Guided Redwood Hikes
Humboldt County is renowned for its stunning, world-famous redwoods.
Prairie Creek Redwoods Guided Hike
This hike is highly recommended for first-time visitors to Redwood National and State Parks. It takes place in Prairie Creek Redwoods, often regarded as the crown jewel of the parks. The trail is relatively flat and easy, featuring some of the tallest trees you'll ever see. Imagine magnificent redwood giants soaring over 300 feet high, surrounded by majestic meadows where herds of Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer roam. An undisturbed, tranquil creek nourishes the forest's wildlife and creates spawning beds for our native salmon. It's as breathtaking as it sounds—the entire world seems to quiet down as you step into groves of these towering trees. With one of our knowledgeable guides by your side, you'll discover the forest's wonders like never before.
This trail is filled with unmarked, renowned old-growth redwoods that have only been identified in the last 30 years. Among them is the 1,685-year-old Iluvatar, which stands over 300 feet tall and was featured on the cover of National Geographic's October 2009 issue. Additionally, there are hidden, unmarked groves, including Atlas Grove, which boasts more redwoods exceeding 300 feet than any other grove.
Difficulty Level: EASY Distance: 2.9 Miles Elevation: 120 ft
Trillium Falls Trail Guided Hike
We affectionately refer to this hike as "Explore the Best of the Redwoods," as it truly showcases the beauty of Humboldt along this loop trail. It's a moderately challenging hike, featuring around 440 feet of elevation gain. You'll encounter magnificent Giant Redwoods, Trilliums, over four types of Ferns, Elk, Waterfalls, Creeks, Big Leaf Maples, Giant Skunk Cabbage, Western Hemlocks, and much more. This hike offers an incredible experience! We gather at the Trillium Falls parking lot trailhead, where you might even catch a glimpse of our local Roosevelt Elk herd grazing in the field.
The trail meanders through towering redwood groves and climbs fern-laden hillsides. Due to the elevation gain in the first half of the hike, we classify this as “intermediate.” However, the breathtaking view of a stunning waterfall at the summit makes the moderately strenuous trek more than worthwhile. Surrounded by lichen-covered Big Leaf Maples and the soothing sounds of creeks, you'll feel as though you've traveled back to the age of the dinosaurs.
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM Distance: 2.8 Miles Elevation: 440 ft
Tall Trees Grove Guided Hike
A pivotal site in the establishment of Redwood National Park, this location is where National Geographic explorers discovered the "Tall Tree" in 1969. This tree once held the title of World's Tallest until 1994, when its top died back, relegating it to the 34th tallest tree on the planet. The grove is also home to two former World's Tallest Trees (Howard Libby and Nugget), two of the twenty tallest trees on Earth (Nugget and Paul Zahl), the fifth fastest-growing redwood (Nugget), and two of the thirty largest coastal redwoods (Melkor and Redwood Creek Giant). Within this grove, you can find five trees over 350 feet tall, three exceeding 360 feet, one taller than 370 feet, two trees larger than 25,000 cubic feet, and one that surpasses 30,000 cubic feet.
While Coastal Redwoods are renowned for their impressive heights, this grove features numerous towering giants that must be seen to be believed. The Tall Trees Trail offers a moderately challenging hike that descends 800 feet to the alluvial floodplain of Redwood Creek. Be ready for the uphill journey back, as all the elevation gain comes at the end.
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM+ Distance: 3.9 Miles Elevation: 800 ft
Redwood Hiking Gallery
Aaron Ostrom
Owner/Guide
Aaron has lived in Humboldt County for 25+ years. He has a passion for the outdoors, he's is a wilderness survival expert, a naturalist, and an expert in the Redwood ecology. In his free time he loves to hike the Redwood trails in our State and Federal Parks, forage for edible mushrooms (the ones you use for cooking), and lead his scout group (124 Redwood Rangers, Outdoor Service Guides) on local hikes and teach them about survival in the wilderness.
Hiking Guides
Justin Legge
Booking Admin - Hiking/Kayaking Guide
Justin has served as an Interpretive Naturalist in the Humboldt region since 2011, striving to foster positive and meaningful connections between people and nature. Initially trained as an Interpretive Naturalist Ranger with the Forest Service in Lake Tahoe, he now leads both Kayaking Tours and Hiking Tours. Justin's preferred program is the Wonder of the Redwoods Hike, where he shares the wonders of the ancient Redwood forest and educates visitors on the deep ecology of Sequoia sempervirens. When not guiding tours, Justin can be found kayaking on Big Lagoon, exploring the diverse beaches with his canine companion, or wandering through the unique Coastal Dunes near Eureka.
Sandy Haux
Hiking/Kayaking Guide
Sandy started her paddling career in 2004. She has taken extensive training and has been certified as an ACA (American Canoe Association) kayak instructor. With a background in Natural Science and over 40 years residency in Humboldt County, she is able to share much knowledge about the area and the natural world. Sandy spent 2 years as a Ranger with Redwood National and Sate Parks in the fish and wildlife branch. Sandy guides because she loves being outdoors and meeting new people. Some of my favorite Humboldt activities are paddling, mountain biking, playing pickleball, swimming in the rivers, backpacking, and seeing live theater and music.
Jennifer Lance
Hiking Guide
Jennifer has lived in Humboldt and Trinity Counties for over 30 years. She is an avid hiker and backpacker with extensive experience in the Trinity Alps, Sierra Nevada, and Prairie Creek/Redwood National Park. In addition, Jennifer has led international trips on the Tour of Mont Blanc and the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites of Italy. When she is not hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, and backpacking, Jennifer teaches yoga and works as a substitute teacher in local elementary schools. Passionate about the environment, big trees, and big mountains, Jennifer loves to share the place she loves with people of all ages.
Georgianna Wood
Hiking/Kayaking Guide
I came to Humboldt County in 1991 to attend HSU, and fell in love with the Redwood Coast. There are so many adventures to be had! Hiking, biking, paddling, foraging, birding, and more. Paddling is my passion, and the ocean is my happy place. I especially love traditional kayaking, and crafted my own Inuit-style skin on frame kayak and many kayak paddles. I have trained and been trained up and down the west coast, teaching beginning kayaking, rescue skills, kayak rolling, open ocean skills, and ocean wild-harvesting. Kelp pickles, anyone? I’m looking forward to sharing an adventure with you!
Griff Griffith
Hiking Guide
Griff Griffith is a renowned natural and cultural resource interpreter and the former host of Animal Planet’s Wild Jobs. With over 30 years of hands-on experience—including wildlife and fisheries surveys, wildland firefighting, trail building, commercial fishing, farming, and leading ecological restoration crews—Griff has devoted his life to protecting and understanding the natural world.
He currently serves as the science communicator and content creator for Redwoods Rising, the largest forest restoration project in the United States, and hosts the Jumpstart Nature podcast. A lifelong resident of Northern California, Griff loves sharing his deep knowledge of local history, wildlife, and native plants—helping others connect with nature and learn how to live in harmony with it.
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