Redwood National and State Parks
National park · CA, USA
Redwood National and State Parks in CA, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Quick answers
When is Redwood National and State Parks open?
- Mon–Sun open 24 hours
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
Free admission. Entrance / day-use fee applies.
Renowned for the world’s tallest trees, Redwood’s landscapes span from open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline. This ancient home has supported people for thousands of years. The National Park Service and California State Parks now work to safeguard and rejuvenate these lands for everyone’s enjoyment, learning, and inspiration.
When is the best time to visit Redwood National and State Parks?
By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are July, August, and September.
The warmest month is September, with average highs near 67°F (19°C); the coolest is December, near 54°F (12°C).
December is the wettest month, with about 15.3 in (389 mm) of precipitation in a typical December.
Official facts
The Forest Service rates the wildfire hazard potential at Redwood National and State Parks's mapped point moderate (2023 map); the map describes the land rather than any day's fire danger.
Protected waters: 468 km². None of it is no-take.
Fishing: Commercial and Recreational Fishing Restricted.
Conservation focus: Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage. Protects the whole ecosystem. Site-Specific Management Plan.
IUCN category: V (Protected landscape or seascape).
Protection level: Uniform Multiple Use.
Marine protection: National Park. Listed as "Redwood National Park" in NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Inventory, managed by National Park Service, established 1968.
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 77,974 acres (31,555 ha).
Designation: National Park. Listed as "Redwood National Park" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category II.
Established: 1968.
Managed by: NPS.
At the park
- Visitor center
- Biking
- Camping
- Beaches
- Fall foliage
- Photography
- Scenic drives & overlooks
- Waterfalls
Shows and experiences
- Junior Ranger program
What's on at Redwood National and State Parks
The park's own calendar lists three dated events from September 28, 2026 to May 1, 2027, two different events in all.
September 2026 is the busiest month, with two events.
Ranger-led Afternoon Walk: Prairie Creek (South end of the park) is held on two dates.
By kind, the calendar holds three regular events.
Events
- Ranger-led Afternoon Walk: Prairie Creek (South end of the park)
- Hike and Bike Day: Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
Before you go
- Limits
- No reservations are required
- Limits
- Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go
- Getting there
- Redwood National and State Parks is located in northernmost coastal California - almost on the Oregon border. The parks are about 60-miles long, with four visitor centers from north to south. We are a six to seven-hour drive (325 miles) north of San Francisco, a six-hour drive (330 miles) south of Portland, OR and a four-hour drive (170 miles) west of Redding, CA.
- Weather & when to go
- Visitors should be prepared for cooler and damp weather. Dress in layers and expect to get wet. Year-round temperatures along California's redwood coast: mid-40s°F (7°C) to mid-60s°F (18°C). Summer can be foggy, with highs occasionally reaching low 70s°F (20°C). Winters are cooler with considerable rain. October through April averages 60-80 inches of rain over the region.
History
- Opened
- 1968
- Heritage status
- Listed heritage / protected status
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park opened
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park opened
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park opened
- Park opened
- Redwood National Park opened