Hikes in Humboldt County

Humboldt County is located on the North Coast of California and is the finest place to see redwood forests. The county has more old growth coastal redwood forests than anywhere else. Humboldt County is about 200 miles north of San Francisco and just one county away from the Oregon border (Del Norte County). The sparsely populated tree-covered county is the best destination for trails through redwood groves. Humboldt County’s finest forests are preserved by a chain of parks called Redwood National and State Parks, which present visitors with numerous hiking and camping options.

Highlights of Humboldt County

  • This one-mile hike explores an incredibly ferny canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
  • This 0.5-mile loop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park explores an ancient grove honoring the founders of the Save-the-Redwoods League.
  • This 0.5-mile loop wanders across a forest floor covered in sorrel, visiting giant redwoods that include the Girdled Tree, which had its bark stripped away.
  • This half mile loop explores an old growth redwood forest across from the visitor center in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
  • This 1.25-mile loop explores patches of redwoods surrounded by a shaded oak forest in Richardson Grove Redwoods State Park.
  • This 3.75-mile loop in Richardson Grive Redwoods State Park climbs 1,000 feet to a forest ridge before descending to Lookout Point, where you can enjoy an unimpressive view to the south.

Humboldt County Hiking

This collection of trails in Humboldt County lists hikes from north to south, but the table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these hikes. An interactive map showing the location of each trail is also provided.

Trail
Description
Distance
Location
Fern Canyon Trail150Fern Canyon Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
This loop or out and back hike explores a lush canyon with walls of ferns.
1 mile
75 feet
41.400618,
-124.06571
Drury-Chaney Loop Trail185Drury-Chaney Loop Trail in Humboldt Redwoods State Park
This lollipop loop provides an easy and enchanting hike through redwood trees at the park's north end.
2.4 miles
100 feet
40.44307,
-123.98633
Grieg-French-Bell Trail190Grieg-French-Bell Trail in Humboldt Redwoods State Park
This short loop explores redwood groves dedicated to Grieg, French, and Bell, crossing ground covered in redwood sorrel to visit the Girdled Tree, which had its bark stripped away and sent to San Francisco.
0.5 miles
25 feet
40.4403,
-123.9855
Founders Grove Redwoods200Founders Grove Nature Trail in Humboldt Redwoods State Park
This short loop wanders through an ancient grove honoring the founders of the Save-the-Redwoods League.
0.5 miles
25 feet
40.352153,
-123.923897
Gould Grove Redwoods250Gould Grove Trail in Humboldt Redwoods State Park
This loop explores a forest of ancient redwoods adjacent to the park visitor center.
0.5 miles
50 feet
40.308085,
-123.908575
Richardson Grove Woodland Trail300Woodland Trail in Richardson Grove Redwoods State Park
This hike explores patches of redwoods surrounded by a shaded oak forest.
1 - 1.25 miles
50 - 325 feet
40.021954,
-123.794194
Durphy Creek Trail350Durphy Creek Trail - Tan Oak Springs Trail Loop in Richardson Grove Redwoods State Park
This loop climbs a forest ridge before descending to Lookout Point, where you can enjoy an unimpressive view to the south.
3.75 miles
1,000 feet
40.019891,
-123.79399

View North Coast trails in a larger map
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Hedge Creek Falls Trail Dunsmuir California Mount Shasta Waterfall Hike
Hedge Creek Falls is a 35-foot waterfall pouring over a basalt overhang into a wooded ravine above the Sacramento River south of Mount Shasta. A short trail leads to the waterfall from a trailhead right beside an Interstate 5 offramp in Dunsmuir, so this waterfall hike makes a great break from highway travel. The fun trail actually passes behind the waterfall, going underneath the overhang,... Read more.
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Tagged with · Dunsmuir · Free Trails · Mount Shasta · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.6 miles · Elevation change: 130 feet
By: Published: Last updated: February 4, 2019
Haystack Trail Mount Shasta Hike Klamath National Forest The Haystack Butte California
The Haystack is a diminutive volcanic dome with great views of the enormous, snowy mass of Mount Shasta. Haystack Trail presents a 2.55-mile lollipop loop hike that tours the Haystack's summit plateau, boasting broad views in all directions that include Mount Shasta, the Klamath Mountains, and Shasta Valley. This high desert hike passes through juniper and sage that get embellished by spring... Read more.
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Tagged with · Buttes · Free Trails · Klamath National Forest · Montague · Mount Shasta · Weed
Distance: 2.55 miles · Elevation change: 375 feet
By: Published: Last updated: February 4, 2019
Yurok Loop Trail Hidden Beach Hike California Coastal Trail Redwood National Park Klamath Lagoon Creek Picnic Area
Up near the Oregon border, the north coast of California has beautiful unrefined features like driftwood-covered coves and mossy forests. Explore this inviting area on Yurok Loop Trail, a short hike through scenic surroundings. This 1.15-mile circuit passes an ocean vista along a dramatic coastline that faces a cluster of rock islands. The loop crosses a small wooded ridge, overlooking a... Read more.
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Tagged with · Beaches · California Coastal Trail · Crescent City · Free Trails · Klamath · Ocean Views
Distance: 2.25 miles · Elevation change: 120 feet
By: Published: Last updated: April 1, 2017
Drury-Chaney Loop Trail Hike Humboldt Redwoods State Park California
Drury-Chaney Loop Trail (also known simply as Drury-Chaney Trail) presents a easy and well graded hike through redwoods in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The trail is a lollipop loop suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, crossing a surface of compact gravel with 100 feet of elevation change. The 2.4-mile length of this hike splits neatly into three sections: a 0.8-mile long access trail to... Read more.
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Tagged with · California State Parks · Free Trails · Humboldt Redwoods State Park · Pepperwood · Redwood Groves
Distance: 2.25 miles · Elevation change: 120 feet
By: Published: Last updated: April 1, 2017
Grieg-French-Bell Trail Girdled Tree Hike Humboldt Redwoods State Park California
Grieg-French-Bell Trail provides access to lovely grove of coast redwoods in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The ground in this area is covered by a carpet of redwood sorrel that is incredibly beautiful to walk through. Within French Grove, you'll find the Girdled Tree, which had its bark removed to 1901 so that it could be displayed in San Francisco. Use Grieg-French-Bell Trail for a... Read more.
By: Published: Last updated: April 1, 2017