Things to do in Redwood National Park in October

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Overview

October is a good time to visit Redwood National Park. The weather is usually mildly cool and breezy, with temperatures ranging from 50—65°F (10—19°C).

Redwood National Park has plenty to offer for visitors of all ages and interests. In this article, we tell you the top things to see and do for your October trip to Redwood National Park. Get inspired by the events, activities, attractions, and experiences unique to October. We’ll let you know where to explore events based on your interests, whether that’s food, culture, art, music, sport or others.

We’ll let you know everything you need to prepare for the weather in Redwood National Park in October. Learn about what to wear and pack for your trip, the average temperatures throughout October, temperature changes from morning to evening and much more.

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Best events and things to do in Redwood National Park in October

Top experiences in October
We couldn't find any experiences in October
Holidays in Redwood National Park in October
October
  • Columbus Day (October 12)
Other notable holidays
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Weather in Redwood National Park in October

Temperatures on an average day in Redwood National Park in October

The average temperature in Redwood National Park in October for a typical day ranges from a high of 65°F (19°C) to a low of 50°F (10°C). Some would describe the temperature to be mildly cool. The general area may also feel breezy.

For comparison, the hottest month in Redwood National Park, August, has days with highs of 74°F (23°C) and lows of 56°F (13°C). The coldest month, February has days with highs of 52°F (11°C) and lows of 41°F (5°C). This graph shows how an average day looks like in Redwood National Park in October based on historical data.

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Historical temperature average in October
65°F
highs
50°F
lows

General weather summary

Mildly cool, breezy
Feels like
21%
Chance of rain
0.140 in
Amount
11.3 mph
Wind speed
66%
Humidity
11.1 hrs
Daylight length
7:27 AM
Sunrise
6:35 PM
Sunset
59%
Cloud cover
Sweater
What to wear
What to wear in October
With an average high of 65°F (19°C) and a low of 50°F (10°C), it generally feels mildly cool and breezy. With that in mind, most people would dress in something moderately warm like a sweater
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Best attractions for Redwood National Park in October

