The redwood forests in the Pacific northwest are one of the most awe-inspiring ecosystems to experience in North America. One standout trail near Crescent City, California is the Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith State Park. On this trail, we get a little of everything: giant redwood trees, wildlife, a waterfall and the Boy Scout Tree. It’s a great option if you have limited time to and want to experience the redwoods on foot.
The drive down the coastline of Oregon was foggy. In fact, many of the stunning, bluebird views of Oregon scenery promised by the travel websites and Pinterest photos were obscured by particulate matter in the atmosphere on this particular August week, be it smoke or ocean mist. Occasionally, we might catch a splinter in the fog for a glimpse of the ocean and the sunshine. But this trip wasn’t about sightseeing the cliffside ocean views of coastal Oregon. We were heading inland once we crossed the California border.
Seeing the Redwood Trees on Howland Hill Road
Our phones’ buzzing demanded our attention. There was a fire in Siskiyou County and the surrounding area was under an evacuation notice. Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park wasn’t part of the area at risk, so we continued east to Howland Hill Road, the main road into the park.
The first look at the redwoods reminded me of how I experienced some of the West’s other natural features for the first time. The same sense of “Wow, this is way bigger/more spectacular/life-changing than the pictures make it look” that you get when you visit the Grand Canyon for the first time.
The trees are fitting for the ruggedness and power of the Pacific Ocean in this region. They rise up from the coastal hills, anchoring the land as the ocean pounds the rocks to the west. In a place with fire, earthquakes and deeply echoing waves, the silent forest of giants gives a sense of security and comfort to a tiny human.
After gawking at the behemoth trees from the car window for a few miles, we figured the redwoods might be better experienced from boots rather than car tires. The Boy Scout Tree Trail, the longest trail in the park (5.6 miles roundtrip), has a little bit of everything. Stream crossings, the landmark Boy Scout tree, old gnarled and cavernous stumps, and a small waterfall at the turnaround point.
Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Trailhead and starting the hike
To get to the Boy Scout Tree trailhead, park off Howland Hill Road near the trailhead. There is limited parking as well as an outhouse here at the trailhead, which is located at (41.76879, -124.11018).
The Boy Scout Tree trail is an easy hike overall. It would be a great one for kids, especially kids that appreciate exploring old stumps so big they could fit the living room sofa inside. The trail winds through ferns and soaring coastal redwoods, many of which are over 300 feet tall. Coast redwoods grow relatively quickly early in life. Later, they slow their growth since the climate at the top of the canopy is exposed to more wind and sunlight and less humidity.
Redwood Forest Ecology
Coast redwoods have been around for more than 20 million years! The biological impact they have as the keystone species in the forests they inhabit can’t be overstated. The root systems of the redwoods can redistribute water from underground to dry soil to help support understory species, a process known as hydraulic lift. Soil mats high in the canopy support entire communities of fungi, mosses, ferns, amphibians and invertebrates. Decaying redwood leaves that fall and collect on the branches below form these soil mats. Even other trees can grow hundreds of feet from the ground on the branches of the redwoods.
The Boy Scout Tree
The Boy Scout tree itself is located a little over 2 miles from the trailhead, on the right hand side. You won’t be able to see it from the main trail. However, a short detour up a steep hill takes you right to the giant tree. The Boy Scout tree is actually two 2,000-year-old trees that grew together and formed a double-trunked redwood that is 23 feet across at the base.
Fern Falls
Past the detour to the Boy Scout tree, the trail goes an additional 0.7 miles to Fern Falls. Here, a small waterfall spills down a fern-covered rock face into a pool. A vibrant yellow banana slug was making its way across this section of trail the day we hiked it. Banana slugs can live to be 7 years old and thrive in these humid coastal environments, supporting the mucous they rely on for respiration and defense.
The Return to the Trailhead
The Boy Scout Tree trail is an out-and-back trail for a total hiking distance of 5.4 miles. It’s a stunning hike that displays a lot of the highlights of a redwood forest if you don’t have much time to spend in the state park.
Things to Do at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
The core of the 20,000 acres of forest protected by the park is primarily left silent and un-permeated by trails. The park does have 20 miles of trails ranging from short excursions to experience the redwoods (Grove of Titans, 1.7 miles or Stout Grove, 0.6 miles) to longer trails like the Boy Scout trail.
The Little Bald Hills Trail (19.6 miles roundtrip) is open to mountain bikes and horseback riding. It goes outside the state park to a backcountry horse camp and down to the Smith River National Recreation Area.
Camping in the Redwoods
For those who want to sleep under the redwoods, the Jedediah Smith Campground offers 87 campsites that can be reserved on the state park’s website. The campground also has four ADA-accessible rental cabins. Each cabin can accommodate 6 people with room for a tent outside. Check the state park website above for availability and prices.
The Jedediah Smith campground is located right on the scenic Smith River, which borders the state park to the north. The Smith River is known for its fishing opportunities, especially for salmon, steelhead and trout. Snorkeling, swimming and kayaking the Smith River are all great ways to enjoy the park.
