When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Cool and green, with the Eel River running high and lush redwood understory.
Pack Rain shell, layers, and footwear for damp shaded trails.
Summer
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.
Fall
Mild and quiet, often the most pleasant hiking weather before the rains.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp for short days, and grippy footwear.
Winter
Wet and cool, with the deepest greens, strong river flow, and reduced services.
Pack Waterproof shell, warm insulation, and a plan for limited facilities.
Top things to do
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.
Anchor the day around Avenue of the Giants
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.
- 1Start with 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.
- 2Add 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.
- 3Use Bull Creek Flats and river trails as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
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.
What to pack
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
Decide what Humboldt Redwoods State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
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.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- If overnightSleep and shelterTent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Humboldt Redwoods
A stable daypack is the one purchase that organizes water, layers, food, first aid, and the small safety margin.
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THE DAY-HIKE PICK
Osprey Talon 22
- Volume
- 22 L
- Weight
- 2 lb 1 oz (945 g)
- Back Panel
- AirScape foam with ventilation channels
- Hipbelt Pockets
- 2 zippered
- Hydration
- Compatible up to 3 L reservoir (sold separately)
- Warranty
- All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime repair or replace)
The Talon 22 is the daypack you see on the trail more than any other for good reason: it packs in a padded hipbelt, adjustable torso harness, and dual hipbelt pockets into a 22-liter package that handles loads up to 20 lb without complaint. Owners across hundreds of Amazon ratings consistently cite its adjustability and durability as standouts.
- Adjustable torso fit covers a wide range of body sizes
- Padded hipbelt and dual hipbelt pockets at this size are rare
- At 2 lb 1 oz it runs heavier than ultralight rivals for the same volume
Best for
Hikers who want a proven all-around daypack with solid load support, plenty of adjustment, and a warranty they can actually use.
Gear for Humboldt Redwoods
The buying guides that match what Humboldt Redwoods asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
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
Camping reservations
Reserve a Humboldt Redwoods grove site for summer weekends.
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.
- Burlington family campsites run about $35 per night.
- Park entry is free; day-use parking is about $8 per vehicle at Williams Grove and free at other day-use areas.
- Reserve summer and holiday weekends early; shoulder-season weekdays are often available first-come.
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
Burlington Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve up to six months ahead through ReserveCalifornia.
- Season
- Open year-round, busiest May through October.
- Sites
- Family campsites in old- and second-growth redwoods near the visitor center, no hookups.
- The central first check, 1.5 miles south of Weott on the Avenue of the Giants, steps from the visitor center.
Hidden Springs Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve through ReserveCalifornia in season.
- Season
- Seasonal, typically open spring through fall.
- Sites
- Forested family campsites on a hillside above the Eel River.
- A larger, quieter alternative when Burlington is full.
Albee Creek Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve through ReserveCalifornia in season.
- Season
- Seasonal, typically open spring through fall.
- Sites
- Family campsites near Bull Creek Flats and Rockefeller Forest, no hookups.
- Best base for the long Bull Creek and Rockefeller hikes on the park's west side.
Getting there and practical info
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Get to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, then remove the first-morning friction.
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- California
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.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
California is the exception: the California Film Commission itself issues free permits for all state property, including state parks, beaches, and highways.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee at Humboldt Redwoods State Park?
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.
What is the Avenue of the Giants?
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.
Which Humboldt Redwoods campground is best?
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.