Besides the array of exciting events and activities Redwood National Park has to offer for travelers in October, we want to remind you of the classic attractions in Redwood National Park that are great to visit at this time of the year as well! You can’t miss these iconic landmarks, local favorites, and places rich with cultural heritage. We hope to give you insights and inspiration into the best things to see and do to make the most of your visit. Here is a list of our top attractions in Redwood National Park for October.
Redwood National and State Parks
1. Redwood National and State Parks
4.9
(10981)
National park
Nature & Parks
Immense woodland system containing many towering redwood trees, with trails, campgrounds & more.
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Such a unique park with so many things to see and do aside from the big trees! The area/park is huge! Runs for over an hour north and south. Plan for a couple days! Get your reservations for the two timed reservation area of the fern canyon and tall trees! Drive around the area! Go to the scenic view points! Go to the beaches! Walk among the trees! Eat and stay at the nearby towns! Visit all the visitor centers! Take it all in! It’s one of the best parks out there!
This is a must see for all families and anyone who appreciates the outdoors. It's amazing to see these giants reaching into the sky. Some of the bases are well over 10 ft wide. Let's hope the next several generations will be able to visit and enjoy this, instead of it being harvested or die from pollution.
Some huge Redwood trees located in this forest. Only seen in California to Washington. Worth taking a drive there if you are going through the area. Thousands of them in this area. Enjoy the big ones that take 40+ years to get that size.
One of the best hiking and camping trips I’ve done. Photos don’t do justice to how monstrous these trees truly are in person. You feel like you’re walking through a real Jurassic Park. Truly amazing. Mother Nature is astonishing.
The park was great and beyond my wildest imagination. We got there a bit late in the day was a long drive up from San Francisco, but drive up was surrounded by natural beauty and redwoods. We found a cute little hotel to stay up nearby and went down the avenue of the Giants. Overall, we had a wonderful experience.
An absolutely breathtaking place! The towering redwoods are awe-inspiring and create an atmosphere of peace and wonder. The trails are well-maintained, offering options for both short walks and longer hikes. It’s the perfect spot to connect with nature, take stunning photos, and enjoy the fresh forest air. Truly a must-visit destination in California!
It’s a mesmerizing place to be. Redwood national is so vast and beautiful with different landscapes. It is a perfect place for hiking, trekking, driving, camping, swimming the list goes on and on. Being there made us realize how small we humans are!!!!!!
Avenue of the Giants is a must see when driving south on Hwy 101. The giant redwood trees feel sacred. Be sure to pull over and take a short walk and take some photos to see and feel how magnificent the redwood groves are.
Enderts Beach Rd
2. Enderts Beach Rd
4.8
(5)
Nature & Parks
Beaches
Coastal route known for panoramic ocean views, with popular spots for whale sightings & picnics.
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We did not realize thar you needed to go left at the end of the trail, so we of course went right. When we finally went left, it was amazing. We saw many turkey vultures eating a dead sea lion. Lots of starfish and some anemone. We arrived after low tide and didn't go left for awhile. It was also a high low tide, but we loved it. If you climb through the opening at the end, be careful of the incoming tide. When we came back through the tide had risen to the point that it was very difficult to walk on the tops of the wet slippery rocks. HAVE FUN!
It was a relatively easy hike with a beautiful beach at the end.
Tall Trees Grove Trailhead Parking
3. Tall Trees Grove Trailhead Parking
4.6
(215)
Hiking area
Nature & Parks
Access point for a rugged hiking trail to Tall Trees Grove, a stand of old-growth redwood giants.
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Getting here is a bit of a hike, pun intended. But all joke aside this is a marvelous experience for a day trip. You have to drive out of the highway and upper road for about 8 miles and make sure to register online as there is a closed gate that you need a number that changes every day to access. Once you are in, it is a gorgeous hike, but be warned. It will be steep decent and then a steep return to the car so you need to be in decent physical shape probably no young children. You’ll have to see some of the tallest trees in the world and at the bottom there is a loop with a fern forest ferns are more than 7 feet tall. It is incredible. You feel like a tiny insect. Lots of wildlife got to see some elk at the bottom Very much recommend.
Nice but narrow road in. I wouldn't recommend anything bigger than a Sprinter size van. Go slow. Trail was great. Started early in the morning and we're the only ones on the outbound hike. Some ups and downs, might be hard for anyone not able to handle a flights of stairs easily, but there's plenty to look at. The Groves you're looking for are about a mile in although mill trail keeps going beyond that. Great signage, no worries about getting lost. No services other than a pit toilet at Trailhead.
It’s a 4.5-mile lollypop hike. Tall Trees Trail is a permitted hike. Only 65 permits are available each day. A hike filled with stunning views and scenery. Highlighted trees: The Paul Zahl Tree (2nd tallest tree in the grove and 17th tallest in the world). The Melkor Tree, the largest tree in Redwood National Forest by volume, as well as the 8th tallest along this hike. The Redwood Creek Giant is the 2nd largest and 4th tallest in the grove, this tree is truly unique in that it has 148 reiterated trunks. The Nugget Tree. Named after the acronym NGT (National Geographic Tree), this 643 year old giant is over 373 feet tall, making it the tallest in the grove, the 3rd tallest in the world, and the 5th fastest growing redwood on record.
