Backcountry Camping and Permits

• Plan Your Trip With Park Brochures

• Know The Current Conditions

• Looking For The Best Walk Or Hike?

• Visitor Centers: Start Your Visit Here

 

Backcountry Permits in COVID19

June 22: Backcountry camping permits are temporarily being issued online.

As we resume operations and increase access to the parks during COVID19, backcountry permit operations this summer will be different from previous years. Click here to apply for a backcountry camping permit.

Backcountry Opportunities

For those who like to get away, a trail to themselves, a starlit sky at night, or the lullaby crashing waves - Redwood National and State Parks offers you more than 200 miles (322km) of extraordinary backcountry trails and seven designated backcountry campsites. Whether on foot, bicycle, or horseback, you'll traverse a wide variety of natural habitats to get to your overnight site. These habitats include old-growth redwood forests, oak woodlands, beaches, prairies, streams, second-growth forests ,and marshes.

Trip Planning Is Your Responsibility

First, read about and understand the pros and cons of our seven backcountry camping areas. Read the backcountry trip planner (PDF) and find out what redwood backcountry experience might work best for you. A good backcountry trip begins with YOU doing good research. Did you know you will be camping where bears and mountain lions are common?

Your best resources for planning a backcountry adventure:

• Description and maps of our backcountry sites.
• The Backcountry Trip Planner (PDF)
• Redwood National and State Parks maps
• A backcountry mileage chart (PDF)
• A topographic map. Our partner, Redwood Parks Conservancy sells many great hiking maps.
• Know the risks and potential hazards
• Check the current conditions in the parks.

 

While specific regulations apply to those on bicycles and horseback, all backcountry users should adhere to Redwood National & State Park regulations. All of us are encouraged to follow Leave No Trace guidelines to minimize our impacts on the environment. Leave No Trace is rooted in scientific studies and common sense.