California · National and State Parks trail

Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail Stop #11

in California

Lifeblood Colonial seafarers and early American adventurers cursed the omnipresent rain and fog of northern California. A discomfort to some perhaps, but the mild, wet climate of the North Coast ensures the survival of redwood forests. Wet winters soak the region under 60-70 inches of rain.

Summer produces little rain, but temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees. Summertime fog increases humidity and reduces the amount of water a tree loses through evaporation, softening the effects of drier periods. The small, tightly spaced redwood leaves intercept the moisture suspended in the fog.

While some moisture absorbs directly into the leaves, the majority collects on the grooved surface of the leaf and drips to the ground. Water collected from fog may account for up to one-third of the total water in the redwood forest system. Water, the ever-present lifeblood of the redwoods, sustains life, both ancient and new.

States: California
Trail type: National and State Parks trail
Centroid nearest city: Eugene, OR · 195 mi · ~6 hr drive
Centroid coords: 41.3092°, -124.0235°

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-11.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 #11 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.