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

South Fork Trailhead Parking

Rhododendron-Moorman Pond Trailhead Parking

 

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 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 Trailhead

South Fork Trailhead

South Fork Trail

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-Foothill Trail Junction

South Fork-Foothill Trail Junction

South Fork Trail

South Fork Trail

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.

Go Left

Brown Creek Trail Junction

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.

Black Bear Scat

Brown Creek Trail

Brown Creek Trail

Brown Creek Trail

Brown Creek Trail

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.

Carl Schenck Grove Junction

Carl Schenck Grove

Brown Creek Trail

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.

More Black Bear Scat!

Brown Creek Trail

Brown Creek Trail

Brown Creek Trail

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.

Go Left

Brown Creek-Rhododendron Trail Junction

Rhododendron Trail

In June, there was no shortage of flowers blooming.

Andrew’s Clintonia - (Clintonia andrewsiana)

Rhododendron Trail

Watch out!

Rhododendron Trail

These Rhododendrons are exactly where the trail gets its name.

Rhododendron - (Rhododendron macrophyllum)

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Along with bears and elk, there’s also no shortage of Banana slugs.

Banana Slug!

C.R.E.A. 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.

C.R.E.A. Junction

C.R.E.A. Junction

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron Trail

Rhododendron-Moorman Pond Trailhead

Once at the parkway, the look across and to the left to find the Moorman Pond Trailhead shortly ahead.

Rhododendron Trailhead

Moorman Pond Trailhead

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.

Karl Knapp-Zig Zag #2 Junction

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. (91.4 m) from the creek to the ridge.

Zig Zag #2 Trail

Zig Zag #2 Trail

Zig Zag #2 Trail

Zig Zag #2 Trail

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.

Go Left

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 Trail

West Ridge Trail

West Ridge Trail

West Ridge Trail

West Ridge Trail

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.

Go Left

West Ridge-Zig Zag #1 Junction

Zig Zag #1 Trail

Going Down!

Zig Zag #1 Trail

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.

Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) Junction

Go Right

Karl Knapp Trail

Karl Knapp Trail

Karl Knapp Trail

So Many Bears…

Karl Knapp Trail

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.

Karl Knapp Trail

To the Parkway!

This Way

Almost There!

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.

South Fork Trailhead

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