Best Things to Do in Redwood, CA With Kids
Redwood's best family activities are the easy Big Tree Trail and elk meadow at Prairie Creek, a walk through Fern Canyon (seasonal, wet feet required), a permitted hike to Tall Trees Grove, and the paved Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway drive through old-growth forest. Base out of Crescent City for gas, groceries, and lodging; cell service is minimal throughout the park.
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1Area photo: Michael Schweppe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Prairie Creek Big Tree Trail & Elk Meadow
A short, mostly flat loop to a genuinely massive old-growth redwood, paired with a meadow near the visitor center where Roosevelt elk graze in plain sight. It's the easiest, most reliable family stop in the whole park, doable with a stroller and a toddler who just woke up.
Watch out: Elk are wild animals and can be more aggressive during fall rutting season (roughly September–October); keep a real distance and never approach for a photo. Parking at the meadow fills up in midday during peak season.
2Area photo: Michael Schweppe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Fern Canyon Walk (Seasonal)
A narrow canyon with walls covered floor to ceiling in ferns, famous from its use as a filming location in Jurassic Park. The walk itself involves hopping across a shallow creek on log bridges, which most kids treat as the fun part rather than an obstacle.
Watch out: Requires a reservation for the Davison Road access in the busiest summer months, and the canyon can close entirely after heavy rain or high water, sometimes seasonally through winter. Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet.
3Area photo: Michael Schweppe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Tall Trees Grove Permit Hike
Home to some of the tallest trees ever measured on Earth, reached by a moderate 4-mile round-trip hike down into a canyon and back up. Standing at the base of these trees is a different experience than driving past redwoods from a car.
Watch out: Requires a free permit picked up in person at a visitor center that day, limited in number and gone by midday in busy season. The access road is narrow, unpaved, and not suited to large RVs or trailers.
4Area photo: Michael Schweppe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway Drive
A paved, 10-mile scenic drive through dense old-growth redwood forest with several short pullouts, almost no hiking required. It's the pick for a rainy day, a napping toddler, or a family that just wants to see redwoods without committing to a trail.
Watch out: It's a bypass off the main highway with a lower speed limit and narrow shoulders in places; watch for cyclists and pedestrians at the pullouts. Limited cell service the whole way through.
5Area photo: Michael Schweppe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Crescent City Battery Point Lighthouse & Beach
A historic lighthouse on a small tidal island just off Crescent City, walkable only at low tide, paired with tidepooling on the surrounding beach. Good coastal add-on to a redwoods-heavy day, and a nice change of pace for kids who've had enough of the forest.
Watch out: Access is entirely tide-dependent; check tide tables before you go or you'll be looking at it from across the water. Rocks can be slippery, so watch footing during tidepooling.
Frequently asked
Do we need a permit to see the redwoods?
Not for the main roadside groves or Prairie Creek's Big Tree Trail. You do need a free daily permit for Tall Trees Grove, and a reservation for Davison Road (Fern Canyon access) during peak summer months.
Is Fern Canyon open year-round?
No. It's prone to seasonal flooding and closes when water levels are too high, often through parts of winter. Check current conditions before planning a trip around it, especially outside summer.
Where should we stay?
Crescent City, at the park's northern edge, has the most lodging, gas, and grocery options. The park itself has very limited services and minimal to no cell service.
Are the Roosevelt elk dangerous?
They're generally calm around the meadow at Prairie Creek, but they're still wild animals and can become more unpredictable during fall rutting season. Keep a real distance and don't approach them for photos at any time of year.
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