Hiking the Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes within the Prairie Creek Redwoods, and it’s often an overlooked trail by many visitors, meaning that you will likely have a very quiet experience on this short, easy trail.
Ah-Pah Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail is located on the side of Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway adjacent to the trailhead.
If you’re coming from the north, it’s the first trail that you will drive by on the left-hand side.
Google Maps Directions: Ah-Pah Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Redwoods
There are black bears found throughout the Redwoods, but hiking with or without bear spray is truly up to your own discretion and comfort level in black bear territory.
Hiking the Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail
The entirety of Ah-Pah Trail is has no elevation gain, which is one of the most important reasons why I believe it is one of the best kid-friendly trails in the Redwoods.
Overall, the Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail is a very straightforward out-and-back hike, and if you slow down to learn about the trail, you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the restoration work here as well as ongoing projects throughout the Redwoods.
Merriman Grove
The Merriman Grove is the end of the short 0.3-mile (0.5 km) Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail.
Even though the Ah-Pah Trail looks like it continues further, the trail fades out quickly past the Merriman Grove, as it is not maintained any further.
