iconic trees below and find your favorite!
Five thick barked red-brown trees are backlit by the sunlight.
Pollinators in peril? A multipark approach to evaluating bee communities in habitats vulnerable to effects from climate change
Can you name five bees in your park? Ten? Twenty? Will they all be there 50 years from now? We know that pollinators are key to maintaining healthy ecosystems—from managed almond orchards to wild mountain meadows. We have heard about dramatic population declines of the agricultural workhorse, the honey bee. Yet what do we really know about the remarkable diversity and resilience of native bees in our national parks?
Southeastern polyester bee, Colletes titusensis.
Clouded Salamander
Curious about the clouded salamander in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Small brownish gray salamander with a gold stripe on the top of its tail.
Gopher Snake
Curious about Pacific gopher snakes in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network
Pacific gopher snake curled on rock
Jumping Spider
Curious about the jumping spider in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
front view of jumping spider
Common Green Darner
Curious about common green darner in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Two large dragonflies, connected head to tail. Greenish brown one has tail in water.
Calypso Orchid
Curious about Calypso orchid in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Two purple orchid flowers growing next to each other.
Tailed Frog
Curious about tailed frogs in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our monthly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Two tailed frogs sitting side by side
On the Edge: The Curious Lives of Intertidal Organisms and How We Monitor Them
Imagine a trip to the Redwood National and State Parks. What do you see? The majestic trees, towering above you? Let’s go a bit further, past the trees, all the way to the coastline. There, just in front of you: a smattering of rocks, exposed by the low tide. Step closer and see water pooling between the rocks, a crab disappearing into the sand, an anemone waving hello, and perhaps a purple sea star, clinging to one of the rocks. You've discovered the rocky intertidal zone.
Large, round and open anemone with greenish arms.
Taking the Pulse of U.S. National Parks
How do we know if parks are healthy? We measure their vital signs, of course! Across the country, there are 32 inventory and monitoring networks that measure the status and trends of all kinds of park resources. We're learning a lot after years of collecting data. Check out these articles written for kids and reviewed by kids in partnership with the international online journal Frontiers for Young Minds.
A cartoon of a ranger taking the pulse of the Earth.
Series: Women's History in the Pacific West - California-Great Basin Collection
Biographies from Northern California, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Nevada
Map of northern California, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Nevada
The Klamath Kaleidoscope: Fall-Winter 2022
In this issue of the Klamath Kaleidoscope, we share an article about the rocky intertidal community, as well as news about post-Dixie Fire monitoring, the upcoming Klamath Conversations gathering, vital sign monitoring this past year, and recent publications. We also highlight news about Klamath Network people, including Sean Smith’s departure, Sonya Daw’s award, intern Sarah Gwynn’s experience, and where our 2011 intern, Shadassa Ourshalimian, has landed in his career.
Kaleidoscope of nature images.
Common Raven
Curious about the common raven in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our quarterly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Glossy black head of raven vocalizing, with long, ruffed out neck feathers.
Conversations about Conservation: Eight years of scientific sharing in northern California and southern Oregon
The annual December 2022 gathering of Klamath Conversations, a meeting of the parks within the National Park Service’s Klamath Network, hosted 19 presenters across a wide variety of topics. Not surprisingly, the topic of wildland fire dominated the talks, as network parks have burned extensively over the past few years.
A person on stage behind a podium with a large screen nearby that reads 'Some Like It Hot'.
Travel Blog: Redwood National Park
Writing Prompt: Travel Blog written by Audrey Nelson for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow" Article Series. Audrey is a NPS Workforce Management Fellow, in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps.
Redwood Old Growth
World CA Condor Update – 2022 Population Status
An update on the world California Condor population for 2022.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
Western Pearlshell
Curious about the western pearlshell in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our quarterly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Oval shaped mollusks embedded in a stream bottom.
Forging the Future: Investing in Youth and Seed Collection
The National Park Service's California Invasive Plant Management Team is utilizing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to ensure parks have the proper seeds available to restore park ecosystems.
Two botanists sit in the grass and monitor of plot of vegetation at Golden Gate.
