Exploring One of California’s Last Ancient Redwood Forests
The Big Tree Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is one of those hikes that naturally makes you slow down.
This morning, after stopping by the visitor center for trail recommendations, we decided to take the roughly 2.5 mile round-trip walk from the visitor center out to the famous Big Tree and back through the towering redwoods of Redwood National and State Parks.
Sometimes the best hikes are not the hardest or longest. Instead, they are the ones that remind you how incredible the natural world really is.
The trail itself was incredibly approachable. It was wide, well maintained, and had very little elevation gain. Because of that, it made for an easy and relaxing walk through the redwoods.
Rather than focusing on steep climbs or difficult terrain, we were free to slow down and truly take in the forest around us.
Morning Fog and Sunlight Beneath the Redwoods
And honestly, the scenery barely felt real at times.
A thin layer of coastal fog still lingered beneath the trees when we started hiking. Meanwhile, sunlight filtered down through the canopy in long golden rays, cutting through the mist and lighting up the forest floor below.
Because of the sheer size of the ancient coast redwoods, the entire trail had an almost mystical feeling to it.
The Big Tree Trail offers one of the easiest and most immersive ways to experience the ancient redwoods of Northern California.
The Forest Felt Ancient
Everywhere we looked were towering trunks disappearing high into the fog overhead.
Massive fallen logs draped in moss.
Fern-covered forest floors.
Quiet winding trails moving through trees that have stood for centuries.
It felt ancient in the best possible way.
Along the trail, interpretive signs shared the deeper history of these forests. As a result, reading them completely changed the experience of the hike.
Tourism Helped Save the Redwoods
One sign explained how the scenic roadway through the park became part of the historic Redwood Highway during the rise of automobile tourism in the 1920s.
Travelers came from across the country to stand beneath famous trees like Big Tree, amazed by their unbelievable scale and beauty.
However, the signs also revealed a harder truth.
While visitors admired protected corridors of giant redwoods along the roadway, industrial logging operations were rapidly consuming much of the surrounding forest.
By the end of the 20th century, roughly 95 percent of the original old-growth coast redwood forest had been cut down.
Standing Among the Survivors
Standing among these surviving giants after reading that gives the hike an entirely different meaning.
You realize you are not simply walking through a beautiful forest. Instead, you are walking through one of the last remaining pieces of an ancient ecosystem that nearly disappeared.
Meanwhile, another sign explained that Big Tree itself measures over 20 feet in diameter and nearly 300 feet tall, though it is not even the largest tree in the forest.
That was one of the most humbling parts of the entire hike.
In fact, trees that would seem unimaginable almost anywhere else are simply part of the landscape here.
The scale of the forest changes your perspective.
Why the Big Tree Trail Is Perfect for Beginners
What I appreciated most about this trail, however, was how accessible it was.
You do not need to be an extreme hiker to experience something extraordinary here.
As a result, families, photographers, casual hikers, and anyone looking to reconnect with nature could comfortably enjoy this walk.
If you enjoy peaceful forest hikes like this, you may also enjoy our article on foraging wood sorrel on the Oregon Coast or our growing collection of nature-based living and outdoor adventures.
And in a world that constantly pushes speed, noise, and distraction, there is something deeply grounding about quietly walking beneath trees that were already ancient long before modern roads, cities, or even electricity existed.
For a couple hours this morning, though, the world felt slower.
Calmer.
Older.
Honestly, we needed that.
If you visit Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the Big Tree Trail is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary.
Go early if you can.
Catch the fog while it still hangs beneath the canopy and the morning light filters through the trees.
That is when the forest feels most alive.
To learn more about the history and preservation of these forests, visit the official Redwood National and State Parks website.
The Hunter Gatherer Society
Get outside and do something wild.
