Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail in Redwood National Park

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One trail that cannot be missed in Redwood National Park is the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. This trail is full of tall tree, lush ferns, peaceful and well-groomed trails and quite easy to access. Being 1.3 miles in length, this trail can be fast, or you can spend a few hours here just soaking in the environment.  However you choose to visit this part of the park, you can guarantee it will be completely worth the time!

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE TRAIL DETAILS

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 3 miles (round-trip)
  • Trail: Loop
  • Elevation gain: 75 feet
  • Peak elevation reached: 1,333 feet
  • Best time of year to hike: Summer (though great all times of year)
  • To beat the crowds: Arrive before 8:00 am or after 4:00 pm
  • Footwear: Sneakers
  • Restrooms: Located at the trailhead, but not on the trail
  • Pets: Not allowed
  • Time needed: 45 to 75 minutes

 

PARKING AND TRAILHEAD FOR LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE TRAIL

Lady Bird Johnson Trail Parking area in Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail Parking area, courtesy of the National Park Service

The Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail is located off Bald Hills Road, which is the Main Road in Redwood National Park. The parking area is well marked and right next to the road, so it is easy to find.

The parking lot for the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail has enough spots for around 25 vehicles.  If the lot is full, there is no other parking nearby.  The trailhead can get quite full throughout the day, so you may have to wait (the trail is quite popular).  It is always a safe idea to get there earlier in the day to avoid crowds.  One bonus about arriving a bit earlier is that you may end up with some fog floating through the woods.  This can create dew on the plants and makes this almost a magical experience!

There are bathrooms at the trailhead, yet none on the trail.

LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE: TRAIL SURFACE AND ACCESSIBILITY

  • Trail surface. This trail is composed of hard packed dirt and has wooded bridges at some points which can get slippery. However, we never had any issues during our day even though there had been rain recently.
  • Accessibility.  This trail is not wheelchair accessible, but a person with a cane and in good overall physical condition could still do this hike with the elevation gain only being 75 feet.

PREPARATION FOR HIKING THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE TRAIL

This hike is short in length (around 1.3 miles round-trip) and has lots of shade so this hike can be done without too much preparation. Here are some items that we recommend you bring with you:

  • Water. You likely won’t need too much of it, but we recommend always bringing water on your hike.  
  • Rain gear. It’s not uncommon for it to rain in Redwood National Park, so we recommend checking the forecast and having at least a rain jacket. Other than what’s provided by the trees, it’s hard to find protection from the weather when on the hike.  A nice rain jacket or parka should be sufficient.
  • Shoes. The trail is very well maintained and has a large walking area.  Keep in mind there may be some standing water on the trail due to frequent rains in the region, so boots with a good grip would be recommended.  If all you have are sneakers or athletic shoes, those are fine as well.

HIKING THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE TRAIL FROM THE TRAILHEAD

Lady Bird Johnson Trail map in Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Trail Map courtesy of the National Park Service

Once you pull into the parking area you will easily find the trail entrance. On the trail you first will cross a bridge that passes over Bald Hills Road. There should be informational signs along the trail so keep an eye out.

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

After crossing the bridge, the trail continues for 0.2 miles until you reach the first intersection. Here you can take a right or a left because this is a loop trail. If you take a left (as we did), you will continue for 0.3 miles. Be sure to look up plenty as the massiveness of the trees is simply exhilarating.

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

At the next intersection, you will have the opportunity to head left onto the Berry Glenn Trail.  This is a nice walk, but you can also just take a right and walk the remaining 0.6 miles back to the first intersection near the bridge.  If you have the time, the Berry Glen Trail is definitely worth going on, but the surrounding scenery is essentially the same as the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail.

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

When you arrive back at intersection, cross back over the bridge and the hike will be complete!

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREST FIRES TO THE REGENERATION OF REDWOOD ECOSYSTEMS

Forest fires, while scary and once thought to be completely negative to a forest ecosystem, have quite a few benefits to redwoods in particular. Redwoods grow with a thick, fire-resistant bark which allows for redwoods to endure the heat and flame of a fire. So, when a fire goes through an area it eliminates trees like the Douglas Fir from the scene.  This allows trees like the redwood to grow in a more open environment.

Fires can also be beneficial when it comes to the wildlife habitat. Some areas of the park get flooded with primary and secondary growth of trees and bushes, which reduces grasslands for the native deer to feed on. By using controlled burns to supplement natural burns, this secondary and primary growth is eliminated.  This allows for grasses and other herbaceous plants to grow in the opened-out area.

LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE TRAIL: TOP LIKES AND DISLIKES

Likes:

  • An Easy Hike. This hike has very little elevation gain (around 75 feet) and has a good flat walking surface. It really is great for anyone in the family, and you can walk as much or as little of the trail as possible.
  • Amazing Immersion in the Trees. There is nothing like the notorious Redwoods of this park, and something about trees this large just simply takes our breath away every time we see them.

Dislikes:

  • Mud. Since there is plenty of rain and moisture, it’s possible that the trail will get quite muddy when wet.
  • Lack of Sweeping Views. Don’t expect to hike here and see amazing panoramic views!  But as long as you know that going in, it will be wonderful.

Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park

THINGS TO DO NEAR THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON GROVE TRAIL

This park has many great trails to see and explore. Here are a few things nearby we would recommend checking out.

  • Tall Trees Grove Trail. A bit further down the road, this trail is a bit more challenging but great to go on.  There is a permit required.
  • Redwood Creek Trail. This is an awesome trail in the park and is the only trail that allows backcountry camping.
  • Davison Trail. This trail is great for finding a way to get out of the crowds, but at 6.1 miles long, it is a bit more challenging.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK FROM JUST GO TRAVEL STUDIOS

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We are Amy & Pete Brahan. Very simply, we are passionate about our National Parks and Public Lands and explore them with our three kids whenever we can.

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