State Park · California
The largest redwood state park, home to the Avenue of the Giants scenic drive, Rockefeller Forest's old growth, riverside hikes, and reservable redwood-grove campgrounds.
Field briefing
Humboldt Redwoods State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
The icons, the Avenue of the Giants, Founders Grove, and Rockefeller Forest, are short and flat, so the real planning question is just where to camp. Park entry is free; you only pay for day-use parking at Williams Grove or for camping.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool and green, with the Eel River running high and lush redwood understory.
Pack Rain shell, layers, and footwear for damp shaded trails.
Warm and dry, with cool redwood shade, river swimming, and peak campground demand.
Pack Sun protection for the river bars, water, and an early booking plan.
Mild and quiet, often the most pleasant hiking weather before the rains.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp for short days, and grippy footwear.
Wet and cool, with the deepest greens, strong river flow, and reduced services.
Pack Waterproof shell, warm insulation, and a plan for limited facilities.
Avenue of the Giants
The 31-mile scenic drive paralleling Highway 101 through old-growth redwoods, with pullouts, short grove loops, and the best low-effort introduction to the park.
Founders Grove and Rockefeller Forest
Flat interpretive loops through some of the world's tallest trees, including the largest remaining old-growth coast redwood forest at Rockefeller.
Bull Creek Flats and river trails
Longer riverside and forest hikes for visitors who want real mileage beyond the short grove loops.
Put permit timing ahead of ambition, then build the route around what is actually approved. For one day in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, make Avenue of the Giants the non-negotiable, add Founders Grove and Rockefeller Forest only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Bull Creek Flats and river trails as the flexible finish.
Turn Humboldt Redwoods's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Humboldt Redwoods State Park packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Humboldt Redwoods asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Camp inside the park to be among the redwoods at dawn and dusk when the groves are quiet. Burlington, near the visitor center on the Avenue of the Giants, is the central first check, with Hidden Springs and Albee Creek as quieter alternatives. The small towns of Weott, Myers Flat, and Garberville cover food and fuel, with broader lodging in Fortuna and Eureka to the north.
Camping reservations
Three developed campgrounds sit in redwood groves near the Avenue of the Giants, and they are the practical base for an old-growth trip. Summer weekends fill, so reserve early and hold first-come as a backup.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
California State Parks uses ReserveCalifornia. Sites can be reserved up to six months ahead or as late as 48 hours before arrival, and unreserved sites are first-come for one night at a time.
Where to book or verify
Official California State Parks reservation system, or call 1-800-444-7275.
Friends of the park reservation and information page with campground details.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Arrival note
Humboldt Redwoods is about 45 miles south of Eureka in Northern California, reached from Highway 101 with the Avenue of the Giants running parallel through the groves.
Car strategy
A car is required, and the avenue itself is the main attraction, so plan to drive it slowly and stop often.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
There is no general park entry fee. The park charges about $8 for day-use parking at the Williams Grove day-use area, while other day-use areas are free, and camping carries its own nightly fee.
The Avenue of the Giants is a 31-mile scenic drive that parallels Highway 101 through the heart of Humboldt Redwoods, passing old-growth redwood groves with pullouts, picnic areas, and short interpretive loops like Founders Grove.
Burlington is the central first check, near the visitor center on the Avenue of the Giants. Hidden Springs is a larger, quieter option, and Albee Creek is the best base for the long Bull Creek and Rockefeller Forest hikes on the west side.