Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving old-growth redwoods along the Smith River. It is located along U.S. Route 199 approximately 9 miles east of Crescent City.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the last in a long string of redwood parks that stretch up Northern California's coast. A few miles inland from the ocean, the park is densely forested with huge ancient trees. In fact, it contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. No roads or trails mark "Jed Smith's" core—just pure, primeval majesty.
The park was named for Jedediah Strong Smith, who in the 1820s became the first white man to explore the interior of northern California. The park was established in 1929 with a small parcel donated to Save the Redwoods League by the family of lumberman Frank Stout.
Today, you can fish, snorkel, or kayak in the Smith River, the longest major free-flowing river in California; take a historic drive on Howland Hill Road; enjoy a campfire program at Jedediah Smith Campground; or hike through a lush rainforest on 20 miles of trails. The 1936 film The Last of the Mohicans was filmed just upstream, in the Smith River National Recreation area.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a required stop on any redwoods road trip, and this riverside picnic area makes a nice lunch stop. After you turn into the park from Highway 199, head right at the campground turnoff and follow the signs past the ranger station to the day use area. There’s accessible parking across from the picnic area, which is located in a level shaded grove.
After lunch save some time for a stroll through the redwoods. The accessible hard-packed dirt Nature Trail begins near the accessible parking space and winds through the hike and bike campground, before it connects to the River Beach Trail. After that the trail passes through the forest above the Smith River, before it ends near the showerhouse in the Jedediah Smith Campground. It’s a pleasant .6-mile hike one-way, after which it’s best to backtrack to the day use area. And it’s such a pretty stroll that you won’t even mind walking it a second time; in fact you’ll probably spot some different things on your return trek.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park’s 10,000 acres are managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and California State Parks, as are Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park. A World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, Redwood National and State Parks protect 45 percent of California’s remaining old-growth redwoods—an area almost four times the size of Manhattan Island.
Cabins
You don’t need a tent or an RV to enjoy the beautiful old growth redwoods! Jedediah Smith Redwoods Redwoods State Park offers you access to “get-away-from-it-all” rental cabins.
Four cabins, all of which are ADA accessible, are located within the Jedediah Smith Redwoods Campground within Redwood National and State Parks.
Cabins have electricity; heaters and lights. No kitchen or bathroom.
Maximum occupancy is 6 persons. Each cabin has 2 bunk beds, each with a twin over a double in size, no mattress pads. Guest need to bring their own bedding. Space for a small tent outside to accommodate an additional 2 people max.
Cabin rate includes entry for one vehicle; additional vehicles will be charged $8 per night.
No Pets
No Smoking, cooking or open flame inside the cabins. Cabins each have an outdoor Barbecue, fire pit, bear box and picnic bench.
Seasons/Climate
Here at the confluence of the Smith River and Mill Creek, summer temperatures range from 45 to 85 degrees, in contrast to the cool, fog-bound coast. Winter can bring 100 inches of rain and temperatures between 30 and 65 degrees; snow is rare.
Rules & Notifications
• Don’t feed wildlife and keep your camp free of all traces of food.
• Store food in an animal-proof food locker.
• Place all your garbage in an animal-proof trash can.
• Howland Hill Road is gravel and not recommended for trailers.
Except for service animals, dogs not allowed on trails.
