California – Hiking Lady Bird Johnson Grove in Redwoods National Park
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove has a fun name and trail that loops through old-growth Redwood Forest and features a couple different environments. The loop trail is only about 1.5 miles and is surprising even for being on the top of a ridge in Redwoods National Park. The ridge is 1,000 feet above sea level and is often in the clouds. We visited on a classically misty morning in early March and explored a wet environment with the massive treetops nearly disappearing into the clouds.
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop trail is a wonderful introduction to the area, and I’d recommend it for families and those with mobility issues (unfortunately, it’s not wheelchair accessible).
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commissions help support Moderately Adventurous stay alive and kicking. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Redwoods National and State Parks – An Introduction
I’ve lived in California my entire life but only recently learned that Redwoods National Park is a combination of the national park and three state parks! The National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation have long worked together to protect the redwoods. They decided to jointly manage the parks in 1994. Once you know, you’ll see “Redwood National and State Parks” everywhere. Although a tad confusing, the area is so massive that it’s helpful that the state parks kept their names. Here are the different zones, from south to north:
- Redwoods National Park (This is where the Lady Bird Johnson Grove is located!)
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is located in Redwoods National Park and not too far off Highway 101. In the future, I’d love to check out the Bald Hills Road and Tall Trees Grove (which requires a permit).
Why is it called Lady Bird Johnson Grove?
In 1969, President Richard Nixon dedicated this grove of redwoods to former first lady Lady Bird Johnson to honor her work to preserve public lands.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3.5 (out of 4) stars; I would go again but would also like to explore some of the longer trails in Redwoods National and State Park
- Intensity: Hiking or tennis shoes, clothes you can move freely in
- Location:
- Cost: Free! However, some state parks have day-use fees, which are waived if you have the National Park Annual Pass. (You can buy an America the Beautiful Pass at REI!)
- Restrooms: There are non-flushing toilets in the parking area
- Timing: 1 – 3 hours
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 49 ft
Highlights:
- An incredible introduction to Redwoods National and State Parks with a variety of environments to compare
- A self-guided tour is available on the National Parks to have more context to what you’re seeing.
- It was misty when we visited. It was amazing to see the tops of the Redwoods disappear into the mist.
- The lollipop loop trail is only 1.5 miles and is relatively even, so it is excellent for families or anyone with mobility issues. (Unfortunately, the trail is not technically wheelchair accessible.)
Lowlights:
- Although fabulous, I read about this hike everywhere, so I had high expectations. It was great, but so are all of the other trails!
- One of the most popular hikes in the parks, so don’t expect to be alone. We caught on a pretty quiet day being on a weekday in early March. We probably saw 20 people while there.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove Loop Trail
Okay, enough small talk, let’s get into the Lady Bird Johnson Grove. Take a look around in the parking area — the start of the trail is actually quite stunning with a solid wood bridge over the road. The bridge is a good photo opp right off the bat! In a later section, I point out specific ideas for photos.
Dense vegetation surrounds you when you reach the other side of the bridge. When we visited, it was pretty misty, which made everything feel very alive. Every now and then, I could feel a drop from trees, which collected mist. The mist is common as the grove is on a ridge, which receives more rain and wind than some groves protected in valleys. This environment means that redwoods may look a little less red. It’s also an old-growth forest with layers of conifers.
There is a bit of trail before you reach the fork that makes the loop in the grove. Take the path on the left to make the loop counter-clockwise. I think the loop is best counter-clockwise!
Self-Guided Walking Tour on the National Park Service App
You will see a few behemoths and small stakes with numbers along the first straight stretch of trail. The numbers refer to a self-guided tour that you can access on the National Park Service App. I already had the app downloaded, and I was able to pull up the self-guided walking tour section.
The walking tour guide touches on history, ecology, and other points of interest. I primarily utilized the guide at the beginning of the hike and loved the extra context that the self-guided tour provided. The guide is best used if you’re not in a rush, as it slows you down quite a bit. After a while, I got tired of looking at my phone, so we would pick and choose which numbers to read.
Things to See in the Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Although you could probably walk straight through the grove in 45 mins or less, I recommend taking at least double that time to take in the surroundings. There are infinite fascinating things to see in the old-growth forest, from the interaction of different plants to the changing weather and various micro-environments. Although I recommend you follow your curiosity in terms of what you spend time at, I want to share what I found particularly fascinating.
