Fern Canyon Trail - Redwood National and State Parks

Our August 2013 visit to Redwood National and State Parks continued with a drive through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park along Davison Road to Fern Canyon.  The eight mile gravel road is well maintained although dusty due to the ongoing drought in the area.  The road climbs 400 feet to cross a ridge before dropping down toward the ocean.  While not as scenic as Howland Hill Road in the northern part of the park, it is still a very beautiful drive.  After passing the fee station and the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, the road ends at a large gravel parking area.  Vault toilets are also located here.  A small sign and a gravel trail mark the beginning of the short 1,000 foot walk to the canyon of Home Creek.  The drive and the trail don't prepare you for the beauty of the 40 foot deep canyon covered in ferns.  The park service has installed several seasonal plank bridges across the creek to allow visitors to keep their feet dry while exploring the canyon.  Although there were numerous snags of downed trees, we walked up the canyon about another 1,000 feet before turning back.  

Davison Road enters the forest after crossing Prairie Creek

Davison Road descending toward the ocean

Gold Bluffs

An elk grazing along the road

Large gravel parking area

Trail head

Ocean view from the trail

The trail winds through lush vegetation...

...and a dry swamp

An example of a seasonal bridge

The outlet of Fern Canyon on Home Creek

Ferns growing on the sidewall of the canyon

Trees down across the creek

The creek crosses from one canyon wall to the other

View from one of the seasonal bridges

A wide variety of ferns grow in the ideal conditions of the canyon

Looking back down the trail

Home Creek rushes down toward the sea

One portion of the trail leaves the creek to avoid a large jumble of trees

The canyon walls are nearly vertical

Large trees loom over the canyon

A cool breeze creates the sense that the ferns are breathing

A lovely place

The trail crosses over these two snags

The canyon is 40 feet deep

Falling water created this opening

Snags stopped our progress

A wisp of a waterfall

Light and shadows play on the canyon wall

Seasonal bridge across Home Creek

Home Creek

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.  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.