Camp Under the World’s Tallest Trees at this Underrated State Park in California
Note: Advertising is how we keep this site free for you to enjoy, and we earn a commission from affiliate links that may be included in this post. Thank you for supporting Back Road Ramblers!
Are you planning a pilgrimage to visit the tallest trees in the world?
The old-growth redwoods on the California coast are kings and queens of the forest, and if you’re traveling north through California, your last chance to camp in a primeval forest of ancient redwoods is nine miles east of Crescent City in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
If you haven’t camped in the Redwoods before, it’s an experience not to be missed.
I can’t imagine even making a trip to California without stopping to sleep and dream for at least one night amongst these silent giants of time and space.
If you feel the same way, consider visiting any of the incredible redwood parks along the coast, but especially Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which is our favorite (so far). Here’s an overview of this very special park, as well as some of the amazing trees that live here.
Quick Facts: Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park
Open: Year-round, day-use, sunrise to sunset
Activities: Hiking, camping, swimming
Camping: 86 tent/RV sites (no hookups) and four cabins
Fees: $10 per car for day use. $35 per night to camp, $100 per night cabin rental
Dogs: on-leash in the campground, not on trails
Directions
Official Park Website
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the last in a long string of redwood parks that stretch up Northern California’s coast.
According to the park website, Jedediah Smith contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. The park was established in 1929 with a small parcel donated to Save the Redwoods League by the family of lumberman Frank Stout.
Many of the great redwood trees that live here were planted by the winds, waters, and fires more than 500 years ago. Their world offers a glimpse into the past that we visitors can scarcely believe still exists beyond our imaginations.
We were lucky enough to spend several days at the Jedediah Smith campground in the Redwoods, and here’s what we discovered.
California’s famous redwoods are a rarity in our world.
Occurring naturally in a narrow strip of land between Monterey County, CA, and the southernmost tip of Oregon, they are strangers to every other place on earth. They are also the tallest trees on the planet and have been known to reach a neck-craning height of 379 feet.
You can never really see their tops if you’re standing in the forest. You can only imagine what the view is like from up there. If you have trouble visualizing how tall a redwood tree actually grows, check out this infographic below:
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park encompasses 10,000 acres and is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and California State Parks.
A World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, Redwood National and State Parks protect 45 percent of California’s remaining old-growth redwoods—an area almost four times the size of Manhattan Island.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park FAQs
Before you plan your trip to the California Redwoods, here are a few things that you might want to know before visiting this part of northern California.
Psst… Have you seen those groovy campervans meandering around America? They’re Escape Campervans, and you can rent one for all your explorations in coastal California.
There’s an Escape Campervan rental center in San Francisco, about six hours from Jedediah Smith State Park (it’s a gorgeous road trip!).
These iconic vans include everything you need (and a kitchen sink) for your van camping adventure. Talk about a memorable experience!
Camping at Jedediah Smith Campground
Camping in Jedediah Smith State Park is a bit like spending a night on the Forest Moon of Endor, and if you’re a sci-fi dreamer, you might find yourself looking out for Ewoks hiding among the massive fallen trunks and head-high ferns that spout like green fountains from the loamy carpet beneath your feet.
That’s because George Lucas filmed the Endor scenes from Return of the Jedi in the redwood forests around the Smith River. Of course, you’re much more likely to spot a big banana slug smooshing its way along a wet stump near a campground spigot.
Chances are you’ll also meet many people from all over the country in Jedediah Smith State Park.
The Jedediah Smith campground is quite busy in the summer, but you’ll find plenty of room in the forest for exploring and lots of space in the river for cooling off.
The bigger, more international crowds will generally flock to Redwoods National Park, while here in Jedediah Smith State Park, things feel more local.
The Jedediah Smith campsites are large, fairly private, and feature lots of understory vegetation and fallen redwood trunks and stumps that our kids enjoyed playing on and around.
Keeping campsites “crumb clean” is strongly emphasized in the redwoods because of the close proximity of humans to predators like mountain lions and black bears.
At night, it’s very dark and closed in under the deep canopy of the redwoods, so listen for the sounds of spotted owls, coyotes, and maybe even bobcats or mountain lions.
Campsites at Jedediah Smith State Park include a picnic table, fire pit, bear box, and ample room for your tent or RV.
A few sites have direct access to the beautiful Smith River, but even the ones that don’t have access to the River Beach Trail, which takes you right to the river.
