Thanks to the Save-the-Redwoods League, Prairie Creek Redwood State Park is a sanctuary for old growth coast redwood.

Wild rhododendrons have blooms bigger than your hand

But at Prairie Creek it’s not just about the redwoods. This park is a mass of wildflowers during May and June when western azaleas and rhododendron are blooming. These shrubs can produce flowers bigger than your hand and can transform a deep, dark forest into a brilliant show of pinks and purples. Earlier in the spring, the trillium, with its three delicate white petals, are found among the ferns and clover.

The delicate trillium can be found in early spring

Roosevelt Elk can be seen along the roads

Prairie Creek SP is also known for its resident herd of Roosevelt Elk. Brought back from the brink of extinction from being hunted by early settlers of the North Coast, the herd now numbers in the thousands. Frequently while driving along the Redwood Highway (Highway 101) you’ll see cars parked along the roadside and people getting pictures of these massive creatures with huge racks. The bulls can weigh up to one thousand pounds and the cows up to six hundred.

The walls are smothered by ferns at Fern Canyon

One of the most spectacular places to visit while there is Fern Canyon, a canyon with walls smothered by ferns that leads inland from the ocean. It can be accessed from the mouth, at the oceans edge, and the loop trail is an easy 2.2 miles, but the drive there can be a bit daunting. While four-wheel-drive is not required, a high clearance is. The road is very narrow and cannot handle trailers.

This state park is co-managed with the National Park Service along with Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Redwood National Park. Together they make up 45 percent of all remaining old-growth redwood forest in California.

Visit the wild and unspoiled North Coast. Bring your camping gear and enjoy the many treasures that Prairie Creek Redwood State Park has to offer.