Hiking the Brown Creek-Rhododendron-West Ridge Loop Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Distance: 7.9 miles / 12.7 km
Some of the best hiking within the Prairie Creek Redwoods is done simply by connecting a number of different trails into a larger loop, so that you’re always seeing something different as you hike through these amazing old-growth forests.
That’s why, if you’re looking for a longer hike, I couldn’t recommend the Brown Creek-Rhododendron-West Ridge Loop Trail any higher. This amazing loop trail is a great way to see a lot of what the Prairie Creek Redwoods have to offer, and when you venture out on longer hikes like this, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a quiet experience away from the busier shorter trails.
All said, hiking in the Redwoods is never really about the elevation gain, but rather, the distance. While there is some hills and a few switchbacks on this longer loop, the hike is fairly moderate overall, with the exception of the longer distance.
Brown Creek-Rhododendron Trailhead Parking
The Brown Creek-Rhododendron-West Ridge Loop could begin in a number of different directions, depending on which trailhead you choose to begin. However, I wrote this beginning from the South Fork Trailhead, which is how I’ve always hiked this trail.
In any case, parking for the loop is either at the South Fork-Karl Knapp Trailhead or at the Moorman Pond Trailhead, both of which are located north of the visitor center on the side of Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
Google Maps Directions: South Fork-Karl Knapp Trailhead / Moorman Pond 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 Brown Creek-Rhododendron-West Ridge Loop Trail
As mentioned previously, the Brown Creek-Rhododendron-West Ridge Loop could begin from a number of directions, but in this post, I started from the South Fork Trailhead and hiked toward Brown Creek.
South Fork Trailhead
Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
In its entirety, the South Fork Trail is only 0.3 miles (0.5 km) long, which then links up with the Brown Creek Trail for the next 1.2 miles (1.9 km).
South Fork-Foothill Junction
After about a quarter mile, the South Fork will pass by the Foothill Trail, which is a popular hike for those looking to hike to the Big Tree.
Keep going straight (left) to reach the Brown Creek Trail shortly after.
South Fork-Brown Creek Junction
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
From the start of Brown Creek Trail, go left to continue on the most direct route to the Rhododendron Trail.
I have hiked this loop in the summer and winter, and in my experience, the summer had much higher bear activity than I’ve ever seen in the winter.
Carl Schenck Grove
After hiking about two-thirds of the Brown Creek Trail, a little side trail called the Carl Schenck Grove will be located across the creek.
It only adds about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) to see the grove.
This was only some of the scat in the area, but there was no shortage of bear activity along the lower elevations of this loop.
However, when the loop climbed above both Brown and Prairie Creeks on the Rhododendron/ West Ridge Trails, the signs of bear activity dropped considerably.
That’s not to say that they aren’t everywhere, but in my experience, I’ve almost exclusively encountered bears near a water source.
Brown Creek-Rhododendron Junction
Distance: 3.1 miles / 5.0 km
Where the Brown Creek Trail ends, the Rhododendron Trail begins.
Turn left to continue on the loop.
In June, there was no shortage of flowers blooming.
These Rhododendrons are exactly where the trail gets its name.
Along with bears and elk, there’s also no shortage of Banana slugs.
C.R.E.A. Trail Junction
After 1.6 miles (2.6 km), the Rhododendron Trail will pass by the C.R.E.A. Trail, which is a shorter trail that connects out to Highway 101 to the east.
Don’t follow it, but rather, stay straight on the Rhododendron Trail until it hits the parkway.
Rhododendron-Moorman Pond Trailhead
Once at the parkway, the look across and to the left to find the Moorman Pond Trailhead shortly ahead.
Karl Knapp-Zig Zag #2 Junction
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
Then, almost immediately after the Moorman Pond Trailhead is the junction of the both the Karl Knapp and Zig Zag #2 Trails.
If at this point you wanted to take the easiest path back to the South Fork Trailhead, turn left here, and the Karl Knapp Trail will follow the base of the West Ridge along Prairie Creek all the way back to the beginning. There is essentially no elevation change on this route.
However, if you want to complete this loop as it is written in this post, turn right on the Zig Zag #2 Trail, which will connect with the West Ridge in 0.6 miles (1.0 km).
If it influences your decision, I saw no signs of bear activity on the West Ridge, but almost immediately after descending back down to Prairie Creek, the evidence was abundant again.
Zig Zag #2 Trail
The Zig Zag #2 Trail only stays flat for a short distance before it starts climbing up the West Ridge on the far side of Prairie Creek.
That may sound intimidating, but the trail only gains about 300 ft. from the creek to the ridge.
Zig Zag #2-West Ridge Junction
Distance: 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
After a few switchbacks, the Zig Zag #2 Trail ends at the West Ridge.
Go left to continue on the loop back to the South Fork Trailhead.
In my opinion, the West Ridge always feels very easy once you’ve climbed up the switchbacks from the creek below, as it simply meanders through some amazing Redwoods that most visitors don’t venture this far to see!
West Ridge-Zig Zag #1 Junction
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The next junction that the West Ridge meets is the Zig Zag #1 Trail, which will complete the loop back down to Prairie Creek and the South Fork Trailhead shortly after.
Turn left, and the Zig Zag #1 Trail will start descending off the ridge until it reaches Prairie Creek below.
Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) Junction
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
At the bottom of the West Ridge, the Zig Zag #1 Trail meets up with the same Karl Knapp Trail (Prairie Creek Trail) that immediately followed the Moorman Pond Trailhead shown above. This sign may be mislabeled.
Turn right to complete the loop, which will remain flat for the remainder of the hike out to the parkway.
Parkway Junction
Distance: 0.1 miles / 0.2 km
Immediately after the second Prairie Creek bridge crossing, take the short 0.1-mile (0.2 km) trail that connects back out to the parkway.
South Fork Trailhead
Overall, the Brown Creek-Rhododendron-West Ridge Loop is one of the longer loops that you can do within Prairie Creek, but it is no where near the longest.
This and other trails through Prairie Creek could be hiked in any number of directions, but if you’re looking for a longer hike to spend most of a day, I couldn’t recommend this one any higher!
Additionally, you might consider the James Irvine-Fern Canyon-Miners Ridge Loop, which is typically started from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center.