Campsites do not have electric or water hookups, but there are hot showers in the bathhouse and water faucets sprinkled throughout the campground.
During the summer months, reservations are strongly recommended, and sites fill up quickly.
From October to April, the Jedediah Smith Campground is first-come, first-served.
Jedediah Smith State Park Cabins
You don’t need to pitch a tent to enjoy the beauty of the redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
Four cabins are available for $100 per night in the summer and $80 in the winter (2024 rates). Cabins are ADA-accessible and are located within the Jedediah Smith Campground.
- Jedediah Smith cabins have electricity. There are heaters and lights, but no kitchen or bathroom.
- The maximum occupancy is six people. Each cabin has two bunk beds, each with a twin over a double bed. Guests should bring their own sleeping bag or bedding. There is space for a small tent outside to accommodate an additional two people, maximum.
- The cabin rate includes entry for one vehicle; additional vehicles will be charged $8 per night.
- No pets are allowed in the Jedediah Smith cabins.
- No smoking, cooking, or open flames inside the cabins. Cabins each have an outdoor barbecue, fire pit, bear box, and picnic table.
Walking and Hiking in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Walking and hiking are great ways to explore the Jedediah Redwoods.
20 miles of hiking trails give visitors lots of chances to easily experience the grace and magic of this special forest. Silent cathedral spires of redwoods mingle with old-growth Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, evergreen tanoak, Pacific Madrone, bigleaf maple, California laurel, and red alder.
Trails in Jedediah Smith State Park are well-marked, fairly smooth, and mostly easy for legs both young and old.
The understory of the redwood forest is very open, and you’ll be able to see a surprising distance along the ground.
Be sure to make frequent stops to daydream nestled in the roots of these age-old wonders. You should not climb them, but definitely enjoy their company.
Our Favorite Trails in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop Trail: A 2.6-mile loop through the redwood forest, with flowering bushes and wildflowers below.
- Simpson-Reed Trail: The trees here are ancient, nearly 1,000 years old! You’ll also find lush undergrowth, a meandering stream, and maybe even some wildlife. This was our favorite trail during our visit to Jedediah Smith State Park. It’s only a mile, but it’s so pretty!
- River Trail: Take the River Trail if you want to swim in the Smith River. This one-mile trail gives you great views of the river and the forest ecosystem. It’s a mile long and accessible from the campground.
Redwood forests are surprisingly accommodating.
The ground is loamy and soft, the trees seem to be always listening, and sounds melt away into the distant trees or frequent fog that helps provide the moisture necessary for the redwoods’ survival.
Long corpuscular rays of sunlight filter through the redwood canopy, illuminating verdant green mosses, sword ferns, and pastel flowers of azaleas and California rhododendron.
Some evenings, the fog rolls in from the sea, filling the river valley and spilling out into the forest until all is enveloped in hushed tones.
In the morning, the fog leaves the same way, floating like a ghost out of the forest, down the banks of the river, and finally back down to the sea. Be mindful of this magical fog if you’re hiking close to dawn or dusk.
Park rangers will also tell you to talk, whistle, and sing so that nearby predators know where you are and stay out of your way.
Swimming in the Smith River
Snaking its way through this ancient forest are the crystalline waters of California’s last big, wild, and free-flowing river —the Smith River, also known by the name Tolowa. No dams spoil its 25-mile journey from mountains and forests all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The Smith River is unforgettable for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Float along its meandering path to the sea and take breaks on the mammoth islands of rock in its deepest sections.
Dive from these islands into the breathtakingly clear water for a refreshing oasis you’ll never forget. You can see clearly to the bottom, even at its deepest points of over 12 feet within the park.
Watch for record-breaking steelhead rainbow trout and chinook salmon as they dart from under rocks and flash reflections of sunlight through the clear water.
Sun yourself at the little sandy beaches scattered along its edges as you watch the shadows from the redwoods changing the colors and moods of the forest.
You might even catch a glimpse of the area’s wildlife while the river flows by— bald eagles, northern spotted owls, black bears, bobcats, mountain lions, beaver, river otters, black-tailed deer, elk and coyote all make their homes in this locale and frequent the sparkling waters of the Smith River.
Read Next: The Perfect Oregon Coast Road Trip for Outdoor Adventures
Ready to explore the redwoods of the California Coast?
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is one of our favorite California destinations. In fact, just writing about this incredible park is making me nostalgic for those friendly trees. Have you visited these giants of the Pacific?
Follow us on social media for more outdoor inspiration!
