California · National and State Parks trail

Dolason Prairie Trail

in California

A Hiker's Adventure Going From High Prairies Into A Deep River Valley This ten-mile trail is unique. It begins in the high meadows of the Bald Hills, passes a historic 19th century barn, and descends 2,500 feet into the heart of Redwood and Emerald Creeks. Then you have to climb back out.

The views at the trailhead are across Redwood Creek to hillsides that were clearcut logged in the 1960s and 1970s. It was only in 1978 - when Redwood National Park was expanded - that most of the Redwood Creek watershed was protected. This expansion of the park's boundary included tens of thousands of acres of land that had been logged in the previous decade.

The pockets of remaining old-growth redwoods groves stand out as dark-green squares set amongst the light-green of second-growth forests. The old-growth redwoods are hundreds of feet taller than the young forests that surround them. This trailead is also a good place for night sky viewing because it is above the fogline, and is far away from street or city light pollution.

States: California
Trail type: National and State Parks trail
Centroid coords: 41.2053°, -123.9508°

About Redwood National and State Parks

National and State Parks

This trail is inside Redwood National and State Parks, a national and state parks managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/dolasonprairietr.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Dolason Prairie Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

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California