Redwood National Park has much more land than the three state parks combined, and the biggest area is a single block around Orick, covering hills to the north and east of town, the Prairie Creek valley and a 7 mile section of the coastline, but the most interesting part is the large area south along Redwood Creek. Access is via the Bald Hills Road - paved but in places steep and winding, this climbs from sea level to a ridge over 2,000 feet above the creek which flows through a deep valley to the west. The road eventually becomes unpaved and exits the park, continuing to Weitchpec in the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. First point of interest along the drive is Redwood Creek itself, and a side track leads to a trailhead from which a path follows the creek for 8 miles and links with other trails that wind through the dense forested slopes at either side. There are three primitive campsites and this is the only area where multi-day hikes are feasible, as most other trails are too short.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove: At first the forest has no redwoods - they begin to appear higher up the hillside and are plentiful by the time the elevation reaches 1,250 feet and the road passes the parking area for the hike to Lady Bird Johnson Grove. This is an easy one mile loop past the national park dedication site deep in the forest, placed at a ceremony in 1968 attended by the then president's wife. This path passes countless mature redwoods mixed with equally impressive Douglas firs with lots of undergrowth, bushes, downed trees, and Spanish moss hanging from many of the branches, all enveloped by a general air of peace and stillness. After the dedication plaque, the return route is along the top of a hillside with quite steep drop-offs to one side as the land becomes rather more open.
Tall Trees Grove: Four miles further and 700 feet higher, Bald Hills Road reaches Redwood Creek Overlook, a promontory with views over a large area of the valley below, much of which is slowly recovering from timber operations prior to the national park creation. The Pacific Ocean is visible beyond, or at least it is on the relatively few occasions when not obscured by fog. Soon after is the turn off to Tall Trees Grove - a twisting road open to only 35 vehicles a day (permits may be obtained from the visitor center) leads down towards the creek, then a short trail continues to the grove, a region which can also be reached by the Redwood Creek Trail. Several of the world's tallest redwoods grow here including one specimen of 367 feet that is believed to be the current record holder.
Other Sites: Also in the main section of Redwood National Park is Lost Man Creek - a stream and cascade reached by a short paved road, the Coastal Trail - a 5 mile path through woodland to the sea front which links with Davison Road in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and Freshwater Lagoon - one of the three Humboldt Lagoons, this is separated from the ocean by a beach which is notable for the huge logs washed up by winter storms; this region must have the largest driftwood of any coast in the world. The sands are close to US 101 and so easily accessed, and one of two park visitor centers is located right on the shore.
Of the other sections of the Redwood National Park, the next largest is either side of the Klamath River estuary, north of Prairie Creek. This has a selection of trails and the Coastal Drive, a narrow partially paved loop road through forest and close to the edge of cliffs 300 feet above the ocean.
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