Redwood National and State Parks guide · 1 min read
Walking the California Coastal Trail Sections
Seventy miles of Coastal Trail run through the parks, and the route is nearly unbroken. Along the bluffs, alders rustle in the wind while gulls and sea lions call over the breakers.
Watch the open ocean, because a gray whale may surface now and then. The main interruption is the Highway 101 bridge over the Klamath River.
The Pacific shoreline here is wild and jagged, and side paths drop to sandy beaches tucked below the bluffs. Piles of driftwood and old rocks give shelter to crabs and sea stars. At low tide, the rock pools reveal small creatures that are easy to miss, so plan your visit around the tides. Tidepooling and wildlife watching both pair well with a slow pace along the sand.
The Gold Bluffs Beach Section covers 4.8 miles in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Hikers begin with a steep drop to the sand, then continue on easy, level ground. The route runs past Carruthers Cove, a quiet strip of beach, before reaching Fern Canyon, where ferns rise 30 feet along a quarter-mile walk. Keep an eye out for Roosevelt elk on the coastal prairies, lupine in bloom, and seastacks crowded with seabirds.
The trail also suits overnight trips. Five backcountry camps sit within an easy day's walk of one another, and Ossagon Camp lies along the Gold Bluffs Beach Section. DeMartin Camp is a secluded forest spot. Its north access sits on the east side of Highway 101 at mile marker 15.6, and the walk to camp covers 3.4 miles with some steep grades and switchbacks.
