The northernmost park, Jedediah Smith, is 9 miles northeast of Crescent City (via Hwy 101 north to Hwy 199 east). The redwood stands are so thick that few trails penetrate the park, but the outstanding 11-mile Howland Hill Rd scenic drive cuts through otherwise inaccessible areas (take Hwy 199 to South Fork Rd; turn right after crossing two bridges). It’s a rough road, impassable for RVs, but if you can’t hike, it’s the best way to see the forest.
Stop for a half-mile stroll under enormous trees in Simpson-Reed Grove. There’s a swimming hole and picnic area at the Jedediah Smith Redwoods Campground. An easy half-mile trail, departing from the far side of the campground, crosses the Smith River via a summer-only footbridge, leading to Stout Grove, the park’s most famous grove, which is also accessible off Howland Hill Rd. The popular Mill Creek Trail should reopen in 2021 with a new boardwalk through Grove of Titans. The visitor center has hiking maps and nature guides.
West of Jedediah Smith Redwoods, the Smith River, the state’s largest undammed waterway, flows right beside Hwy 199. Originating high in the Siskiyou Mountains, its serpentine course cuts through deep canyons beneath thick forests. Chinook salmon (October to December) and steelhead trout (December to April) annually migrate up its clear waters. Camp (there are 86 campsites and four rental cabins), hike (20 miles of trails), raft (145 miles of navigable white water) and kayak here, but check regulations if you want to fish. Stop by the Hiouchi Visitor Center to get your bearings and pick up a pamphlet for the Myrtle Creek Botanical Area where you can see rare plants and learn about the area’s geology.
Note that there are bear lockups by the campgrounds here.
