No cathedral in the world vaults 30-plus stories high, as the redwoods do, and no amount of ornate carving or stained glass windows can outdo a redwood forest for the flamboyance of the rhododendrons, ferns, creeping oxalis, mosses, and other greenery decorating its floor. At Redwood National Park, visitors of all abilities and inclinations have a chance to meet the largest living organisms in the world firsthand. Just when you think you've seen the biggest tree you've ever laid eyes upon, an even bigger specimen will appear around the corner. Hikers at Redwood will find trails to match their schedules and interests. Bikers can choose between paved roadway and shore-hugging dirt roads.
Paddlers can sample several world-class rivers that flow just outside the park.
And wildlife lovers will marvel at the variety of birds and mammals on display. Even windshield tourists will delight in roadways that make for scenic driving. When you visit Redwood National Park, the spotlight is on the tall trees, but the big boys and girls aren't the only show in town. From the trailhead near Bald Hills Road, follow the path through a forest of giant ferns, dogwoods, alders, and willows. About eight miles into the hike, you cross a small bridge into Tall Trees Grove, home to three of the six tallest trees in the world, each soaring 300 or more feet upward.