One of our first activities in Redwood National and State Parks was to drive the scenic Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The park service claims the road is ten miles long, but that is the total distance from US 101 in Crescent City to US 101 in Hiouchi. The actual portion of the road in the parks is approximately six miles of which only the western ½ mile of the road from Crescent City is paved as it climbs from the coastal plains into the hills. The remaining 5½ miles in the park is a one-lane dirt or gravel road with pullouts to meet oncoming traffic or to allow following traffic to pass. Trail heads along the road also have designated parking areas. During busy times, these parking areas fill up and people park wherever they can get mostly out of the driving lane. While not prohibited, the park service states "motorhomes/RVs and trailers not advised." This is mostly due to the winding nature of the road as it weaves through the redwoods and to the limited size of the pullouts along the route. While both ends of the road are gated, there is no fee collection station.
Entrance to Redwood National Park is free. However, Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast and Prairie Creek Redwoods California State Parks have a day-use fee of $8 per vehicle at campground entrance stations. However, all three state parks honor the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This pass is valid for one year for $80. A lifetime National Park Senior Pass is available for $10 for those 62 years of age or older.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm.
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