Get the activity book
Collect it at an information center or download and print it before the trip.
What to do in Redwood with kids
Redwood National Park is jointly managed with Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. Big Tree Wayside is in Prairie Creek; choose nearby stops for one day.
| Stop | Why go | With little legs or a stroller |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tree Wayside | A 75-yard walk to a viewing platform and interpretive signs. | NPS identifies the walk as wheelchair-accessible. |
| Revelation Trail | A flat, quarter-mile loop through old-growth redwoods. | Tactile exhibits and wheelchair-accessible trail design. |
| Lady Bird Johnson Grove | A family-friendly 1.5-mile forest loop. | The sloping hikers' bridge means it is not officially wheelchair-accessible. |
| Fern Canyon | A 1-mile loop or a shorter out-and-back along Home Creek. | Active creek crossings and log jams. Expect wet feet, including with summer footbridges. |
| Elk viewing | Look for elk at the designated viewing areas. | Watch from a distance. Seeing elk is never guaranteed. |
Earn a Junior Ranger badge
The free booklet program welcomes all ages. It is separate from the summer ranger-guided state park program for ages 7 to 12.
Explore at your own pace
Activities include wildlife observation, drawing and tree identification. Work through them as you visit the parks.
Return for the badge
Take the finished booklet to a visitor center to be sworn in and receive the Redwood Junior Ranger badge. Badges cannot be mailed.
The guided summer program
The separate ranger-guided program normally runs June through August for ages 7 to 12. Check the calendar for an activity; the first completed activity earns a California state park badge.
The coast needs its own safety plan
A quiet-looking beach or grazing elk can hide the biggest risks. Keep children close and leave room to retreat.
Stay clear of the surf
Sneaker waves can run far up the beach. Cold water and steep beaches make a wave dangerous even away from the usual surf line. Check beach hazard statements.
Give elk extra space
The park recommends at least 25 yards from elk, with more space in spring and fall. Cows can be defensive during late-May-to-June calving; bulls can be aggressive during the late-August-to-October rut.
Keep food secured
Use campground bear-proof lockers for food and scented items. Put garbage in bear-proof trash cans immediately.
Prepare for weak phone coverage
Do not rely on a phone in an emergency. Leave a check-in plan and stay on developed trails.
Summer for the guided kids program
July is our pick if the ranger-guided program matters. Coastal summers can be foggy; drier weather does not mean warm beach weather.
June
95,116 average park visits
The normal guided-program season begins.
Watch for: Elk calving calls for extra distance. Confirm activities on the calendar.
JulyOur pick
91,104 average park visits
Our pick within the guided-program season.
Watch for: Bring layers for coastal fog and check every program time.
September
71,819 average park visits
An option for forest walks after the summer program window.
Watch for: Elk rut requires extra space; do not promise the guided kids program.
Plan a manageable family day
Book your base around the area you want to explore. Forest walks, creek adventures and beaches need different plans.
Begin at an information center
Pick up the booklet and ask about access and programs. Check the individual visitor center's operating hours before promising a badge stop.
Arrange Fern Canyon separately
Check the official parking reservation rules and Davison Road access before setting out. The trail requires creek crossings and climbing through log jams; make a dry forest walk your backup.
Choose a gateway base
Aside from basic campground cabins, the parks have no lodging facilities. NPS points to towns along US 101 including Crescent City, Klamath, Orick and Trinidad.
Questions about Redwood with kids
Quick answers to the practical questions below.
How many days do we need at Redwood with kids?
We suggest two or more if you want several grove walks and Fern Canyon without rushing. For one day, choose one area and a few short stops. This is our pacing advice, not an NPS minimum stay.
Is Fern Canyon suitable for a stroller?
We would choose a dry forest walk instead. NPS describes an active creek, log jams and stream crossings, even when summer footbridges are installed. It is not an ADA trail.
Does every Redwood Junior Ranger program have an age limit?
No. The free booklet program is for all ages. The separate ranger-guided summer program is for ages 7 to 12 and earns a state park badge after the first activity.
Where can we see big trees without a long hike?
Big Tree Wayside has a 75-yard wheelchair-accessible walk to a viewing platform. Revelation Trail is a flat quarter-mile loop with tactile exhibits. Check conditions and your access needs before setting off.
How we built this page.
An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.
- Official guidance
- NPS and the relevant operators. The linked official pages support the access, facilities and rules described here. Confirm details before traveling.
- Crowd context
- 2021–2025 monthly averages. NPS recreation visits describe normal seasonal demand, not trail congestion, parking availability or unique visitors.
- Schedules and conditions
- Planning patterns, not live status. Seasonal information describes the normal pattern or explicitly dated source schedule. Current conditions are handled separately. The official source is the place to confirm today’s access.
Topic sources and data details
Trail distances, surfaces, safety rules and Junior Ranger requirements come from the official park pages linked beside each section. Activity choices and suggested pacing are our editorial judgment.
Month picks and suggested day plans are our editorial judgment. Monthly visit comparisons use committed NPS Visitor Use Statistics averages; they do not predict trail crowds or today's access.
Check official conditions and program schedules before travelling. This guide describes normal patterns and does not promise access, program availability or a safe river level.
Operational source check: September 10, 2026. Design and emphasized source review: 2026-10-22. A design review does not refresh every underlying record.