Redwood National Parks Spotlight: Hatton Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Del Norte County, California

For nearly 100 years, visitors have been exploring Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park’s enchanted forests and wild waters. Trails throughout the park wind around the Smith River and ancient redwood groves with jungle-like canopies. Start exploring along the Hatton Trail including the Lohse Grove for a quiet hike through the redwoods near Crescent City, California. 

Hiking Trail Information:

Trail Distance: 4.3-mile out and back (with shorter loop option)

Elevation Change: 360 feet

Accessible: No

Dog-friendly: No

Distance from Crescent City: 10 minutes, 7 miles

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What You’ll See:

Choose your adventure here with the 1.3-mile Hatton Trail, the .3 mile bonus loop and the .3-mile spur to Lohse Grove. The Hatton Trail begins in a lowland jungle with soaring redwoods and a canopy draped with lichens. Meander up a sunny hillside and wind around vibrantly green ravines to a plateau of dense forest. Nearing the end of Hatton trail, take the Lohse Grove Spur Trail to the right. You may need to work around some thick huckleberry brush as trail maintenance is limited here. The payoff is a sun-soaked old growth redwood grove. On your return near the trailhead, stroll around the Hatton Loop path for a short climb and several more behemoth trees.

Why We Love this Redwood National Park Trail: 

The Hatton Trail sees less foot traffic than some of the other trails around Jedediah Smith State Park. Getting an ancient redwood grove all to yourself is a memorable recharge. Sink deep into a prehistoric escape with lush, rainforest-like surroundings and a wild variety of moss and foliage.

Fuel Up 

Gaze at South Beach and feel the ocean breeze from a New Orleans-style bistro at Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya. Dive into Cajun and Creole classic dishes or dig into a seafood boil. Save some room for their famous ice cream or cheesecake. Or, combine the delight with a scoop of huckleberry cheesecake ice cream!

Wander with Us to Earn Your Patch

Share your photo with us to earn your Del Norte County Patch (it’s a sticker, too!) #VisitDelNorte @VisitDelNorteCounty. Learn more here.