Hiking the Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a short out-and-back day hike where visitors can see firsthand the effects of logging in the Redwoods, as well as subsequent restoration efforts to bring the forest back to its former state.
That said, the 0.3-mile (0.5 km) one-way trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes within Prairie Creek Redwoods, and it is often an overlooked trail by many who visit the area, meaning that you’re very likely to have the entire trail to yourself—something that cannot be said about nearby adventures, like the Fern Canyon Trail.
Ah-Pah Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail is located directly off Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, adjacent to the trailhead.
If you’re coming from the north, the trailhead will be the first one on the left-hand side after exiting Highway 101.
Google Maps Directions: Ah-Pah Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Redwoods
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Redwood National & State Parks.
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.
