Best Hiking Trails in Del Norte County, California

Del Norte County is California’s northernmost coastal county, sharing Redwood National and State Parks with Humboldt County to the south while adding its own signature attraction: the Smith River, California’s only major undammed river and one of the cleanest in the country. Old-growth redwoods, sea stack coastline, and emerald river pools all sit within a short drive of Crescent City, the county’s main gateway town, offering easy access to some of the best Hiking Trails in Del Norte. The county’s eastern edge also borders Siskiyou County, where the redwood coast gives way to the Klamath Mountains.

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Key takeaways

• Del Norte County holds Jedediah Smith Redwoods and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Parks, both part of the larger Redwood National and State Parks complex it shares with Humboldt County.
• Dogs aren’t allowed on any trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods, only in the campground and on paved roads, a rule the park enforces strictly given the sensitive redwood root systems.
• The Smith River is California’s only major river without a dam, prized for its clarity and Wild and Scenic River designation.
• Howland Hill Road, the unpaved scenic drive through Jedediah Smith Redwoods, doesn’t allow RVs or trailers; plan a smaller vehicle if this drive is part of your trip.
• Damnation Creek Trail is free with no entrance fee, a rarity among the area’s otherwise fee-based redwood parks.

Del Norte County: California’s northernmost redwood hiking destination

Most visitors reach Del Norte County on their way to or from Oregon, and plenty drive straight through without realizing they’ve passed some of the most impressive old-growth redwood forest left on Earth. Jedediah Smith Redwoods and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Parks, both part of the Redwood National and State Parks complex, anchor the county’s hiking, which you can easily navigate using our Redwood National Park map and guide, alongside a stretch of Pacific coastline studded with sea stacks and the Smith River’s remarkably clear canyon.

Best hiking trails in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte County

At 10,000 acres just east of Crescent City, Jedediah Smith Redwoods protects old-growth coast redwood forest bisected by the Smith River, with roughly 20 miles of trail spread across the park.

Boy Scout Tree Trail: Del Norte County’s most impressive old-growth hike

This roughly 5.6-mile round trip Boy Scout Tree Trail rolls through dense old-growth forest to the twin-trunked Boy Scout Tree before continuing to Fern Falls at the trail’s end. It’s one of the least-visited major redwood trails in the entire park system, so arriving expecting genuine solitude isn’t unreasonable even on a summer weekend, unlike the more crowded groves further south. The trailhead sits off unpaved Howland Hill Road, passable by regular 2WD vehicles in dry weather, and day use runs around $8.

Stout Memorial Grove Loop: Del Norte’s best easy redwood walk

This flat, half-mile loop reaches some of the tallest and most photogenic trees in the entire park, donated to the state in 1929 by Clara Stout in honor of her late husband. It’s reachable via Howland Hill Road (unpaved, no RVs or large trailers) or, in summer, a footbridge crossing from the park’s visitor center side. One rule worth knowing before you go: dogs aren’t allowed on any trail in the park, only in the campground and on paved roads, one of several trail etiquette rules California’s redwood parks enforce strictly, given the sensitive root systems.

Best hiking trails in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

At over 31,000 acres south of Crescent City, this park mixes old-growth and second-growth coastal redwood forest with dramatic Pacific frontage.

Damnation Creek Trail: Del Norte’s most dramatic coastal redwood hike

This 4-mile round trip descends about 1,000 ft from a Highway 101 pullout through redwood canopy that gradually gives way to a rugged, secluded cove on the Pacific. There’s no fee and no facilities at the trailhead; the trail turns muddy after rain, and the climb back out is where an easy-feeling descent turns into a workout. This same trail gets a fuller treatment in our dedicated Redwood National Park trail guide, worth checking for the latest on current conditions before you go.

Best hiking trails along the Smith River, Del Norte County

The Smith River holds a National Wild and Scenic River designation and remains California’s only major river without a dam, prized for water clarity that rivals anywhere in the state.

Craig’s Creek Trail: Del Norte’s best river canyon hike

This 3.5-mile round trip in Six Rivers National Forest follows the South Fork through old-growth Douglas fir, tanoak, and myrtle forest to emerald-green pools that make for a cold but rewarding summer swim. October through March brings steelhead viewing as the fish move upriver; no permit is required, and the trailhead sits off South Fork Road near Gasquet, just off Highway 199. It’s free, and the trail’s short distance makes it an easy add-on to a longer day exploring the Jedediah Smith side of the county.

Del Norte County rewards visitors willing to add a couple of extra hours to what would otherwise be a drive-through stop on the way to Oregon: Jedediah Smith Redwoods alone justifies a half-day detour, and the Smith River’s emerald pools are worth the swim even on a cool day. Start with Stout Grove for an easy introduction, bring proper gear for the unpaved roads and root-heavy trails, and build toward Boy Scout Tree Trail or Damnation Creek once you’ve got a full day to spend exploring this often-overlooked corner of the redwood coast.

Frequently asked questions about hiking trails in Del Norte County