Mendocino Redwoods: Where to See California’s Coastal Giants
Updated: Aug 26
The Best Redwood Parks, Trails and Forest Experiences Near Mendocino
The Mendocino redwoods are one of Northern California’s most extraordinary natural experiences.
Just inland from the rugged Pacific Coast, ancient coast redwoods rise above fern-covered forest floors, creating a landscape that feels completely different from the cliffs, beaches and wine country nearby.
Some trees in Mendocino County reach more than 300 feet tall and have stood for over 1,000 years, making a walk through the redwoods an easy way to put the scale of Northern California into perspective.
Whether you’re planning a dedicated hiking day or simply adding the forest to a coastal getaway, here are some of the best places to experience the redwoods near Mendocino.
Where Can You See Redwoods Near Mendocino?
Travelers visiting Mendocino have several excellent redwood parks within reach, including Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve, Hendy Woods State Park and Van Damme State Park.
Each offers a different experience:
Montgomery Woods: Best for an immersive old-growth redwood hike.
Hendy Woods: Best for combining redwoods with Anderson Valley wine country.
Van Damme State Park: Best for a forest experience close to the Mendocino Coast.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park: Best for enjoying redwoods as part of the scenic drive between Anderson Valley and Highway 1.
That proximity is one of the reasons Mendocino is such a unique destination: coast, wine country and redwood forests can all fit into the same trip.
1. Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
For travelers who want to feel completely surrounded by towering redwoods, Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is one of the region’s standout experiences.
Located southeast of Mendocino in the Coast Range, the reserve protects one of the area’s remaining unspoiled redwood canyons.
Its main trail is a roughly two-mile loop that begins with a short but steep climb before entering a quieter landscape of redwoods, ferns and Montgomery Creek.
A 367.5-foot redwood here was once believed to be the tallest tree in the world. Taller specimens have since been documented elsewhere in Northern California, but Montgomery Woods remains known for its exceptionally tall trees.
Allow an hour or two for the full loop, and expect muddy or wet conditions after rain.
2. Hendy Woods State Park
Hendy Woods State Park is especially convenient if your Mendocino trip includes Anderson Valley.
Located near Philo, the park protects two groves of old-growth coast redwoods: Big Hendy and Little Hendy.
Some of the trees here exceed 300 feet in height and are more than 1,000 years old. Around five miles of trails wind through the groves, including easier routes that make the park approachable even if you are not planning a major hike.
Hendy Woods is also warmer and generally less foggy than many redwood parks closer to the coast.
That makes it easy to build a day around two very different Northern California experiences: walk beneath the redwoods in the morning, then spend the afternoon exploring Anderson Valley wine country.
3. Van Damme State Park
Van Damme State Park brings the forest experience much closer to the coast.
Located just south of Mendocino near Little River, the park stretches inland from the Pacific and offers trails through fern-filled forest and redwood habitat.
The Fern Canyon Trail follows Little River through a lush landscape of ferns and forest, offering a completely different environment from the open coastal bluffs nearby.
For travelers staying around Mendocino Village, Van Damme is an easy way to incorporate hiking and forest scenery without dedicating an entire day to driving inland.
4. Drive Through Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Sometimes the redwoods become part of the journey itself.
Highway 128 passes through Navarro River Redwoods State Park as it travels between Anderson Valley and the Mendocino Coast.
The road follows the Navarro River beneath a canopy of redwoods before eventually reaching Highway 1 and the Pacific.
If you are driving from San Francisco through Anderson Valley toward Mendocino, this route creates one of the trip’s best transitions: vineyards give way to redwood forest, and then the landscape opens onto the Northern California coastline.
For more road-trip inspiration, explore our San Francisco to Mendocino guide.
What Is Special About Mendocino’s Redwoods?
Coast redwoods are among the tallest trees on Earth and can live for more than a thousand years. But what makes experiencing them in Mendocino particularly special is the landscape around them.
A single vacation can include redwood forests, Anderson Valley vineyards, Pacific Ocean cliffs and Mendocino Village without requiring travelers to move between entirely separate destinations.
The forests also support rich ecosystems of ferns, mosses, birds and wildlife, creating an experience that changes with the light, weather and season.
It is less about finding one famous tree and more about walking into a landscape built on a scale that is difficult to appreciate until you are standing inside it.
What Is the Best Time to Visit the Mendocino Redwoods?
The redwoods can be visited throughout the year, but conditions change seasonally.
Spring
Spring brings greener forest landscapes, flowing creeks and mild hiking conditions. Trails may still be wet after rain, so sturdy footwear is useful.
Summer
Summer offers longer days and generally drier trails. Hendy Woods can also feel warmer and less foggy than parks directly along the coast.
Fall
Fall works particularly well for travelers who want to combine the redwoods with Anderson Valley wine country and harvest season.
Winter
Winter creates a quieter, mistier forest experience, but rain can make trails muddy and conditions more variable.
For a complete seasonal breakdown, explore our Best Time to Visit Mendocino guide.
Are the Mendocino Redwoods Good for Families?
Yes, especially if you choose the right park and trail.
Not every redwood experience requires a strenuous hike. Hendy Woods offers gentler trails and picnic areas, while shorter walks can still give families a chance to experience the scale of the forest.
Families should check current trail conditions before visiting, bring layers and water and stay on marked routes.
The goal does not have to be covering miles of trail. Even a shorter walk beneath the trees can become one of the most memorable parts of a Mendocino vacation.
What Should You Bring for a Redwood Hike?
Mendocino’s forests can be cool and damp even when conditions elsewhere are warmer.
A few essentials make the experience easier:
Comfortable hiking or walking shoes
Layers for changing temperatures
Water
Light rain protection depending on the forecast
Sun protection for more exposed areas
A phone or camera
A downloaded map when visiting areas with limited cell service
Always check current park conditions before leaving, particularly during rainy periods or when trail work is underway.
Where Should You Stay to Explore the Mendocino Redwoods?
The best home base depends on how much of the region you want to experience.
For travelers interested in combining redwoods with the Mendocino Coast, wine country and nearby attractions, Chateau Frolic offers a private coastal home base near Mendocino.
From there, a trip can move easily between coastal trails, redwood parks, Anderson Valley and Mendocino Village before returning to the Pacific at the end of the day.
That balance is part of what makes a Mendocino getaway distinctive: you can spend the morning beneath ancient trees and still be back overlooking the ocean by evening.
Are the Mendocino Redwoods Worth Visiting?
Absolutely.
The redwoods add an entirely different dimension to a Mendocino vacation and help explain why this part of Northern California feels so varied.
Visit Montgomery Woods for an immersive old-growth forest experience, Hendy Woods to pair redwoods with Anderson Valley, or Van Damme for an accessible forest excursion close to the coast.
And if your itinerary allows, do not rush between them. Walk slowly. Look up. The scale is the point.
Explore Chateau Frolic and make the Mendocino Coast your home base for redwoods, wine country and everything in between.
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