9 Best Places to See Redwoods Near San Francisco in 2025

TL;DR: The closest place to see beautiful old-growth redwoods near San Francisco is Muir Woods (30 minutes). If you’re willing to go further, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (1.5 hours) has my favorite redwood groves near San Francisco. However, the most impressive redwoods in California are further away at Humboldt Redwoods State Park (4 hours) and Redwoods National Park (5.5 hours).

“The trees are talking to each other…on the Wood Wide Web.”

– Linda, a park volunteer we met on a recent visit to Muir Woods National Monument.

There’s a reason old-growth redwoods are a must-visit attraction in California. They’re the tallest trees in the world–the tallest recorded is the 380-foot-tall Hyperion tree, located in Redwood National Park.

Redwoods are also incredibly resilient, living for thousands of years (the oldest living redwood is around 2,200 years old), and they’ve been in California for over 20 million years. This is why walking through a redwood forest feels like stepping back in time.

One huge perk to living in the San Francisco Bay Area (or visiting) is how accessible Northern California’s coastal redwoods are. There’s even a “secret” redwood park in downtown San Francisco!

As a local who grew up exploring these ancient giants, I’ve put together this guide to the nine best places to see California redwoods.

The list below is in order of distance (closest to furthest) and includes ratings for each park based on how impressive its redwoods are and why each place is worth visiting.

Whether you want a quick nature escape from San Francisco or a weekend redwood adventure, you’ll discover the top parks and trails to walk among the tallest and oldest trees in the world. 

If you want to surround yourself with majestic redwoods, you’re in the right place! 

Short on time? Here’s a quick look at all nine redwood parks near San Francisco.

Park	Distance from SF	Details
Muir Woods National Monument	30 min	Some of the closest redwoods to SF and known for trees 258 feet tall. Learn More
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park	30 min	Perfect for a peaceful walk through second-growth redwoods and ladybugs (in the winter). Learn More
Samuel P. Taylor State Park	45 min	Camp amongst the redwoods at one of California’s first recreational camping sites. Learn More
Butano State Park	1 hr	Have the redwoods to yourself in this 4,000-acre park, one of the least visited in the Bay Area. Learn More
Portola Redwoods State Park	1 hr 5 min	See some of the oldest trees in the Bay Area if you’re willing to tackle the hike. Learn more
Big Basin Redwoods State Park	1 hr 5 min	See the oldest state park in California and the largest strand of ancient coastal redwoods south of San Francisco. Learn More
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park	1 hr 10 min	Ride through the redwoods on a steam engine train from the 1880s. Learn More
Humboldt Redwoods State Park	4 hrs	Drive along the Avenue of Giants and witness goliath trees. Learn more
Redwood National and State Parks	5 hrs 30 min	Stand underneath the tallest redwoods in California; a good weekend trip. Learn More

Map of California Redwoods Near San Francisco

Redwoods in San Francisco 

If you’re short on time for a day trip, there are two main places to see redwoods within San Francisco.

Transamerica Redwood Park

I’ve been to the Transamerica Redwood Park a few times since I used to work in the Financial District, but the last time I went to get photos it was closed due to construction, hence my sad face on the right.

Note as of Feb 2024: Transamerica Redwood Park is closed and under construction.

The less impressive of the two, what Transamerica Redwood Park lacks in quality, it makes up for in convenience. It’s pretty cool to see redwoods amidst the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco.

Designed in 1969, San Francisco’s Transamerica Redwood Park is a half-acre park and popular lunch spot for people who work in the Financial District or Union Square.

It’s a quiet area full of benches and a fountain dedicated to Mark Twain, who once lived nearby and wrote at this site.

Heroes Grove in Golden Gate Park

The Heroes Grove feels like a hidden oasis within Golden Gate Park. The first time I visited, I was blown away by its beauty. It’s a peaceful place to find redwoods without leaving San Francisco.

As the largest green space in the city with various San Francisco attractions, Golden Gate Park should already be on your list of places to visit in the San Francisco Bay Area.

And even more so because it’s home to a stunning redwood grove called the Heroes Grove. 

This grove is named in honor of the people who lost their lives in WWI and, despite being near a busy street, is a peaceful place to walk underneath the redwoods in San Francisco. It’s also across from the DeYoung Museum if you want to combine the two.

Local tip: There’s another grove of redwoods in Golden Gate Park in the Botanical Gardens, but Heroes Grove is much more impressive and free! The Botanical Gardens has an entry fee of $13 unless you’re a local SF resident.  

Looking for more outdoor adventures in the city? Read our guide to the best urban hikes in San Francisco.

1. Muir Woods National Monument

Walking amongst the giant old-growth redwoods on a recent winter visit to Muir Woods.

