Damnation Creek Trail

The Damnation Creek Trail is one of the trails most frequently recommended by park staff, visitors, and guidebooks. It is, in fact, a really nice trail, with an 1100-foot elevation drop to add a little challenge, and a variety of pristine and very attractive woodland environments. Since it's on a west-facing hill next to the ocean, the trail is often shrouded in fog from the summer marine layer, adding considerably to the primeval old-growth atmosphere. Even if it's not fogged in, the Damnation Creek Trail makes an exceptional late-afternoon hike; when the sun is too low to illuminate other groves, leaving them in gloomy darkness, Damnation Creek's hillside is still catching the golden light of the setting sun, a splendid sight. The big drawback of this trail is the presence of Highway 101. The really spectacular redwoods are all at the top of the trail where there's also the most traffic noise. By the time the noise fades away, the redwoods are no longer as impressive. Also, although it's on a steep hillside next to the ocean, the trail is wooded so there are no ocean views. To be fair, though, ocean views aren't very common anywhere in Redwood National and State Parks.