Redwood National and State Parks; September 30, 2025

I would like to believe that I had a good night of sleep, although recently it has been difficult to slow down my mind. The night was quiet beneath these giant trees, and a light rain fell for hours. Camping in Redwood National Park brings a mix of emotions: a feeling of being small and insignificant beside towering trunks, yet also a profound sense of peace. It offers connection to the natural world, wonder, and the sensation of stepping into another realm while breathing some of the cleanest air on Earth. One day and one night already felt like a gift.

I made coffee around 8:00 a.m. and drove to my first destination, the Stout Grove trailhead (1.55 miles hike). My initial impressions of the redwoods left me almost speechless. These trees appear like ancient guardians standing watch over the forest. The hike was beautiful. I attempted to cross a river to reach the other side because my GPS made it look possible, but once I left the trail, I nearly got lost. I quickly returned to the path and concluded that this trail was misleading.

There was another route across the Smith River that continued toward the Little Bald Hills Trailhead and the town of Hiouchi. Instead, I continued to my next hike after I drove for a few minutes: the Grove of Titans (2.36 miles). This hike was astonishing. I felt incredibly lucky breathing this forest air at the heart of one of the most remarkable ecosystems sustaining life on Earth. The trail connects back to Stout Grove, although I chose to limit myself to the 2.36 miles because there was much more to see.

My longest hike of the day was the Boy Scout Tree Trail, a 6-mile route leading to Fern Falls. The forest felt impossibly vast, and the scale made me feel very small. Roots twisted everywhere. The experience brought awe, tranquility, and perspective. The filtered light through the canopy, the lush greenery, the silence: it felt like a different world. I reached the falls around 11:20 a.m. and spent time resting there. The waterfall was small, more of a thin curtain of water than a dramatic drop, yet it was beautiful in its simplicity. I met a few hikers, refilled my water bottle, and hiked back to the parking lot. Rain fell during the last mile and a half, adding drama and beauty to the landscape. I saw mushrooms, wildflowers, endless ferns, and evidence of nature’s deep interconnectedness. My conclusion: “I respect the ground that holds these giant trees and everything else.”

I reached the parking area at 12:30 p.m. in heavy rain. With no phone connection and uncertain directions, I drove several miles on a narrow, unpaved, single-lane road before stopping to study my map. The redwood park can be very confusing. Eventually, I decided to head to the Big Tree Wayside area. Although my hiking for the day was complete, I still wanted to explore with the remaining time.

The drive from Boy Scout Tree Trailhead to Big Tree Wayside took about 56 minutes, with incredible ocean views. The route included several potential stop points:

• Damnation Creek Trailhead
• Yurok Loop Trail
• Trees of Mystery
• Klamath River Overlook

I skipped these to stay on schedule, although one day in this region is not nearly enough. At Big Tree, I walked only about half a mile. The big tree is estimated to be 1,500 years old, 286 feet tall, and 68 feet in circumference.

 In the parking lot, I spoke with a couple who asked where I was from. I told them Nebraska. I mentioned how immense the park is and how much there is to do. They recommended the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail (1.75-mile hike). I already planned to do it, but had been hesitant. Their encouragement convinced me. They warned me about the narrow road leading up to the trailhead. 

I stopped briefly at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center on the way. It was crowded. I grabbed a map and drove on. I reached the trailhead at 2:16 p.m. The hike was relatively easy. I watched a group of hikers quietly observing some deer nearby and joined them for a moment before continuing. I returned to my car around 3:00 p.m. It has been such a struggle with my SE iPhone trying to take good photos of these giant trees. But my other phone, which had 3 cameras, had better shots, and it captured more angles

At this point, exhaustion set in. My next destination was Lassen Volcanic National Park, nearly four and a half hours away. I searched for a campground along the route and found Clam Beach County Campground. It was first-come, first-served. I arrived around 4:00 p.m. The campground was not calm at all, located right beside Highway 101. After walking a mile along the beach, I decided to seek a hotel or Airbnb. It had been a long day, it was raining, and I wanted to treat myself.

I found an Airstream camper in the town of Manila, right by the ocean, with excellent reviews. I arrived at 5:00 p.m. and reorganized my messy car, took a shower, ate snacks, and walked 1.62 miles to the beach through the breath taking view of the sand dunes; and the rainbow that's emerged with the ocean and sunset view. I think this was one of best I've seen in life. 

The shower was small: I could stand comfortably but barely move. It reminded me of a bathroom in Switzerland that allowed movement but required bending due to the low ceiling.

The beach provided one of my favorite moments of the year. There were no other people, only ocean waves, birds, coastal plants, and the calming colors of sunset. It was peace and reflection. Before dark, I returned to the Airbnb, then drove to the Vista Del Mar restaurant in Eureka across the Samoa Bridge, about nine minutes away. I felt everyone at the restaurant knew each other; so many laughs and so much talk. I enjoyed a beer and a chicken sandwich. While driving over the bridge, which is basically over the ocean, reminded me of some of the European and WW2 movies, including the Dunkirk movie, ocean waves, rain, wind, little lights, and so remote. Manila is certainly a beautiful little town. 

I returned to the cozy Airbnb around 9:00 p.m., grateful for the day and hopeful for a good night of sleep.