In the beginning, the hike doesn’t feel much different than the few thousand other trails populating Oregon’s coastal forest.
There’s a bumpy logging road to trailhead signs, the smell of ocean air and a path into the lush twilight of a Douglas fir and sword fern forest immediately familiar to anyone from the Beaver State.
But something is lurking a half mile down this particular trail that makes it special — that makes your heart skip a beat the moment their thick, twisting bodies rise like gothic columns almost 300 feet into the sky.
No matter how many times you’ve seen an old-growth redwood, and no matter how many pictures you’ve viewed, nothing compares with coming across a grove of these monsters in person.
The Oregon Redwoods Trail, located southwest of Brookings, is one of only two places to view the world’s tallest trees north of California. Along with the Redwood Nature Loop — located along the Chetco River — these trails form the northern boundary of the redwood’s ancient empire.
The Oregon redwoods do present serious logistical challenges for people visiting from the Willamette Valley. The drive requires about five hours, and the quickest route actually swings south into California before heading north into Oregon.
Therefore, these trails are best explored as part of a vacation to Oregon’s South Coast, to towns such as Coos Bay, Gold Beach or Brookings.
Both trails are easy and worth exploring, if for no other reason than to celebrate the world’s most famous trees upon Oregon soil.
Redwood Nature Loop/Loeb State Park
For those with trouble comprehending the sheer size of an old-growth redwood, the brochure at the trailhead of the Redwood Nature Trail provides some helpful insight.
Consider, for example, this fact about a monstrous tree about halfway through the loop:
The tree is 296 feet tall, 34 inches in diameter and around 800 years old. Within itself, the tree contains enough wood to construct eight two-bedroom houses.
Those are just a few of the details you can learn on this network of trails seven miles east of Brookings.
The best way to enjoy the area is to begin at Alfred Loeb State Park — a well-loved place along the Chetco River with a 200-year-old myrtlewood forest, excellent fishing opportunities, campsites and rental cabins — and connect it to the Redwood Nature Loop.
From the park, the Riverview Trail follows the emerald waters of the Chetco 0.7 miles before crossing the road and entering the 1.2-mile Redwood Nature Loop, where a number of trees apparently large enough to construct eight houses can be found.
(See full breakdown, directions and coordinates below)
Oregon Redwoods Trail
Between the two trails, this looping route is the more quiet and home to the larger collection of old-growth groves.
Reaching the trailhead requires navigating a bumpy logging road off Highway 101 (see info box for directions), but the hassle is worthwhile for a trail that sees fewer visitors than its sister path.
The trail starts out among Douglas firs and is fairly unimpressive until you reach the first of three old-growth groves that make the surrounding trees seem little more than kindling.
The trail continues into a forested canyon and crosses a number of small creeks dropping down the hillside. Too soon, it seems, the hike is finished.
(See full breakdown, directions and coordinates below).
IF YOU GO ...
LOEB STATE PARK / REDWOOD NATURE LOOP
Distance:2.6 miles
Climb:527 feet
Difficulty:Easy
Trailhead elevation:71 feet
Information:Gold Beach Ranger district, (541) 247-3600
Details:The best hike starts at Loeb State Park and follows the Chetco River for 0.7 miles before crossing the road and beginning the Redwood Nature Loop.
Extra point:Loeb State Park is a highlight in itself and features rental cabins, campsites and fishing opportunities. It makes a good place to stay overnight when visiting the Oregon redwoods.
Directions:From the bridge across the Chetco River in Brookings, turn onto North Bank Chetco River Road (following signs for Loeb State Park) for seven miles to a large sign and parking area on the right.Trailhead GPS coordinates:N42 06.766 W124 11.225
OREGON REDWOODS TRAIL
TrailDistance:1.8 mile loop
Climb:383 feet
Difficulty:Easy
Trailhead elevation:1,137 feet
Information:Gold Beach Ranger district, (541) 247-3600
Directions:From Brookings, drive south on Highway 101 for five miles. Turn left on Winchuck Road (following signs for Oregon Redwoods Trail) for 1.5 miles, than turn right across a bridge onto Peavine Ridge Road for four miles of somewhat bumpy gravel road to the trailhead. The route has many signs pointing people in the correct direction.
Trailhead GPS coordinates:N42 00.516 W124 08.826
Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer in Oregon for five years and blogs at www.statesmanjournal.com/outdoors. Email zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or call (503) 399-6801.
