Hike along a primeval creek with brilliant maples
West Ridge Trail to Prairie Creek Trail is a superb loop that features the southernmost part of the Prairie Creek Trail, which may be the park's most scenic trail, with unusually varied scenery and an exuberantly lush look found nowhere else. The trail follows Prairie Creek, a large, pristine creek in a wide channel filled with small shrubs and edged with maple trees. The trail passes through several spectacular lowland redwood groves, where in October the maples along the creek turn a brilliant yellow, glowing in the gloom under the dense redwood canopy.
Difficulty: Moderate, Trail Length: 5.8 miles, Elevation Change: 760 feet, Ave. Time: 6-7 hours
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Amenities & Fees
$8 for day-use vehicle entry; no charge to walk or bike into the park. Camping and Lodging: Reservations can be made online at ReserveCalifornia.com or by calling the toll free telephone number at 1-800-444-PARK. For more camping near the park, visit HipCamp.com.
Park Information
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
What To Pack
- Safety: We want visitors to enjoy their experience safely. Simple actions can positively increase your outdoor experience. Such actions include taking water and snacks along with you, staying on designated trails, taking breaks, and letting people know where you are going and approximately what time you're coming back. For more outdoor safety tips, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips (external link).
- What To Bring: Layers of clothing. In the rainy season, pack warm hats, scarves, mittens and plenty of thick, fast-drying socks. And don't forget the raincoats and rain pants. Water, snacks a field guide, binoculars.
More Information
For more details about this hike and to purchase a trail map, visit RedwoodHikes.com (external link).
