Hiking the Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California
Distance: 5.6 miles / 9.0 km
The Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a relatively easy, out-and-back day hike between Howland Hill Road and Fern Falls at the end of the trail, where hikers wind their way through beautiful, towering old-growth Redwoods and the riparian ecosystem along Jordan Creek.
That said, the Boy Scout Tree Trail gets its name from a particular double-trunk Redwood tree, called the Boy Scout Tree, located a short distance off the trail before Fern Falls.
However, what truly makes the Boy Scout Tree Trail special more than anything else is that it’s the only day hike in Jedediah Smith that heads directly into the old-growth interior of the park! This is because every other day hike within Jedediah Smith closely follows Howland Hill Road or heads farther inland and away from the best of the giant trees.
All this to say, the Boy Scout Tree is what I see as the best destination on the 2.8-mile (4.5 km) one-way hike, but for those uninterested in hiking the full trail to Fern Falls, simply getting into the heart of the Redwoods and away from Howland Hill Road is a great way to enjoy Jedediah Smith Redwoods without hiking to the very end.
Boy Scout Tree Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Boy Scout Tree Trail is located in a very small parking area directly off Howland Hill Road.
I mention the word 'small' because the Boy Scout Tree Trail is a very popular day hike in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, and often hikers end up parking up and down the road as close a spot becomes available.
This is why I personally think visiting the Jedediah Smith Redwoods is best first thing in the morning, but I also want to remind all not to block Howland Hill Road if parking in the designated area nearest to the trailhead isn’t available.
Google Maps Directions: Boy Scout Tree 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 Boy Scout Tree Trail
The Boy Scout Tree Trail begins on a very easy, gradual uphill path off Howland Hill Road, which is largely the trend for the majority of the hike, as there are few areas with any significant elevation changes, apart from a few stairs in and out of a few small drainages scattered throughout.
Like most day hikes in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, it doesn’t take long to get into the big trees!
I think this is important to mention because, if time is a factor on your visit, hiking to only the first or second bridge on the Boy Scout Tree Trail can be a great turnaround point to get the feeling you’ve seen the best of the Redwoods in Jedediah Smith before heading back.
On the Boy Scout Tree Trail, there are six bridges on the hike out to Fern Falls, which can be nice to count on both the hike there and back, as much of the landscape can really look the same in these old-growth forests.
This is about as steep as the majority of the hills get on the Boy Scout Tree Trail.
However, some hikers may still want to carry trekking poles, which can certainly help in muddier areas during the wetter times of the year.
This beautiful flower is easy to spot in the Redwoods, as it is considered the most common Douglas species throughout the forest understory.
If you’re lucky, you may also catch the Rhododendrons flowering in the forest understory, which is very common to see during the early summer months—the best time of year to visit the Coastal Redwoods!
In addition to poles, I always recommend hiking with a good rain jacket when exploring the Coastal Redwoods, because even during the most beautiful summer months—like this hike in June—you never know when one will be necessary in the Pacific Northwest.
I’ve always believed this turn is one of the most photogenic spots on the Boy Scout Tree Trail, though there are truly countless angles for creating beautiful photos throughout the entire trail!
This is truly the heart of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, which is exactly why the National Park Service says the Boy Scout Tree Trail is the only trail that leaves Howland Hill Road to head into the best of the trees!
These short sections with stairs are as steep as the Boy Scout Tree Trail ever gets, making it a great adventure for people of all ages, especially considering that enjoying the best of the trail doesn’t necessarily mean hiking all the way to Fern Falls at the very end!
This bridge is the second of the six bridges on the hike out to Fern Falls—and it’s a nice sign that there is almost exactly 1.0 mile (1.6 km) left before the trail reaches the giant double-trunk Boy Scout Tree!
Jordan Creek
After the second bridge, the Boy Scout Tree Trail very quickly enters the riparian area along Jordan Creek, which is recognizable by more scattered giant Redwoods along the trail, as well as a denser forest understory, like the photo here.
This is the third of the six bridges before Fern Falls.
This is the fourth of the six bridges before Fern Falls, and it’s a nice sign that the junction for the Boy Scout Tree is only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away from this point.
Boy Scout Tree Junction
After roughly 2.5 miles (4.0 km), the Boy Scout Tree Trail finally reaches the junction for the iconic Boy Scout Tree, just up the hill off the main trail.
That said, go right to hike up to the Boy Scout Tree, or go left to continue on the Boy Scout Tree Trail to Fern Falls.
The short hike up to the giant Boy Scout Tree is easily the steepest part of the entire hike!
Boy Scout Tree
This is the Boy Scout Tree, which got its name from a group of Boy Scouts from the Crescent City area in the 1930s who helped develop and maintain the trail and brought attention to this remarkable double-trunked Redwood in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
Today, the Boy Scout Tree Trail still follows the same general route laid out by those scouts many decades ago, leading hikers deep into a largely untouched old-growth forest and offering one of the most immersive backcountry experiences in the park!
Once back on the main trail, the Boy Scout Tree Trail almost immediately crosses the fifth of the six bridges on the hike out to Fern Falls, at which point there are only about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) left to the end of the trail at Fern Falls.
This is the sixth and final bridge on the Boy Scout Tree Trail before Fern Falls.
This is the final descent to Fern Falls.
Fern Falls
This small 15-ft. (4.6 m) cascade is Fern Falls and the end of the full 2.8-mile (4.5 km) Boy Scout Tree Trail.
That said, I think Fern Falls is worth the effort to reach if you’ve already hiked as far as the Boy Scout Tree, just 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away. However, if you are most interested in enjoying the giant Redwoods along the first 1.0–2.0 miles (1.6–3.2 km) of the hike, I think there is also a good turnaround point before Jordan Creek if time is a priority on your visit.
I especially believe this because there are so many other adventures to consider, and the Prairie Creek Redwoods is generally where I recommend spending the most time when visiting the Redwoods for the first time, largely because of how beautiful every day hike is off Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway!
Del Norte Coast Redwoods
Jedediah Smith Redwoods
Prairie Creek Redwoods