The Klamath Kaleidoscope: Spring-Summer 2023
In this issue of the Klamath Kaleidoscope, we welcome the network’s new vegetation program lead, share updates to our invasive species early detection protocol, and summarize good news from the second year of water chemistry sampling for heavy metals and insecticides in network parks. We also welcome the contributions of temporary staff joining our team this year, and highlight where science writing intern, Natalie DiNenno, has landed in her career.
Kaleidoscope of nature images.
Coming Full Circle: How Parks Are Using Conventional Tools in New Ways to Restore Imperiled Forests
Depriving western old-growth forests of fire brought them to the brink. Now the fire they need also threatens them. To fix this, parks are returning to mechanical forestry methods.
Firefighter walks next to a giant sequoia in a smoke-filled scene.
Project Profile: Collect and Curate Native Seed for Fourteen California Parks
The National Park Service will collect and curate seeds to support native plant materials development and subsequent restoration at 14 national park units across California.
seed crew collects seeds under tree cannopy
Guide to the Stephen Tyng Mather Film Collection
This finding aid describes the Stephen Tyng Mather Film Collection, part of the NPS History Collection.
Common Red Paintbrush
Curious about the common red paintbrush in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our quarterly "Featured Creature," brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Flower with bright red petals sticking out of a purple stem
50 Nifty Finds #38: A Germ of an Idea
A lot of articles have been written about the history of the National Park Service (NPS) arrowhead emblem. Many recycle the same content and outdated information that has largely come from the NPS itself. Challenging the traditional story has revealed new sources of information—and two previously overlooked arrowhead designs—that rewrite the arrowhead origin story.
Wooden arrowhead plaque on stand
The Klamath Kaleidoscope: Fall-Winter 2023
In this issue of the Klamath Kaleidoscope, we discuss the listing of whitebark pine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, say farewell to interim vegetation program lead Jackie Lucero, share updates from lake chemistry monitoring after the Dixie Fire, celebrate bat outreach at Lassen Volcanic National Park, and highlight where lake crewmember, Daniel Chambers, has landed in his career.
Kaleidoscope-shaped collage of images from nature.
Documenting the Howland Hill Road Cultural Landscape
The Howland Hill Road Cultural Landscape Inventory was completed in 2018, documenting the significance and integrity of the landscape's features. At the same time, the property was reviewed for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. This national listing documents historic properties that are worthy of preservation and includes a physical history of the place and information about its history and significance.
A person walks away on a narrow trial, surfaced with wooden planks and framed by forest
Common Garter Snake
Curious about the common garter snake in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our quarterly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Blackish snake with yellow dorsal stripe and red side-blotches coiled in the grass.
Checking Redwood's Vital Signs
In 2008, the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network—a small team of NPS scientists—began monitoring natural resources, called "vital signs," in Redwood National and State Parks and nearby parks. Vital signs indicate park health and serve as red flags if conditions deteriorate. Results from monitoring these vital signs support park managers’ efforts to make science-based management decisions. Learn about the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division and its work in Redwoods.
Sunlight filters through forest onto fern-bordered stream.
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery Cultural Landscape
Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery is one of only three surviving historic hatcheries in California. The Cultural Landscape Report for this site helps Redwood National and State Parks manage access and use, while protecting unique historic features.
One-story wooden buildings, red with white trim, are clustered in a level grassy area
Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways
Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436
close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon
Yuma Myotis
Curious about Yuma myotis in southern Oregon and northern California? Explore its natural history in this edition of our quarterly “Featured Creature,” brought to you by the Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network.
Small brown bat with round ears held by gloved hand.
Project Profile: Restoring Iconic Redwood Forests and Watersheds
The National Park Service is set to bolster landscape-scale restoration efforts in Redwood National and State Parks, specifically targeting the Prairie Creek watershed.
a fisheye lens view looking up at a redwood forest canopy
Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
NPS PHOTO / JAMIE JIRELE
Visitor Guide
Old-growth redwoods from Cal Barrel Road.
Visitor Centers: A Great Start
Five visitor and information centers provide
orientation, information, and trip-planning advice.
Park staff and partners are on duty. Get a map,
Junior Ranger book, and passport stamp at
any of these locations!
Park stores are operated by the Redwood
Parks Conservancy.
