The Redwood Forests have been on my bucket list for a long time, and sometimes forests call for an adventure as part of a self-care plan. I left Astoria on my way down the Oregon Coast, taking my sweet time down U.S. Highway 101, before landing at the Redwood National Forest.

Meandering down the Oregon Coast

Route 101 is a scenic highway that winds down the Oregon Coast, stringing charming coastal towns along the way. Blue waves crash against the rocky cliffs as you drive down the forested hills. It really is something.

I made a stop at the popular Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, which isn’t far from Astoria. I arrived during the low tide, which revealed many tide pools with sea creatures. It’s not everyday that most of us get to marvel at starfish and clusters of sea anemones.

Driving down the Coast was an all-day adventure. I made it to the Redwood National and State Parks before it got dark. After setting up camp the first night, I spent two full days there. I camped in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park: two nights in Elk Prairie, and the third night was at Gold Bluffs Beach.

Holy Sequoia!

One look at the Redwoods, and you’ll see why a million people flock over here every year. These grand Sequoias are over 3,000 years old and tower around 300 feet. While these are mighty trees, you feel so safe and held inside that luxurious forest. There’s really nothing quite like nestling under the gentle evergreen giants.

Day 1: Redwood National Park

For the first full day after setting up camp, I went on some shorter hikes (3 miles or less) within Redwood National Park, which borders the Prairie Creek Redwoods.

First I went to Redwood Creek Trail. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a trail running along Redwood Creek. There are two creek crossings, and most days out of the year the creek is shallow enough to ford. (It gets too dangerous to cross in the winter, when the rains come.) The first crossing was a mile and a half in, which was a good turn-around point. If you want to go further, the entire trail is 8 miles one way.

Next, I went onto Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, one of the most popular hikes. It’s a short loop around old-growth Redwoods. The smell of the wildfires hit strongly on this path, and the smoke cast an eerie orange glow. It was still very scenic, and I almost wanted to curl up inside a hollowed Sequoia.

Then, I drove over to Trillium Falls Trail, which is a loop featuring a small waterfall. I had the whole trail to myself and did not see a single soul.

Finally, I drove back to the Elk Prairie campsite, which provides access trails. I could squeeze in one more short hike before stoking up the campfire.

Day 2: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Gold Bluffs Beach

In the morning, it was time to pack up and set out for the Gold Bluffs Beach campsite.

For the second full day, I stayed within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. First, I paid Fern Canyon a little visit. Fern Canyon is set in a stony creek and truly lives up to its name: it’s a 50-foot high gorge boasting flourishing verdant ferns and moisture-loving mosses. It’s no wonder why Steven Spielberg picked this spot to film Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.

After the saunter around Fern Canyon, I drove back to the campsite and pulled out the paper map. This day was a good one for a big 12-mile hike among these gentle giant Sequoias.

Starting from the campsite, and across the dirt road by a creek, is the Miner’s Ridge trail entrance. This trail zigzags up a ridge before leading to another trail that ends at the previous Elk Prairie campground.

I could read the map easily, which was always a challenge before. Usually I have a tendency to get lost, but this time there was no fear or anxiety. There was a profound inner peace resting within, as this child-like curiosity returned. I felt so safe and held inside the forest. I could feel the gentle pulse of the grand Redwood forest, so very much alive.

When you’re in such immense surrounds, every worry and fear that you have melts away as you become one with the forest. Everything inside your world seems insignificant, as you’re part of a much larger one around you. Your consciousness expands in wonder with the forest.

Just let me appreciate this for a little while longer.

After reaching the Elk Prairie campground, I turned around and continued the loop onto the James Irvine Trail. I can’t say which one is better; they’re apples and oranges. The James Irvine Trail ends at Fern Canyon, where I visited earlier in the day.

The fog had rolled in as it got darker, with visibility being less than a few hundred feet. While it was only a couple of miles to the campsite from Fern Canyon, the fog was so dense that it was hard to see where I was actually going. I continued walking south until the first tents emerged.

After dropping my backpack off my tired body, I started a campfire and savored some vegetable soup and picked berries after a long all-day hike. Food tastes so much better after exploring a vast lush escape. I slowly ate, exhausted and happy, before getting ready to retire for the night.

The Redwoods beckon again

I’ve been back for a few days, and already the forest is calling me again. This is definitely something I want to explore more of. While I did traverse a good chunk, there’s definitely more to be seen and felt! The Sequoias command respect from anyone who is privileged to be graced with their presence. No wonder the Redwood Forest rests in the spirits of so many people. Once you see what it’s all about, it’s unforgettable.