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Home to some of the largest trees in the Prairie Creek area, this trail is sure to leave a lasting impression.


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Map Key

1.5

Miles

2.4

KM

Point to Point

321' 98 m

High

152' 46 m

Low

271' 82 m

Up

101' 31 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

104%

Max Grade (46°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Wildlife

Family Friendly This is a great trail for children because of its gentle grade and many trailside herbs and berries.

Description

This short trail gives visitors access to some of the largest trees in the Prairie Creek area. Many of these trees that tower along the slopes are part of cathedral groves or a family group of trees. HikerS will pass fallen mother trees that are now the nursery logs for a wide variety of ferns and trees.

The trail starts from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and skirts the meadow, before heading into the woods that line Boyes Creek. From here, the trail climbs gently, passing the junctions with the Elk Prairie Trail and the Rhododendron Trail, before coming to its end at the Circle Trail.

Hikers have several options to make a variety of short loops or can simply hike an out-and-back on the Cathedral Trees Trail. The trees are just as impressive when you head in the opposite direction.

Flora & Fauna

Redwoods galore!

Contacts

Shared By:

Kristen Arendt

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 3 votes

#10209

Overall
  4.3 from 3 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
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1 Star
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Trail Rankings

#941

in California

#10,209

Overall
41 Views Last Month
2,457 Since Dec 22, 2016
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

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Photos

That's one massive tree! (Big Tree Wayside)
Dec 21, 2016 near Westhav…, CA
The underside of a fallen redwood can be as impressive as its standing fellows.
Nov 10, 2019 near Westhav…, CA
Dwarfed by the immense Redwoods of Big Tree Wayside.
Dec 21, 2016 near Westhav…, CA
Elk Prairie.
Dec 16, 2016 near Westhav…, CA

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Check-Ins

Aug 30, 2023
Jacquelyn Krueger
Oct 12, 2021
Katie G
Sep 22, 2021
Alexander Bulloch
from circle then to foothill
Jan 18, 2020
J Cham
Sep 9, 2019
Laurent Trincklin
Sep 3, 2019
Andrew DeMars
May 20, 2019
Caroline Hartford
Started at visitors center, parts of trail were very overgrown and wet. There is a steep climb up to Big Tree. Looped back to visitor's center on P… — 2h 00m
Sep 28, 2018
Brian Anderson
went up till junction to big tree
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