Exploring Fern Canyon
While visiting several of the Redwood National and State Parks in the northern-most part of California in September 2025 we hiked in Fern Canyon. The 50-foot high walls of Fern Canyon are covered with lush green ferns and moss which along with the flowing stream and fallen trees makes for a mystical and otherworldly experience.
On our way to the trailhead we stopped at the Elk Meadow Day Use Area where we saw some coastal clouds encroaching on the hills.
Getting to Fern Canyon requires some patience as part of the 8-mile drive involves unpaved mountain roads, stream crossings, and potholes. Also because of its popularity and limited parking, permits are required to visit Fern Canyon during the summer. In the more information section there are links regarding getting permits and when they are needed. Our trip was outside of the permit time so we did not need to get a permit. The way along the drive is known for Roosevelt Elks and we saw a few. One in particular came out of the woods and slowly meandered on the road which was narrow and there was not enough room for our car to get by without getting too close.
Thanks to my zoom lens I was able to get a good closeup and after about 10 or 15 minutes it went off into the woods.
We finally made it to the Fern Canyon parking area and then it is a short distance to the opening of Fern Canyon.
During the summer plank walkways are put across the stream in places but these had been removed for the season when we were there. This meant we had to walk in the stream in places but we came prepared with water shoes some of us purchased in Eureka where our group was staying.
It was not too far before we got to the highest walls.
A closer view of some of the ferns.
There was also other types of vegetation on the walls
One of our group admiring it all.
The wall on the other side of the canyon had different ferns.
In some place there was water trickling down the plants.
There are a few different kinds of ferns growing in the canyon but I did not try to identify them.
Another kind of fern.
Some movies have filmed scenes here one of which was The Lost World: Jurassic Park where dinosaurs pursued people through the lush canyon.
In some places there were fallen trees.
Which made getting around them a bit challenging.
There was an interesting group of mushrooms.
There were not many wildflowers but we did see a few like this yellow Muskflower.
We came to were the trail going up the canyon ended and some people doing the hike return the way they came. However it is possible to do a loop by going on a trail which climbs out of the canyon and then going on the James Irvine Trail which is what we did.
Pretty fuchsia flowers.
Spruce trees in the coastal mist. This area is too close to the ocean for Redwoods to grow.
A variety of trees and other plants in the fog.
We finally made it back to the start of Fern Canyon this time looked down into it.
On the way back to where we parked there was an interesting tree with ferns growing on it.
Behind the tree we saw where they store the planks used for walkways across the stream in Fern Canyon.
We were glad we made the effort to visit Fern Canyon as we enjoyed experiencing all of the things in this unique environment.
For these and more pictures visit the Fern Canyon Gallery
More Information:
National Park Service information on Fern Canyon Loop Trail
National Park Service information on getting to and parking for Fern Canyon
National Park Service information on making reservations for Fern Canyon
