Redwood in March.

Crowd snapshot.

March runs about 31,900 recreation visits in the five-year mean, roughly 34% of the June peak and the first meaningful step up from the deep-winter baseline. The mix begins to broaden from local day trippers toward the first spring-break travelers and whale-watchers, with weekends noticeably busier than weekdays. When Easter falls in March it produces the month's biggest single lift. Even so, the groves and beaches remain uncrowded by summer standards; the Drury Parkway and Lady Bird Johnson Grove are easy to walk without company on a weekday. March is where the year starts trending up, but it is still firmly a shoulder-season crowd.

Weather snapshot.

The Klamath station averages a March high near 56.7°F and a low near 40.2°F, cool and still damp. Rainfall normals sit near 10.7 inches, but the pattern shifts: storms come through with longer clear breaks between them, and the equinox delivers roughly 12 hours of daylight by month's end. Rivers run high with winter runoff, and trails stay muddy in the shaded old growth. Snow is a non-issue at the coast. Morning fog begins to appear on milder days as a preview of the summer pattern. March weather is a gamble, but a good clear window can bring some of the most pleasant hiking of the first half of the year.

Access snapshot.

Roads are open year-round, and March usually brings drier stretches that make the unpaved drives more reliable than midwinter, though storms can still close Howland Hill, Bald Hills, and Davison roads. Check the NPS Redwood conditions page before heading to the back roads. The Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon summer permit does not begin until May 15, so Davison Road access is permit-free but can be rough. Mill Creek Campground is still closed; other campgrounds reserve through ReserveCalifornia. Free Tall Trees trailhead permits are on the NPS Redwood permits page. Redwood National Park charges no entrance fee.

Seasonal events.

March is the peak of the northbound gray whale migration. Cow-calf pairs travel close to shore, and the Klamath River Overlook is the prime vantage over the river mouth and open ocean (NPS). In the forest, spring stirs: trillium and redwood sorrel bloom on the floor, skunk cabbage brightens the wet low spots, and the first migratory songbirds return to the river corridors. Roosevelt elk remain visible in the prairies, still weeks ahead of the late-spring calving. Winter and early-spring low tides continue to expose rich tidepools along the coastal sections for calm-weather visits. It is a lively wildlife month wrapped in a still-quiet park.

Audience verdict.

March serves whale-watchers, spring-break travelers who want low crowds, and photographers chasing spring green and lingering fog. It is a transitional month: warmer and brighter than midwinter, but still wet enough that a trip needs a rain-gear plan and flexibility on the unpaved roads. Families can pair the Drury Parkway groves and the Kuchel Visitor Center with a whale-watch at the Klamath River Overlook for a good low-crowd trip. RV travelers can start to use the year-round campgrounds but should expect Mill Creek to be closed and the back roads muddy. For anyone prioritizing whales plus solitude, March is one of the best months of the year.

Common questions.

Is March a good time to visit Redwood?

March runs moderately busy at Redwood, about 34% of the June peak, with mild shoulder-season weather (average highs near 57°F). Crowds sit in the middle of the year, neither peak nor empty.

How crowded is Redwood in March?

March averages about 31,915 recreation visits, roughly 34% of Redwood's busiest month (June). That lands it in the middle of Redwood's year for crowds.

How much of Redwood is open in March?

In a typical March, about 85% of Redwood's road network (weighted by how important each route is) is open to wheeled vehicles. Road-opening dates shift year to year, so check the official NPS page for current conditions before you go.

Methodology

Monthly recreation visits come from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025 on NPS IRMA Stats; the statistic shown is Recreation Visits (Redwood National Park), the 5-year mean across 1979-2025. These counts cover Redwood National Park (the NPS-administered lands); the three cooperatively managed California state parks are counted separately, and the 2024-2025 totals reflect an improved NPS counting method rather than real growth, so the reliable timing signal is the month-to-month share of the peak. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Klamath, CA (station USC00044577, 28 ft elevation, coastal lowland). The access score weights how much of the road network is typically drivable that month; Redwood's roads are open year-round, so the winter dip reflects storm closures on the unpaved drives. Year-variable specifics (the Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon permit window, Mill Creek Campground season, elk rut and calving, gray whale windows) drift year to year and are hedged above; confirm current details on the official NPS Redwood page before booking. Independent site, not affiliated with the National Park Service.