California · National and State Parks trail

Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail Stop #10

in California

Forest from Ferns Many years ago, fire swept through this corner of the forest, opening large areas under the canopy to colonization by small, yet beneficial plants. Ferns, like the dominant sword fern, thrive in the all-pervading damp of the redwood understory. Along with mosses and grasses, they are usually the first to return to a disturbed landscape.

The dense cover of ferns on the forest floor provides shade and protection for smaller plants and holds moisture in the soil. The life and death of ferns and the plants nurtured under their broad leaves enrich the soil, creating fertile ground for the wildflowers and low shrubs that will ultimately sustain the roots of the Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and the mighty redwood. Ferns are the first stage in a 1000-year succession of plants reaching its climax in a healthy old-growth redwood forest ecosystem.

States: California
Trail type: National and State Parks trail
Centroid nearest city: Eugene, OR · 195 mi · ~6 hr drive
Centroid coords: 41.3092°, -124.0242°

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/lady-bird-johnson-nature-trail-stop-10.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 Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail Stop #10 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.