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Near Crescent City, California  

Photo by redwoodhikes.com

In searching the country for interesting and varied trails for our weekly trail forum, I often come back to my old stomping grounds of the west coast.

This week I’m featuring a “Best-Kept-Secret” in the coastal redwoods of California.

"It’s not hard to feel small as an ant wandering beneath this journey’s towering redwoods. You might also feel wild as a bobcat prowling the banks of the Smith River, California’s largest undammed river. It’s also a good river for fishing. This ambitious hike follows pure and wild Smith River all the way to a beach, then ducks deep into an even larger redwood forest (Stout Grove). This is what mighty and ancient redwoods looked like in the dinosaur age. From there, an old mining route climbs to a ridge laden with serpentine soils, which support a wide array of native plants. You can also see the ocean in the distance from the top. Following fall’s first cold spell, the leaves of the occasional vine maples turn crimson along sections of this hike. In winter and early spring, parts of Smith River become major torrents, creating a noisy and active scene. The same is true of Mill Creek, which most of the time can be crossed barefoot and with rolled up pants (call ahead for up-to-date trail conditions). By mid-spring, there’s a colorful mosaic of native wildflowers adorning the stone-stippled grassland that tops Little Bald Hills. Look for California Indian pink, phlox, and blueheaded gilia."
Dialogue by Marc J. Soares, Trails.com

Trail Guide

Source; Trails.com