The Tall Trees Trail is an unforgettable experience and one of the crown jewels of Redwood National and State Parks. If you’re looking for a quieter, more immersive redwood hike away from the crowds, this is the one. Permit Required (But Worth It) Because it’s a protected area, you need a free permit in advance from the park service. It might seem like a hassle, but it’s 100% worth it. The permit system keeps the trail uncrowded and peaceful you often feel like you have the whole forest to yourself. Very limited parking space is another reason for permit. The hike is about 4 miles round-trip, with a descent of about 800 feet down to the grove and then a steady climb back up. The trail goes through stunning redwood forest the entire way. It’s not overly difficult, but you’ll feel the incline on the way back so make sure to bring water and pace yourself. Once you reach the bottom, you enter the Tall Trees Grove, and it truly lives up to the name. The trees are humongous, ancient, and awe-inspiring. The light filtering through the canopy is magical, and the atmosphere is very meditative. Tips: Get your permit online in advance (especially during busy seasons). The drive to the trailhead includes a steep gravel road. A standard vehicle is fine, but take it slow. Bring layers as it can be cool and damp even in summer. Start early in the day to take your time and beat the fog. Don’t rush because this trail is more about the experience than the destination.
Parking area is plentiful, even with the limited passes. There’s a bathroom, trail information and the drive down here was on a dirt road and does take a bit of time. Just plan ahead and be prepared for the hike up the trail as it does get a bit tough at some points. The bottom around the trees is worth it and very beautiful! Definitely felt like i was in a Jurassic park scene!
Great experience with lots of beautiful trees and views. About 1/2 mile in you will get to the carved out passage through a tree. There is some downed trees you will have to navigate through. The initial descent is about 800 + feet for about the 1 1/2 miles before you get to the actual loop at the bottom. The trial is moderated in difficulty, but mostly on the way back up. The trial is very worth going to. You do need to have a permit prior to your visit, where they will provide you with the gate code.
We hike from Tall Trees to Redwood Creek Trailhead, beautiful trail but not a lot of places to camp along the trail between tall trees and the creek bed just near Elam camp. Access to the creek along this section of the trail is out of the question and makes the hike less enjoyable.
My favorite stop from my time in the park! Would highly recommend getting a backpacking permit to camp down in the valley.
Trillium Falls Trail
4. Trillium Falls Trail
4.8
(479)
Hiking area
Nature & Parks
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What an absolutely stunning hike. If you’re looking for a shorter walk, you can do an out and back hike without doing the full 2.5 mile loop. The trail has some bridges and benches, plus it’s pretty well maintained. Definitely recommend checking this place out, the waterfall is beautiful as well.
Trillium Waterfall Trail is an absolute gem! The trail starts with a bit of an uphill climb, but don’t let that discourage you—it’s completely worth the effort. Once you get past the initial incline, you’re surrounded by lush greenery, towering trees, and the peaceful sounds of nature. The real highlight, of course, is the waterfall. It’s stunning—tucked into the forest like a hidden treasure. The water cascades over mossy rocks, and the whole scene feels like something out of a fairytale. The trail is well-maintained and not overly crowded, making it perfect for a peaceful, refreshing hike. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a mix of gentle challenge and rewarding views. A truly beautiful experience from start to finish!
The trillium falls hike is absolutely incredible. We did the full loop and had the trail to ourselves most of the way. Most folks we saw were just hiking out to the falls and back the way they came, so there are options for everyone. The trail was full of lush ferns and the falls were peaceful. We got to see a few banana slugs as well! Overall this hike is incredible and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular!
Trillium falls is an excellent trail. Plenty of variation, you walk directly on the forest floor. There are some really cool redwood stumps with burned out centers that you can actually walk/climb into. We even found one 200ft+ living tree that had an entirely burned out center that you could walk into and see through the top. The falls are not very big, but the scenery around them is pretty cool. We didn't see any banana slugs at that time, but I'm sure if it had rained anytime recently, you'd find them by the falls. This is definitely a worthy stop, especially if you're going to continue out to Fern Canyon (which is an otherworldly, amazing experience too). I'll call this trail moderate only because it's not easy enough for me to call it easy. It's not difficult, though. I advise hiking boots with ankle support since you're walking on the forest floor and there's lots of roots to deal with. We took almost three hours to do it, but that's because we took a few hundred photos along the way.
This is a gorgeous trail. I only give it 4 stars because we went to another trail at Jedediah State Park that was even more beautiful (crazy to think thats even possible). This hike was a bit more strenuous than we expected. The hike to the falls was fairly quick and easy. And insanely beautiful. Like being in a movie. Just unreal. The trail beyond the falls is also beautiful but expect switchbacks for a good long while. If you just want the falls, I recommend hiking to the falls and turning back. If you want a bigger workout, and longer hike, then do the loop. The loop is pretty but nothing that exceeds the beauty of that first stretch of trail. Keep an eye out for frogs! 😍
It's a relatively short uphill hike to the falls. Very pretty but I know I was huffing and puffing my way through it. However, once you get there it's a pretty area with the bridge to look upon the falls. They are not big by any means. But it's serene and a nice resting spot to catch your breath. I did not complete the trail. I turned around and headed back as it seemed most people were doing.
This is the hike I had been looking for my whole trip. One of moderate difficulty, with some inclines and declines, a chance of slipping in the wet off-season, with a bit of distances at 2.5 miles and the loop containing a little bit of everything from the towering redwoods, moss-covered trees, a waterfall (not particularly special but beautiful all the same), a river as well as times listening to flowing water while others are so silent and peaceful. What more can you ask from such a short loop? I may not suggest it for someone who is not surefooted but if you like to hike that is qualifier enough you should check this one out.
This is an easy hike through the redwoods and ferns to a delightful small waterfall. What it doesn't have in the volume of water flow it makes up for in it's beauty. You can either go out and back or extend your hike by looping back to the Davidson Trail and returning to the parking lot. And be on the lookout for the roaming herd of Roosevelt Elk. They are often near the parking lot or visible from highway 101 or Davidson Road.
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