Hiking the Stout Memorial Grove Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Stout Memorial Grove Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a beautiful pocket of old-growth Redwoods that was spared from logging in the early 20th century when Clara W. Stout donated the land to save the Redwoods, making Stout Grove the first dedicated grove in the Jedediah Redwoods.
Today, visitors can enjoy the relatively short and easy 0.6-mile (1.0 km) loop off Howland Hill Road, which inevitably makes Stout Grove one of the most popular hikes within the Jedediah Smith Redwoods—much like the nearby Grove of the Titans.
That being said, the short Stout Memorial Grove Loop, often called the heart of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, should be considered a must-see destination for any first-time visitor. However, I recommend getting an early start when visiting Stout Grove or the Grove of the Titans, or you may have trouble finding parking when Stout Grove is at its busiest.
Stout Grove Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Stout Grove Memorial Trail is located just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) off Howland Hill Road in a small unpaved lot near the trailhead.
That said, be aware that this parking area fills up quickly during peak summer travel season, and visitors have been known to have to park up to half a mile away during the busiest times of the year.
Google Maps Directions: Stout Grove 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 Stout Memorial Grove Trail
Overall, the hike through Stout Grove is very straightforward, with very little elevation change throughout the entire loop.
Stout Grove Loop Trail
At the split for the Stout Grove Loop, I like to go left because I think it’s the much more beautiful side of the loop.
If you’re looking for beautiful photos in Stout Grove, I think the left is where you’ll find them!
Stout Tree (Big Tree)
After a short walk from the split, the Stout Grove Trail comes to the biggest tree in the grove, known as the Stout Tree, sometimes nicknamed the Big Tree.
To protect the forest understory, please stay on the platform around the tree.
Stout Grove Loop-Hiouchi Junction
Then, just after the Stout Tree, the Stout Grove Loop will come to another split with the Hiouchi Trail.
Go right to stay on the Stout Grove Loop Trail, as the Hiouchi Trail is typically an out-and-back hike that begins off the Redwood Highway.
This next stretch is my favorite stretch of Redwoods on the entire Stout Grove Memorial Loop.
Stout Grove Loop-River Junction
At the back of the Stout Grove Loop, the trail will come to one last split with the much longer River Trail, which eventually turns into the Little Bald Hills Trail.
The River-Little Bald Hills Trail goes on for a little less than 20.0 miles (32.2 km), which is truly an adventure for another day!
If you hiked in the same direction as this post, go right at this split to complete the Stout Grove Loop.
Stout Grove Loop Junction
As you can see, the Stout Memorial Grove Trail connects with a number of different trails, meaning that this beautiful must-see hike could begin from a number of different trailheads, like the Hiouchi or River Trailhead.
I say this to suggest that if you're looking for a slightly longer and less crowded experience, I recommend exploring the Stout Grove Loop from one of these other trailheads.
