Redwood Park
East ends of 11th & 14th Streets
The main entrance, with two small car parks, a playground, picnic tables, and a grassy field before the trees. Parking is free but limited.
Arcata · Humboldt County
Arcata Community Forest
Seven hundred and ninety-three acres of redwood with eleven miles of trail, beginning a few blocks from downtown. It was California's first municipally owned forest—and it remains one of the county's easiest redwood walks.
- Size
- 793 acres
- Trails
- 11 miles
- Cost
- Free
- From Baywood
- 3 miles
What it is
A working forest that happens to be a park
Most Humboldt redwood is protected old growth in a state or national park. This is different: a second-growth forest owned and actively managed by the City of Arcata.
Careful, selective harvesting helps fund the forest's upkeep. The result is a place that feels tended rather than wild—bridges across ravines, stairways on steep sections, and well-cut tread—while retaining the hushed, damp, filtered-light quality of a real redwood forest.
The ground climbs steeply eastward, from about 250 feet near Redwood Park to roughly 1,010 feet at the eastern boundary. That is why some routes feel like a stroll while others turn into a satisfying climb with Humboldt Bay views.
Getting in
Three ways in
The forest wraps around Arcata's eastern side above Cal Poly Humboldt. Your entrance changes the walk considerably.
California Street
East end, north of Cal Poly Humboldt
A quieter approach near L.K. Wood Boulevard on the campus side of town, especially useful on busy weekends.
Fickle Hill Road
From Bayside Road, south side
The natural southern approach from Bayside. It skips central Arcata and puts you closer to the steeper southern trails.
Choose your walk
The numbered trails can be confusing
The network is dense, with numbered trails and old fire roads that interconnect constantly. Start with the experience you want—not a trail number.
An hour with kids
Redwood Park and the nearest loops
Let kids run on the grass or playground first, then choose a short loop right off the field. You will be among huge trees within minutes, with an easy turn-around whenever needed.
EasyFlat startPlayground
A proper walk
Head east and gain some height
Follow an uphill trail from Redwood Park for quieter forest, mature second-growth, and eventual openings toward Humboldt Bay.
ModerateReal climbFewer people
A named route
The Arcata Ridge Trail
A 4.5-mile regional route through the heart of the Community Forest, connecting Arcata's northern and southern sides. Its northern trailhead is on West End Road.
4.5 milesPoint to pointWell signed
A bike outing
Link the singletrack downhill
Riders typically climb fire roads and link permitted singletrack back down. Check the current map: not every trail allows bikes.
Multi-useCheck mapUse a bell
Before the trees
Redwood Park itself
The park at the forest's western edge is worth a stop in its own right, especially with children or a group that does not all want to hike.
There is a playground, picnic tables under redwoods, and an open grassy field large enough for a football or frisbee. It is an easy plan B: some of the group can walk while others relax at the park, then meet back at the car.
Before you go
Rules and trail etiquette
- Dogs must stay on a leash under six feet. Carry waste bags and pack them out.
- The forest is closed from sunset to sunrise, so plan to finish before dark.
- Camping is not allowed in city parks or forest lands.
- Hikers, cyclists, and horses share these trails. Everyone yields to horses.
- Avoid soft trails after heavy rain; wet tread erodes quickly.
- Winter tread can be slick under the canopy, so wear shoes with grip.
- Leave trilliums where they grow. Picking them is prohibited.
- Official trailhead lots are free but limited; do not block residential streets.
Where to stay
Three miles from the trailhead
Most redwood trips involve an hour in the car before you see a tree. From Bayside, this one does not.
Baywood Redwood Retreat sits near second-growth redwoods with easy access to Fickle Hill Road. It sleeps sixteen and has a full kitchen, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, game room, and seven-person hot tub—an ideal base for the Community Forest, the northern parks, and the Avenue of the Giants.
- Sleeps 16
- 3 baths
- Hot tub
- Outdoor kitchen
- Fire pit
- Game room
Keep exploring