California · National and State Parks trail

Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail Stop #13

in California

Full Circle For us, the character of a redwood forest changes daily. One day, shimmering strands of yellow light beam from crystal blue skies through open windows of the forest canopy. The next day may bring fog or rain, enshrouding the dark green spires and closeting the forest in shadows and mystery.

The storms of winter make the forest a dark and foreboding place, with unseen branches bending and creaking as the wind whips through the canopy. For us, the redwood forest presents a profoundly different experience each time we visit. However, our days and years are not adequate to comprehend the ancient redwoods.

Twenty human generations have passed since the tallest trees first emerged from the soil. Twenty more will come and go before today’s seedlings fall to give life to a new generation of redwoods. Old-growth forests are timeless, persisting, and patient, moving forward intime with or without us.

States: California
Trail type: National and State Parks trail
Centroid nearest city: Eugene, OR · 196 mi · ~6 hr drive
Centroid coords: 41.3066°, -124.0204°

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-13.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 #13 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.