Elk Prairie Campground, Prairie Creek Redwoods

Fifty miles north of Eureka, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park protects sandy beaches and open meadows grazed by magnificent herds of Roosevelt elk. Ferns cascade down canyon walls. Lush stands of the world's tallest living tree species, the coast redwood, stand in primeval majesty. Visitors can stay at either Elk Prairie or Gold Bluffs Beach campgrounds and explore the park via three scenic drives, 75 miles of hiking trails, and a 19-mile bike loop. Traverse self-guided nature trails, as well as the Revelation Trail (designed to emphasize the use of the five senses) and the Redwood Access Trail, (designed for people with physical limitations.) Many visitors take the gentle walk to Fern Canyon, which was used as a backdrop for the movie Jurassic Park. Most of the park is dedicated to the enjoyment and protection of coast redwoods and the luxuriant life around them. Stately and bizarre giant redwoods (including "cathedrals" and "octopuses") are just a short walk from the visitor center. A World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, Prairie Creek and the three other parks in the Redwood National and State Parks group protect 45 percent of California's remaining old-growth redwoods.