Date Hiked: 11/26/20
Area: Redwood National & State Parks
Mileage: 1.3 total
Elevation Gain: 75 ft
NOTE: This is a fine redwood grove, but if you really want to see the best grove in Redwood National and State Parks, check out Stout Grove at the end of Howland Hill Road.
A few miles up Bald Hills Road and you round a corner into the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail parking lot. The parking lot has space for 15-20 cars, toilets, trash/recycling, and a dropbox of interpretive maps. We went here on our first day in Redwood National and State Parks and we thought that this would be one of the best redwood groves in the park, maybe the best. While it’s a fine grove, we came to find out that there are better ones in the park.
This bridge is the best part of the trail.
The best part of the hike is the really unique wooden bridge that you cross immediately as you leave the parking lot. It takes you over Bald Hills Road and onto the trail.
Once you’re over the bridge you’re in the same beautiful environment that you will see throughout Redwood National and State Parks, one of huge trees, lots of moisture, and ferns. The sunlight casting rays down into the woods is absolutely serene. You can tell from the photos that November in the redwoods is chilly, the day time temp was somewhere in the 40s.
The trail is heavily trafficked since it’s closer to the highway than Tall Trees and you don’t need a permit to see it. If you take the loop clockwise, you’ll see some huge redwood trees and soon make your way into an open space with a plaque commemorating Lady Bird Johnson’s conservation efforts. Without her, the grove would have been destroyed by the logging companies, and the photos they have of the destruction of the surrounding redwood groves really gives context to how important it is that she saved this grove.
Conservation is such an important form of activism, please save the trees!
You’ll continue around the loop (or extend your trip with the Berry Glen trail). When you make it to the other side of the loop, the grove opens up a bit and you’ll get the best redwood views of the trail. There are some seriously big trees there and they make for great photos. If you’re on the trail, make sure to take your time here and soak it in.
Follow the loop back to the beginning and then head on your way.
Is this grove beautiful? Yes.
Is the bridge cool? Yes.
If you only have time to visit one redwood grove, should it be this one? No.