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California

Hiking the Redwoods in Northern California

Program No. 21404RJ

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Northern California as you hike beneath redwoods with local naturalists, learning about these centuries-old trees and their coastal ecosystems.

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6 days

5 nights

13 meals

5B 4L 4D

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Eureka, CA

Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Avenue of the Giants

Eureka, CA

Humboldt Bay, Old Town Eureka, Sequoia Park

Eureka, CA

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park & Kuchel Visitor Center

Eureka, CA

Trinidad State Beach, Sue Meg State Park

Eureka, CA

Program Concludes

Eureka, CA

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At a Glance

Explore the spectacular Redwood Coast of Northern California on hikes with naturalists and other experts along beautiful trails amid diverse environments all while learning about the natural and human history of this breathtaking region. Gaze up at giant cathedral trees, hear tales of timbering and marvel at the science behind the beauty of the Coastal Redwoods — the tallest trees in the world — and their limited range along the Northern California coast.

Activity Level

Outdoor: Spirited

Hike 3-5 miles a day on uneven terrain, maintained trails. Elevation gains of 300-440 feet.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

Hike the Avenue of the Giants to see much of the remaining ancient redwood forests.
Explore Old Town Eureka and see its murals.
Learn from a naturalist about the history of the Redwood National and State Park system, protecting half of all remaining old-growth coastal Redwood forest.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Elliott Dabill

Elliott Dabill settled in Humboldt County in 1990 to teach high school biology, and has been leading groups in the area ever since. His training in biology, education, and nursing has reinforced lifelong learning and a love of being out in nature. Elliott has soaked up some of the local history like the old logging industry and lessons learned from them. Elliott has two grown children in the area and lots of projects like planting natives, woodworking, reading, and walking an aging boxer.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Elliott Dabill View biography

Suggested Reading List (4 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Hiking the Redwoods in Northern California

Program Number: 21404

The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion & Daring

by Richard Preston

Hidden away in foggy, uncharted rain forest valleys in Northern California are the largest and tallest organisms the world has ever sustained–the coast redwood trees, Sequoia sempervirens. Ninety-six percent of the ancient redwood forests have been destroyed by logging, but the untouched fragments that remain are among the great wonders of nature. The biggest redwoods have trunks up to thirty feet wide and can rise more than thirty-five stories above the ground, forming cathedral-like structures in the air. Until recently, redwoods were thought to be virtually impossible to ascend, and the canopy at the tops of these majestic trees was undiscovered. In The Wild Trees, Richard Preston unfolds the spellbinding story of Steve Sillett, Marie Antoine, and the tiny group of daring botanists and amateur naturalists that found a lost world above California, a world that is dangerous, hauntingly beautiful, and unexplored.

Best Short Hikes in Redwood National and State Parks

by Jerry and Gisela Rohde

A guide to short hikes and the history of the area. Longer hikes are described as possible add-ons.

Coast Redwood: A Natural and Cultural History

by John Evarts and Marjorie Popper

Coast Redwood is the first contemporary illustrated book to focus exclusively on the natural and cultural history of the world's tallest tree.

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

by Mark Turner & Phyllis Gustafson

A comprehensive, user-friendly and informative field guide that delves into the amazingly diverse wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. - Covers Oregon, Washington, northern California, and British Columbia Describes and illustrates 1220 commonly encountered species. -Includes perennials, annuals, and shrubs, both native and nonnative. - 1,248 superb color photographs and 1,220 range maps. - User-friendly organization by flower color and shape.

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Hiking the Redwoods in Northern California

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Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

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