Dedication Zone
Not long after going on the left fork of the loop, the trail will open up with several giant redwoods surrounding a couple of informational plaques and benches. In this area, I could take in the entirety of a redwood tree without craning my neck. Or watch the mist pass through the treetops. Take your time in this spot to appreciate the macro view.
Fern and Redwoods
On the second-half of the loop, there is a section of trail with fewer pine trees that fill in the understory. Instead, the ground is covered in ferns. I loved the contrast of huge trees with low ferns! Only a small section here, this contrast is what makes up the Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park — blog post is up!!
Burned Out Trees
Scattered throughout the trail, you’ll find trees with burn scars and some that didn’t make it. A fully grown adult can stand up inside the trees right next to the path. I recommend stopping to explore these trees (if they are not far from the trail) to see how large the redwoods are from another perspective.
Banana Slugs
I didn’t see any this time! However, I also wasn’t trying too hard to see them. I did notice other things on the micro level, such as a spiderweb covered in dew, a tiny white flower heavy with moisture, and purple leaf coloring. I started noticing some of the micro-details on the second half of the trail.
Finishing the Loop
Once you return to the fork, you get to revisit the starting section, bridge, and parking area. Utilize this time to take any photos you didn’t get or appreciate the different environments you encountered on the trail. For being such a short trail, I was impressed with the variety. Before you know it, you’ll be back to your car.
Taking Photos in Lady Bird Johnson Grove
It’s tough to capture the sheer size of the Redwoods, and I definitely struggled to take good photos. However, I didn’t let that dictate the experience. Here are a few spots that are a little easier, so you can spend more time enjoying the grove and less time focusing on photos:
- With the grove sign in the parking area! Since you’ll start and end the trail here, you’ll have two chances to get this picture. And if you stand at the right angle, you can take the photo without showing the bathrooms in the background.
- On the entrance bridge. The lighting might be tricky, but I think the bridge design is pretty striking, with trees in the background on either side. Try taking the photo at different heights for varying degrees of drama.
- Dedication zone. At this point, there is a wide clear area with massive trees surrounding the location, where you can capture more. Try a couple different angles, sitting on the benches, etc.
- Through the ferns. Once the trail turns and heads back toward the trailhead, there will be a section of the trail surrounded by ferns. Have someone take a photo of you walking on the path surrounded by ferns and redwood trees. The other great place to get shots with ferns is at the Stout Grove in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
By the way, all the photos in this blog post are taken on my iPhone 12 Pro. I don’t yet own a DSLR, so if you like these photos, you can likely replicate them!
Getting to the Trailhead
The trailhead is on GoogleMaps and is located near Orick. From Highway 101, turn off on Bald Hill Road. The road follows a stream, then begins to climb via a few tight switchbacks. The road was a bit rough and windy, so take it slow. After a few switchbacks, the trail parking area will be on the right.
Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove – What to Bring with You
Although the Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove Loop is relatively short and not too difficult, I still recommend bringing water and other essentials in a small backpack, such as:
- Download the Alltrails Map
- Download the National Park Service App, if you plan to do the self-guided walking tour
- Day Pack – I used a small 16L backpack from Amazon. Consider the Gregory May 16 or small Osprey pack.
- Water bottle – You cannot go wrong with a handy dandy Nalgene
- Light layers depending on the season, I needed my beanie and rain jacket!
- Sunscreen – I use this sunscreen for my face, and this one for my body
- Snack to keep you going!
Other Hikes: Redwood National and State Parks
There is so much to discover in Redwoods National and State Parks. Seriously, so much. Since this was my first visit, I opted to do shorter walks in each area instead of doing longer hikes. Here are the other hikes I did during our visit:
- Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- The Big Tree and Newton B. Drury Parkway Drive, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Stout Grove and Howland Hill Gravel Road Drive, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Overall Thoughts: Lady Bird Johnson Grove
The Lady Bird Johnson Loop was the first hike we did in Redwoods National and State Parks, and it was a fantastic introduction to the area. It offers a variety of environments, including old-growth forest. I loved that it was a short, easy trail with misty weather!! It was kind of eerie to see the treetops through the mist, but also gorgeous.
After visiting some of the other groves, I don’t think Lady Bird Johnson has the most scenic or largest trees. I found the Stout Grove to be incredibly picturesque, and the area surrounding Big Tree is scenic with really massive trees. However, it was still a fun loop trail that is likely one of the closest if you’re coming from the south.
I cannot wait to go back to Redwood National and State Parks. Now that I have a better understanding of the area and different parks, I am looking forward to hiking longer trails. Do you have a favorite hiking trail in Redwoods National and State Parks that I should check out? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