Park wifi can be found at the Crescent City
Bookstore, Hiouchi Visitor Center, Elk Prairie
Campground Kiosk, and Kuchel Visitor Center.
Ranger Programs
Follow the QR code for a calendar
of events or ask at a visitor center
for a schedule!
See Map on Pages 2-3
Explore with the Mobile App!
Crescent City Bookstore
1111 Second Street, Crescent City,
California
Hiouchi Visitor Center
9 miles northeast of Crescent City,
California, on US 199
Jedediah Smith Campground Store
(open summer only)
9 miles northeast of Crescent City,
California, on US 199
Prairie Creek Visitor Center
6 miles north of Orick, California, on
Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
Kuchel Visitor Center
2 miles south of Orick, California, on
US 101
Download the official NPS App to have maps,
trip suggestions, hiking information, and more at
your fingertips! All content can be saved to your
phone for offline use.
Fees, Park Passes, and Reservations
Entrance Fees are not charged at Redwood National and State Parks.
National or State?
Day-Use Fees apply at these select areas:
1. Jedediah Smith Day-Use Area
2. Gold Bluffs Beach Day-Use Area/
Fern Canyon Trailhead Access
3. Elk Prairie Picnic Area
Fees can be paid on site by cash, check, or Yodel App.
Federal and California State Park Pass Holders do not need to
pay day-use fees.
NPS PHOTO / TED HUMPHRY
Reservations are recommended for campgrounds (see page 4) and required for only a few
park attractions (see page 3). Permits are required for backcountry camping (see page 4).
Redwoods: Our Tallest Treasures
Carruthers Cove and Gold Bluffs Beach from Coastal Trail.
Contact Us
www.nps.gov/redw
For email, click “Contact Us”
Phone
707-464-6101
Mailing Address
Redwood National and State Parks
1111 Second Street
Crescent City, CA 95531
@RedwoodNPS
In case of emergency dial:
911
Home to the tallest trees on earth, Redwood National and State Parks reside
in the foggy, coastal climate of northern California. The moist, temperate
environment keeps the trees continually damp, even during the summer
droughts, providing the perfect habitat. Their natural resistance to insects and
fire, as well as unique regenerative abilities, helps them thrive. While out in
the park, keep an eye out for new sprouts coming from a stump or downed
tree. These are clones! Burls — hard, knotty
growths that form from dormant seedlings on a
QUICK FACTS
living tree — can sprout a new tree when the main
trunk is damaged by fire, cutting, or toppling.
Coast Redwood
Though we often simply refer to these giants
as “redwoods”, there are in fact three distinct
redwood species: dawn redwood, giant sequoia,
and coast redwood. Fossil evidence suggests that
redwoods descended from a group of conifers that
thrived across Europe, Asia, and North America
when dinosaurs roamed the Earth in the Jurassic
period more than 145 million years ago. As Earth’s
climate gradually and generally became cooler and
drier, redwoods became restricted to three distinct
geographic regions and evolved into the three
species we know today.
(Sequoia sempervirens)
Height: up to 380 ft
(115.9 m)
Diameter: up to 26 ft
(8 m)
Age: over 2,000 yrs
(500-700 yrs average)
Cone size: ~1 in
(2.5 cm)
Range: Northern
California coast and into
southernmost coastal
Oregon.
Once occupying two million acres, only five percent
of ancient or “old-growth” coast redwood forests
remain since logging began in 1850. Efforts are
ongoing to restore degraded second-growth forests to their pre-logged
conditions, rejuvenating a diminished resource and securing their future
health for generations to come.
Redwood National and State Parks is a
partnership between the National Park
Service and the California Department
of Parks and Recreation. In 1994, three
redwood state parks (Jedediah Smith,
Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek)
joined with Redwood National Park to
co-operatively manage adjacent lands,
staffing, and visitor services. Together we
manage 130,000 acres of forested lands,
and this includes 45% of the world’s
remaining old-growth redwoods.
We are committed to working in
partnership with the original stewards
of this land, including people of Yurok,
Tolowa, and Chilula descent. Projects
and programs are regularly planned,
implemented, and reviewed with our
tribal partners. Together, we manage
these lands using the best of traditional
ecological knowledge and science-based
information to preserve what is intact
and restore what has been lost.