About
Length (round trip)1.3 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain150 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadMill Creek trailhead, Howland Hill Road
SurfaceElevated steel and timber boardwalk
Best seasonYear round. Summer brings fog rather than sun, which is exactly what the redwoods need; winter is the wettest.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityThis 1.5 mile (2km) loop trail is not ADA accessible. It has manay metal steps and includes a 1,500 foot elevated board walk. The trail is generally four feet wide and is made of compacted gravel, dirt, and duff. There are tree roots on - and along - sections of the trail.
What you'll see 🌲 Old growth

An Old Favorite With A New Elevated Boardwalk Located in the northern part of Redwood National and State Parks, this trail was completed in summer 2022 to allow sustainable access to a group of ancient redwood trees named for their remarkable shape and size. The grove contains many tall and wide redwoods with complex features and fascinating adaptations. The main trailhead is located on the eastern side of Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. Best access is from HWY 199 near Hiouchi, California. This 1.5 mile ( 2km) loop trail also connects to the Mill Creek Trail. Known by indigenous people for thousands of years, the group of trees was "re-discovered" and named by researchers in the late 1990's. Then, with the arrival of GPS and online search engines, these trees became a destination for many visitors seeking "The Titans". Much damage was then done to the forest floor by well-meaning visitors seeking adventure. 1,500 feet of elevated boardwalk has been built to protect the forest floor and to allow for safe and easier viewing of the redwoods at the site. There are steps on the boardwalk and the trail is not ADA accessible. Funding for the expensive boardwalk and interpretive exhibits was led by Redwood Parks Conservancy and Save The Redwoods League . Parking on Howland Hill Road is very limited in summer. No recreational vehicles or vehicles towing trailers are allowed on Howland Hill Road.

Tips
The boardwalk was built in 2022 because visitors following social media directions had trampled the root systems to death. Stay on it. Howland Hill Road is narrow gravel and unsuitable for RVs.
Location

Mill Creek trailhead, Howland Hill Road

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
Your Hikes

🔒 Login or create an account to record the trails you've done, rate them, and tie them to a trip.