Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park has a diverse landscape. It has over 40 miles of Coast along the Pacific Ocean. Of course there is a large expanse of Redwood trees, some of the oldest living things on earth. And to my surprise there is a large area of high prairie with fields of wild flowers in spring and historic ranches. Within the National Park boundary there is also three California State Parks. Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park is to the north and has a good deal of old growth redwood trees. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is centrally located southwest of Jedediah Smith. And Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park which is the farthest south of the three state parks. In 1994, the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation agreed to jointly manage the four parks to offer the best protection of the environment as possible. The park is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center is the first visitor center you will reach if traveling north on Route 101 into Redwood National Park. Kuchel Visitor Center is the only center that sits within Redwood National Park while the others are in state parks within Redwood National Park. Kuchel is also right on the ocean. The center has an information desk staffed by park rangers, exhibits, a bookstore and restrooms. The rangers are very helpful with answering questions and making suggestions on what to see in the amount of time you have. You can also pickup a back country pass here. This is needed for access to overnight back country camping sites and some day hikes. The center is open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm and in winter the hours are 9am to 4pm.
