Redwood National and State Parks guide · 1 min read
Fern Canyon and Prairie Creek's Big Trees
Fern Canyon is one of the best-known stops in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The Fern Canyon Loop Trail leads into a canyon filled with ferns, and hiking through it ranks among the top reasons to visit this part of the park.
The walk gives a close look at the lush side of the forest.
Big Tree Wayside is another highlight of Prairie Creek. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, which runs through the state park, is among its highlights too. The park's compact size also makes it a good choice for first-time visitors.
The forest here is old-growth coastal redwood. Individual trees can reach 367 feet, and their trunks can measure 22 feet across at the base. They can live for about 2,000 years. The state park's more than 14,000 acres also take in sandy beaches, and staff from the National Park Service and California State Parks share management of the wider area.
For a walk among the big trees, the Friendship Ridge Trail covers three miles at a moderate level, with some steep sections and switchbacks. It descends from high-slope redwood forest to nearly sea level. Connected with the James Irvine and West Ridge trails, it forms a 12.5-mile route through old-growth redwoods. The Rhododendron Trail, 6.3 miles long, can also be reached from the Cathedral Trees Trail.
Elk are regularly seen along the Friendship Ridge Trail, so watch for them as you walk. You will find the Prairie Creek Visitor Center at the southern end of the parkway, about 6.5 miles north of Orick. It is a useful place to get your bearings before heading into the forest.
