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A beautiful, easy hike through a "young" old-growth redwood forest.


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Map Key

2.1

Miles

3.4

KM

Lollipop

359' 109 m

High

252' 77 m

Low

200' 61 m

Up

199' 61 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Unknown

Family Friendly This is a fun easy trail with many fallen and living redwoods to play around: you can explore the inside of a burned (but living redwood), and the adventurous can cross creeks on the fallen giants.

Overview

This small park is much like Muir Woods National Park two hours to the south, with the same amazing trees and lovely path through forest floor. What it lacks: all those people. While there is some traffic here, it's nothing like Muir Woods, and there are many places to enjoy a picnic in peace.

Need to Know

You can drive through this area, but the traffic is light and not a problem at all. There are picnic spots scattered all over - take your pick! There is FREE parking right before start of the trail, and walking in to the park is free. Driving in to the picnic spots incurs a small entrance fee.

Description

This route covers the three trails nearest the park entrance and visitor center, and take you through the best section of redwoods in this park. Several are called out with special historical plaques. They are are up to 1500 years old and 310 feet tall. Think about that for a minute!

If you'd like a longer hike, there are several trails to make much longer and harder loops. Most of those trails are much hillier, and once you leave the valley floor, the trees change to Douglas fir and bay laurels. It's still lovely forest, but very common for this part of California and lacks the magic of the redwoods.

Contacts

Shared By:

Nick Wilder

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 8 votes

#2903

Overall
  4.4 from 8 votes
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4 Star
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3 Star
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Recommended Route Rankings

#368

in California

#2,903

Overall
16 Views Last Month
2,176 Since May 31, 2016
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Photos

A quiet stretch of the Pioneer Nature Trail.
May 31, 2016 near Guernev…, CA
How do you know you're old? The outer-most notation marks the civil war. The inner one: Leif Erickson reaches North America.
May 31, 2016 near Guernev…, CA
Lovely bridge over Fife Creek.
May 31, 2016 near Guernev…, CA
The Colonel Armstrong Tree: 308 feet tall and 1400 years old!
May 31, 2016 near Guernev…, CA
Among the redwood giants.
May 31, 2016 near Guernev…, CA

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 86 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 7, 2019
Laura Einowski
Aug 10, 2018
Andy B
Jun 23, 2018
Cindy Savage
2.1mi
Jun 16, 2018
Alejandro Lastra
A great walk in the woods!
Mar 29, 2018
Paton McClung
Aug 20, 2017
Tina Velcich
May 14, 2017
Randy Carnley
Nice easy stroll, but gets crowded on holiday weekends 2.1mi
Mar 29, 2017
Keith Krimbel
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