A Visitor’s Guide to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Redwood National Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park | Introduction

You might be wondering, isn't this a national park? Why are we talking about Prairie Creek State Park? Actually, because the redwood forests of Redwood National Park are so vast, some areas are managed by the state of California and others by the National Park Service. So, parts of the park are considered state parks, while other sections fall under national park jurisdiction. For visitors, this distinction makes little difference; even the National Park Service doesn't think it's important to separate the two. You can use the National Parks Annual Pass to enter all the related state parks. In fact, if you look closely at NPS publications, they refer to the area as "Redwood National and State Parks."

Back to the topic.Redwood National ParkLocated on the California coast, Redwood National Park is a narrow, elongated national park. The entire Redwoods National Park and the state park are divided into six areas from north to south, which are Hiouchi area, Crescent city area, Klamath area, Prairie creek area, Bald hills area, and Orice area, with Prairie Creek area being the largest and most visited in the south. Among them, Prairie Creek area is the largest and most visited in the south, which includes Prairie creek redwoods state park, Elk meadows/Trillium falls, Gold Bluffs Beach ( Fern Canyon) and the Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway, a section of scenic highway that runs through the area.

This is one of the best spots to experience vast redwood forests. If you’re short on time, the simplest itinerary is to drive along Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, a 10-mile stretch that's part of Highway 101. Along the way, you’ll pass the Prairie Creek Visitor Center. A quick 15-minute walk from the visitor center to the Big Tree Wayside Trail across the road gives you a great introduction to the redwoods. California redwoods are among the tallest trees in the world, and their immense size is hard to capture on camera. If it’s your first time seeing these giant trees, you may find it awe-inspiring. When we first visited, the ranger gave us a straightforward summary: this place has "lots and lots and lots of trees, and they’re big."

If you can stay for half a day, there are many easy and family-friendly trails in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park area. Starting from the visitor center, there are plenty of routes to choose from. Besides the Big Tree, you can explore the Revelation Trail, Karl Knapp Trail, Foothill Trail, and more, which can easily take up half a day.

Prairie Creek Visitor Center

For a visit to Prairie Creek, start by driving to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, located right in the heart of the Prairie Creek area along Highway 101, so you can’t miss it. This is also where you’ll find the popular Elk Prairie Campground. During holidays, even the campground parking overflows, and you might have to find parking along Highway 101. It’s no surprise, as some of the most popular trails start from here.

Notable Sights and Trails

There are many family-friendly, easy trails in the Prairie Creek area, offering something for everyone. Starting from the visitor center, you have plenty of options. In addition to the Big Tree, you can try the Revelation Trail, Karl Knapp Trail, and Foothill Trail, which can easily fill half a day.

Revelation Trail | Redwood Access Trail

The Revelation Trail is a short and popular trail located right next to the visitor center. It’s only 0.3 miles long and is recommended by the park. However, it can be a bit tricky to find if you don’t know what to look for. The entrance is marked as the Redwood Access Trail, so look for this sign near the visitor center. The trail actually starts behind the visitor center’s restrooms.

The Redwood Access Trail is named for the feeling of being up close with the redwoods. This area is humid, and you’ll see not only redwoods but also plenty of ferns along the way.

The Revelation Trail itself is short and loops around quickly, making it ideal for observing nature up close. This trail offers a great opportunity to learn about redwoods. The key thing to understand in Redwood National Park is the difference between Coast Redwoods and Sequoias. The redwoods here are Coast Redwoods, which are taller and slimmer with a lifespan of around 2,000 years, while the sequoias in Sequoia National Park are shorter, thicker, and live longer. Interestingly, despite the redwoods’ size, they don’t produce the large pine cones often seen in California; the cones of redwoods are only about the size of an olive.

Prairie Creek Trail (Karl Knapp Trail) / Foothills Trail Loop

Prairie Creek Trail (Karl Knapp Trail)

The Redwood Access Trail also connects to the Prairie Creek Trail, recently renamed the Karl Knapp Trail. Although it’s the same trail, some signs still use the old name, which can be a bit confusing. The Karl Knapp Trail, together with the Foothill Trail across the road, forms a 2.5-mile loop that brings you back to the visitor center. This is a very gentle trail.

Why was it renamed the Karl Knapp Trail? This change happened recently to honor Karl Knapp, who worked for California State Parks for 45 years. He was a trail expert who contributed greatly to California’s trail systems, so they felt he deserved a trail named after him.

If you have enough time and energy, you can follow the signs for Zigzag #1 and #2 to extend the loop. The trail is shaded by redwoods, making for a pleasant walk without feeling too strenuous.

There are some fallen trees along the trail with tunnels carved through them for visitors to walk through, which is quite interesting. Eventually, you’ll reach a small bridge crossing Goodwood Creek.

Big Tree | Circle Trail

After crossing the road, you’ll connect with the Big Tree Wayside Trail. Here, you’ll find a massive tree known as Big Tree. If you’re really pressed for time, you can park near the entrance to the Big Tree Wayside Trail along Highway 101, and it’s just a 100-meter walk to reach Big Tree. The surrounding Circle Trail is only 0.5 miles, and you can walk it in about 15 minutes.

Cathedral Trees

Adjacent to Big Tree is another short trail, the Cathedral Trees Trail, where you’ll find a grove of tall trees known as the Cathedral Trees.

Foothill trail

If you continue south past the busy Big Tree Wayside area, you’ll reach the Foothill Trail. This area is much quieter, and it’s actually my favorite trail in this section. You’ll see many large trees along the way, and at the end of the trail, you’ll cross the road back to the visitor center.

Corkscrew Tree

Farther south along the Foothill Trail, you’ll find another interesting tree called the Corkscrew Tree. The signage here isn’t very clear; if you drive to the Corkscrew Tree entrance, you’ll see a sign indicating the Corkscrew Tree, but it doesn’t specify the location or the trail length. Initially, like others nearby, we thought the large tree by the roadside was the Corkscrew Tree. But if you walk about 400 feet in, you’ll find the actual Corkscrew Tree—a tree with twisted, spiraling trunks growing upward, truly living up to its name.

Further reading

• Two-Day Adventure Guide to Redwood National Park: An Ultimate Travel Guide
• Exploring Hiouchi: Discover Jedediah Smith Redwoods in Redwood National Park
• A Visitor’s Guide to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Redwood National Park
• Half-Day Escape to Fern Canyon: Must-See Spot in Redwood National Park
• Exploring Humboldt Redwoods: Highlights and Camping Tips for Avenue of the Giants