Hike the Boy Scout Trail

Summary:

This trail is stunning. The trail is lined with beautiful sword ferns as the path leads you through striking 300 ft old growth redwoods. After hiking for about a mile, the trail follows a ridge topped with Redwoods. About two miles in, the trail brings you to a fork; the left trail takes you to Fern Falls. (The right branch goes to Boy Scout Tree) At this point, the redwood trees get sparse and give way to lush woodlands with many spruce trees. Eventually the trail takes you down a series of wooden steps and then you will crisscross Jordan creek over small wooden bridges. Soon after the crossings, you will begin to hear the cascading water from Fern Falls and then they come into view. The falls are surrounded by lush ferns and greenery amid fallen trees and lichen covered logs. Winter wrens are often seen amongst the ferns.

Best Seasons:

This trail is great any season. In the summer, trail may be crowded with park visitors and the occasional guided-tour group. The winter will give you more solitude

Brief History:

This trail is part of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.   He is credited as being the first adventurer to travel by land to the west coast of the Continental United States.  His journey took him from San Diego to just south of the Canadian border.  The Chinese also had gold mines in the area of the Boy Scout Trail during the late 1800’s.

Trailhead:

From Highway 101, at the south end of Crescent City, turn east on Elk Valley Road. Continue about 1.5 miles, fork right on Howland Hill Road. Continue east about four more miles to the signed trailhead located on the north side of the road.

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