California · National and State Parks trail

Lady Bird Johnson Nature Trail Stop #3

in California

Fire Survivor How do hollow redwoods survive? Despite the North Coast’s wet climate, redwood forests experience occasional wildfires. Fire plays a critical role by clearing dense ground cover and giving new seedlings the opportunity to grow.

More intense wildfires remove the middle canopy layer of tanoak, hemlock, and rhododendron, scarring the redwoods as high as 100 feet above their bases. Countless wildfires have scorched the base of this redwood. Its thick, insulating bark lacks the volatile resins found in pines, firs, and spruce, and its sap is largely water.

This combination slows combustion, while the surrounding vegetation burns vigorously. Fire can burn repeatedly through cracks in the bark into the heartwood but leave the outside growing layers intact. In time, the damaged heartwood decays, leaving behind hollows used as shelter by wildlife.

States: California
Trail type: National and State Parks trail
Centroid nearest city: Eugene, OR · 196 mi · ~6 hr drive
Centroid coords: 41.3054°, -124.0201°

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-3.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 #3 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.