Posted: 2003-11-04 16:38:00
The RNP is large (over 12,000 acres), and there are some distinct differences between various areas, so to get the full experience you might want to hike a couple different places within the park. There's camping and a hostel (DeMartin Redwood Youth Hostel) if you decide to spend the night.
There are several scenic drives available (http://www.nps.gov/redw/scenic_drives.html) but nothing beats actually walking among the towering trees on the soft, springy soil, with the sun gently filtering down. You can day hike or backpack, on foot, bike or horse.
Since RNP is at the northern top of California (close to Orgeon state) far away from where I live (320 miles), when I want a dose of the redwoods, I go to Big Basin Redwoods State Park http://www.bigbasin.org/ in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is the redwood forest that was featured in Hichcock's movie "Vertigo."
Here you can also camp among the towering trees, and even hike from the forests to the sea (takes an overnight and two days, but is spectacular!) Perfect quick trip, arrive in the afternoon, set up camp (either car camp or they have cabin tents for rent), do a sunset hike along the ridge. Make dinner over a campfire, roast marshmellows and sing songs. Next morning pack up everything and go on a long hike through redwoods to waterfalls, picnic lunch, leave mid-afternoon and stay in Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay (the hostel there is an old lighthouse and has a hot tub!) or San Francisco.
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