Rhododendron Trail Loop Hike – Redwoods National Park
This rugged loop hike combines a few less-visited trails at Prairie Creek Redwoods for a spectacular longer trek that goes through several impressive redwood groves.
distance: 8.7 miles (loop)
elevation: 1,540 ft. gain
difficulty: moderate
best season: spring, early summer
parking pass: National Park Pass
The hike
While camping at Elk Prairie campground in Redwoods National Park, we spent several days hiking and exploring the park. We stopped at the ranger station to ask about a longer loop hike and when the park ranger told us this is known as an “ankle breaker”, we knew is was perfect for avid hikers who wanted to take less traveled trails.
Much of this hike was so dense with undergrowth beneath the towering trees that it felt like a jungle – in the best way. We hiked through, literally, many of the trees with hollowed-out bases. The bridges in this park are among my favorites anywhere… some of them have triangular trusses, and many are long enough that they twist and wind through the trees.
These are the trails we combined for a loop, in order from our start at the :
- campground trail to the park’s visitor center
- Cathedral Tree Trail
- Rhododendron Trail
- Brown Creek Trail
- Foothill Trail
I’ve seen many slugs in Oregon and Washington, but never as bright yellow as the banana slugs in this park.
Redwood sorrel (oxalis) and maidenhair ferns
Trail signage throughout this loop kept us on track.
Pictured below is the trail… on a downed tree. I had to do a double-take here when I realized I was walking on a tree.