Named after the famous naturalist John Muir, Muir Woods National Monument is the most popular (and closest) place to see redwoods near San Francisco.

You’ll find redwoods ranging from 600 to 1,200 years old and up to 258 feet tall at the park.

Fun Fact: While giant redwoods can grow hundreds of feet tall, they only have 6-12 feet deep roots. But don’t worry! When we went there in January 2024, we tested the stability, and even with both of us trying, we couldn’t push down any of the trees.  

Muir Woods is just north of San Francisco and the closest place from the city to immerse yourself fully in a redwood forest. However, the downside of Muir Woods being so close to the city is that it’s often crowded–it welcomes over a million visitors every year!

There are a few easy trails that wind through the park and redwoods and longer, more challenging trails if you want to make a full day of your trip. Check out our article on the best hikes in Muir Woods for our recommendations!

Local tip: If you even go five minutes off the Muir Main Trail, you’ll cut out 80% of the crowds. So, if you’re looking for a quieter walk through the redwoods, something like the Canopy Trail is a good option. 

Check out our video about our visit to Muir Woods below👇

How to get to Muir Woods National Monument

Because Muir Woods is such a popular place to see redwoods near San Francisco, you must plan ahead. They require reservations for parking ($9.50/car), and if you don’t get one, you’ll either need to park a few miles away at Bootjack Campground or take the Muir Woods Shuttle.

Our article on visiting Muir Woods has all the details and additional tips.

Local tip: There’s no cell service in or around Muir Woods, so download directions and hiking maps beforehand. This is also why taking a Lyft or Uber isn’t recommended to get to the park.

2. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

I’ve been to Redwood Regional Park 3x now in three different seasons and it keeps getting better with each visit. You’ll find more locals than tourists on the trails, which is part of its draw. If you’re looking for fewer crowds and a good Muir Woods alternative, this is an ideal option.

Another popular spot to see redwoods near San Francisco is the 1,833-acre Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. 

I’ve visited Redwood Regional Park three times now, and I love it more each time I visit. It takes about the same time to reach this park as it does to drive up to Muir Woods from San Francisco.

The trees aren’t as old or tall as what you’ll find in Muir Woods, but the forest is denser, the trails are less crowded, and there’s a greater variety of trails that take you through beautiful strands of redwoods.

One unique feature of this park is the tens of thousands of ladybugs that migrate here from November to February. You can usually spot them in dense clusters on the side of the Stream Trail during this time if you keep your eyes peeled.

Local tip: The main entrance and parking area is Canyon Meadow Staging Area, which charges $5 per vehicle and $2 per dog. However, it’s free to park on the other side of the park at the Skyline Gate Staging Area (or any other parking areas surrounding the park). I actually prefer starting from Skyline Gate since I find the trails to be prettier and less crowded.

3. Samuel P. Taylor State Park

It’s a little ironic that Samuel P. Taylor State Park is named after a guy who founded a paper mill in the area (#RIP to all those trees).

It might make you think there wouldn’t be much of an old-growth forest left here. And you would be correct, with some exceptions.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park is mostly filled with second-growth redwoods, but you’ll find a handful of old-growth redwoods along its popular Pioneer Tree Trail.

A unique draw to this park is its plethora of camping options amongst redwoods. The park’s main campsite, Camp Taylor, was one of California’s first recreational campgrounds.

There are also a few barebone cabins you can book if you don’t want to tent camp. Since it’s so close to San Francisco, it’s still a good idea to book well in advance.

Another cool thing about Samuel P. Taylor is that it leans into its Pioneer history, including the man it’s named after. There are numerous interpretive signs throughout the park, the remnants of the old paper mill, and even Taylor’s grave site.

If you’re willing to trek up the six-mile Barnabe Trail, you’ll find the 1,466-foot Barnabe Peak where you’ll have one of the best views overlooking Marin on a clear day.

4. Butano State Park

Note as of Feb 2024: Along with Big Basin State Park, Butano was hit hard by the CZU Lightning Complex fires in 2020. This includes the main trail I used to recommend to see the best redwoods in the park–Little Butano Creek Trail–which is indefinitely closed. Butano State Park is still worth visiting and there are beautiful redwoods to see on other trails, but check trail closures before you go since this park is still recovering.

I may be biased since I grew up in the area, but I really do believe the Santa Cruz Mountains have the best redwood parks in California.

Henry Cowell and Big Basin state parks get most of the attention, which leaves Butano State Park relatively untouched. It’s one of the least visited redwood parks in the Bay Area.

As is the case for most of the parks in the Bay Area, you’ll only find second and third-growth redwoods at Butano. The trees at this park are even younger than most since logging in the area continued until the 1950s.

