The Tall Trees Grove in Redwood National Park holds some of the tallest trees on the planet, and unlike the park’s roadside groves, you have to earn it. The trail runs about 3.3 miles round trip with roughly 800 feet of elevation, and a free permit is required to reach the trailhead. That permit is exactly why the grove stays quiet even in summer.
Tall Trees Grove: Quick Facts
- Distance: About 3.3 miles round trip (roughly 1.65 miles each way).
- Elevation: About 800 feet, all of it on the climb back out.
- Difficulty: Moderate. The descent is easy. The return climb is the work.
- Time: Plan 3 to 4 hours round trip.
- Permit: Free, required. Get the gate code at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center in Orick.
- Best conditions: Overcast or foggy days for photography. Dawn and dusk for elk along Bald Hills Road.
Getting There
The Tall Trees Grove trailhead is off Bald Hills Road, about 7 miles from Highway 101. You need a free permit and gate code from the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center on Highway 101 in Orick. The park hands out a limited number each day, so arrive early, especially in summer. The visitor center typically opens at 9am, and you should confirm hours before you go.
Once you have the code, drive up Bald Hills Road to the locked gate. The road is paved but winding. From the trailhead, the hike drops about 800 feet over 1.65 miles to the grove floor along Redwood Creek, then climbs back the same way. Skipping the permit is a mistake. Without the gate code, you face a far longer hike with much more elevation just to reach the grove.
What to Expect on the Trail
The trail descends through a mixed forest of Douglas fir and tanoak before opening into the redwood grove along Redwood Creek. Once you reach the bottom, you are standing among some of the tallest living things on Earth. The grove’s namesake Tall Tree, measured at 367.8 feet, was once the tallest known tree in the world before the discovery of Hyperion in 2006.
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The grove floor is carpeted in ferns and redwood sorrel. It smells like damp earth and bark. Light filters through the canopy in shafts that shift as the wind moves branches hundreds of feet overhead. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever stood.
Plan for 3 to 4 hours round trip. The hike is moderate, but the climb back out will test your legs. Bring trekking poles if you have them, and carry water.
What Most People Get Wrong
People skip this hike because of the permit and assume it’s a hassle. It isn’t. The permit is free and takes about five minutes at the visitor center. The gate system exists to limit traffic on the narrow road, which is exactly why the grove stays uncrowded in peak season.
The other common mistake is underestimating the return. It’s only 1.65 miles back up, but 800 feet of steady climbing will wind you. Pace yourself and save water for the way out.
Photography Tips
Overcast days are your friend here. Direct sunlight creates harsh contrast in the grove that is almost impossible to expose correctly. Cloudy skies give you even, soft light that lets the greens and browns saturate. Bring a wide-angle lens. You’ll want 14mm or wider to fit these trees in a frame, and even then you probably can’t capture a whole tree.
If you get fog, count yourself lucky. Fog in a redwood grove is one of the most photogenic conditions in nature.
Nearby Destinations
Lady Bird Johnson Grove is on the same road and is an easier, shorter loop. Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon are about 30 minutes away and make a perfect second half of the day. The Redwood Creek Overlook gives you a wide view of the watershed these trees depend on. Elk are common along Bald Hills Road, most active around dawn and dusk.
The Redwood Film
Redwood National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason. Journey with us as we explore the tallest trees on the planet. This is Redwood. For everything you need to plan a trip, see our full Redwood National Park guide and our roundup of the best hikes in Redwood.
What to Bring to Redwood
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