However, if your goal is to have a peaceful, quiet, and immersive walk through the redwoods, not necessarily to find the tallest or the oldest redwoods, Butano is your park.

With its sprawling 4,000 acres, it’s easy to feel removed from the outside world as soon as you step onto its hushed trails.

Local tip: If you’re interested in a two-for-one, Butano State Park borders another favorite park of mine: Año Nuevo. Año Nuevo is where you can see California elephant seals up close and in the wild! Just note that you’ll need to book a guided tour if visiting anytime between Dec-Mar since it’s the breeding season.

5. Portola Redwoods State Park

Driving into Portola Redwoods, you wouldn’t guess that San Jose and the huge tech companies of Silicon Valley are just a short drive away. 

The trees here aren’t as huge as other nearby parks (partially due to a sporadic logging history that dates to the early 20th century and also to the terrain), but there are quite a few old-growth trees to see.

The park only has 18 miles of hiking trails, but many of them are winners, featuring lush fern-lined trails and redwood groves, so there’s a lot to enjoy without needing to put in too much effort.

One must-visit old-growth redwood is the Old Tree–it’s 1,200 years old and 300 feet tall! It’s also easy to visit from the visitor center on the 0.8-mile Old Tree Trail.

If you have all day and the energy, you won’t want to miss Peters Creek Grove. This one is a lot of effort. The brutal 11.6-mile trail to get there climbs almost 2,500 feet in elevation, but it’s where you’ll find some of the oldest redwoods in the Bay Area.

Looking for more outdoor adventures near San Jose? Read our guide to the best San Jose hikes.

6. Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Note as of Feb 2024: Big Basin Redwoods is still healing from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires that destroyed all of its historic structures and damaged 97% of the park. The limited trails that are still open can be found here.

If you want to witness the lasting damage of California wildfires, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a prime example.

I’ve been to Big Basin countless times, having grown up in Santa Cruz, so it’s heartbreaking to see how much was destroyed in 2020. My siblings and I actually visited the park about a month before the wildfires happened.

Big Basin’s main draw used to be its dense, ancient forest that spanned 18,000 acres. You could feel that primordial atmosphere as soon as you stepped onto one of the park’s trails.

Sadly, due to the 2020 wildfires, much of the forest was destroyed. Amazingly, many of the old-growth redwoods survived, so there’s that. They’re just not surrounded by a dense forest like they used to be.

Big Basin is still worth a visit to see those still-standing old-growth redwoods and to pay tribute to California’s oldest state park–established in 1902!

The old-growth redwood trees range from 1,000 to 1,800 years old. And Big Basin’s proud claim is still having the “largest continuous strand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco,” wildfires be damned.

Since the park is still recovering and therefore has limited things to see, I’d recommend starting here and then combining it with a day at nearby Henry Cowell.

This will allow you to get more of that ancient redwood forest feel you’re probably after at Henry Cowell, while still being able to experience some of the oldest redwoods in the area at Big Basin.

Local tip: Because Big Basin has a limited amount of trails open post-wildfires, I’d recommend booking a parking reservation ahead of time, especially if you plan to go on a weekend.

Local tip: There’s no water available at Big Basin, make sure to bring your own!

7. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

  

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is my favorite place to see redwoods in the Bay Area–yes, even more than Muir Woods!

This is one of California’s most popular state parks and it’s not hard to see why. The best introduction to the park is along the 0.9-mile Redwood Grove Loop Trail, where you’ll find the Frémont Tree and a 40-acre grove of old-growth redwoods.

The 1,500-year-old Frémont Tree is the largest redwood tree in the park, standing at 277 feet tall. You can fully walk inside of it, too–just make sure to have your phone light handy because it’s dark in there.

If you want to learn more about California redwoods and the history of the grove, you can listen to this audio tour as you walk through.

Besides the main redwood trail at the park, there are 30 miles of hiking trails to enjoy and a popular local swimming hole called the Garden of Eden. In other words, you could spend a whole day at the park.

And I haven’t even mentioned my favorite feature of Henry Cowell: Roaring Camp Railroad. An attraction that lets you ride through the redwoods on a historic 1880s steam train.

It’s a unique and fun way to experience the redwoods and learn more about California’s logging history in the process, so you’ll definitely want to make time for it.

Local tip: Keep your eyes peeled for the bright yellow banana slugs that often pop up on the trail after it rains. They’re UC Santa Cruz’s mascot and a beloved part of the redwoods near Santa Cruz.  

Looking for more to do in the Santa Cruz area? I grew up there! Read my guides to the best things to do in Santa Cruz, the best Santa Cruz hikes, and the best beaches in Santa Cruz.

8. Humboldt Redwoods State Park

If you’re up for the drive from the San Francisco Bay Area, one of California’s best places to see redwoods is Humboldt Redwoods State Park. 

Humboldt Redwoods State Park spans over 55,000 acres, twice the size of SF! It features a lot of old-growth trees, and there are over 100 miles of hiking trails. 

Since the early 1900s, continuous conservation efforts have focused on saving the redwoods in this area. As a result, Humboldt Redwoods State Park has some of the largest redwoods in California.

If you’re interested in seeing redwoods from the comfort of your car, this is the park where you’ll find California’s most famous redwood drive–the Avenue of the Giants. 

A few stops that shouldn’t be missed along the drive include Founder’s Grove and the fallen Dyerville Giant, Williams Grove, Flatiron Tree, and Gould Grove.

Pick up an auto tour brochure at the Humboldt Redwoods Visitor Center so you don’t miss the best features of the Avenue of the Giants drive. 

9. Redwood National and State Parks

Another popular place to see the redwoods north of San Francisco, Redwood National and State Parks is where you’ll find the tallest redwood trees in Northern California.

Redwood National Park is a group of parks along 40 miles of rugged California coastline, just south of the Oregon border. These redwood parks include Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. 

And if you’re looking for scenic redwood drives, this is another good area to see the redwoods from your car. A few to add to your itinerary include Howland Hill Road, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, Cal-Barrel Road, and Davison Road. 

Read our guides to the best things to do in Redwood National & State Parks and how to road trip from San Francisco to Redwood National Park.

Other Redwood Forests to Visit in California

• Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve – you can plan your own excursion or join this tour, including two wineries and a Golden Gate Bridge photo op!
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – read our guide to Big Sur camping and hiking
• Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve
• Mailliard Redwoods State Natural Reserve
• Hendy Woods State Park
• Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve [30 min] – It isn’t the most dazzling park for redwoods–they’re in a small area of the park and only 100 years old–but worth a visit if you combine it with a day to Half Moon Bay.
• Sanborn County Park

How Far Are the Redwoods From San Francisco?

There are various redwoods near San Francisco, but the closest ones are in Muir Woods in Marin and Redwood Regional Park in Oakland.

Both are about a 30-minute drive from the city and are perfect for a self-guided tour of the redwoods.

If you’re planning a weekend camping trip, you’ll find the most famous giant redwoods at Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park, about four hours and five and a half hours away by car, respectively.

What is the Best Time of the Year to Visit the Redwoods Near San Francisco?

Because coastal redwoods grow in temperate climates, they can be visited at any time of the year.

That said, since redwood parks tend to be on the cooler side, visiting them in the spring, summer, or fall will be a warmer hike. 

The winter is probably the worst time to visit the redwoods because trails are damper, and there’s a risk of winter storms. 

Are Redwoods Only in California?

Old-growth coastal redwoods are native to California and the West Coast of the US in North America.

This means the only places you’ll find native and natural redwoods are in California, Oregon, and Washington. 

What is the Difference Between Redwoods and Giant Sequoias?

Redwoods and sequoias are behemoth trees that live for a long time–so what’s the main difference between them? Aren’t they both just huge trees? Not quite. 

The main difference is that giant sequoias are the biggest trees in the world (by volume) with thick trunks.

Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world and tend to be more slender.

So, they’re both big trees, just in different ways. Another difference between the two is where they tend to grow.

A redwood tree tends to grow along the Pacific Coast, hence why they’re called coastal or coast redwoods.

A sequoia is more likely to be found in higher elevations, such as the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and its national parks (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are good examples). 

The tallest tree in the world is a redwood called Hyperion in Redwood National and State Parks at 379 feet tall.

The largest tree in the world is a giant sequoia called General Sherman in Sequoia National Park at 52,500 cubic feet in volume. 

Looking to explore California’s sequoia trees? Read our guide to the best things to do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

Which Redwood Forest is Closest to San Francisco?

The closest redwood forests to San Francisco are Muir Woods National Monument and Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, which are both only 30 minutes from SF.

Muir Woods is the more impressive of the two and has older and taller redwoods, but Redwood Regional Park has fewer crowds and denser redwoods.

Where are the Giant Sequoias Near San Francisco?

If you’re after giant sequoias near San Francisco, pack the snacks because these giants grow on the west side of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It’s usually about a 4.5-hour drive from San Francisco to get to the sequoias.

There are roughly 40 different sites, including the Giant Forest and Muir Grove (not to be confused with Muir Woods National Monument).

Some giant sequoias are inside parks such as Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park, while others are under the care of the National Forestry Service.

Looking for a complete list of redwoods in California? Read our guide to California Redwood Parks.

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