Falling in love: Berry Glen Trail, Redwood National and State Parks
| Location: | Redwood National Park, California |
| Round Trip: | 6 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Elevation Gain: | 1200 feet |
| GPS Coordinates: | N 41 19.440 W 124 02.621 |
| Visitor’s Information | No Pass Required |
The Berry Glen Trail is one of the newest elements of the Redwood National Park. Being opened in October, 2010, this trail is the first one built in the Redwood National Park within the last decade. Its creation became possible thanks to the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Now this well-built and well-maintained three-mile trail connects the Elk Meadow Day Use Area, which is located about two miles north from Orick, California, with the remarkable Lady Bird Johnson Grove, thus providing the hikers with a great opportunity now to get from Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to the very Lady Bird Johnson Grove by only well-maintained trails.
Having decided to start your hike from the Elk Meadow Day Use Area, you’ll first have to follow the paved trail, which will later turn into a usual unpaved path, then cross a big wooden bridge across the Prairie Creek, and then cross Highway 101 just to find yourself at Berry Glen. Berry Glen is a place, where at 1930s a family was keeping a store, which was well-known at that depression era among the travelers for its fantastically tasty homemade berry pies. The trail got its name from this place.
The Berry Glen Trail runs further up the hillside. Numerous switchbacks, which are rather steep, may feel quite arduous for inexperienced hikers. The Berry Glen Trail may be interesting for the hikers as the forest, it passes through, changes several times. At the beginning you will pass some second-growth forest, but the deeper you go into it, approaching closer and closer the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, the size of the trees, as well as their age, increase.
The stroll through the old growth forest will become an awesome, incredible experience for anyone. There you feel like Gulliver, who got into the world of Giants. But real giants here are these majestic ancient trees. And walking along the trail you are already looking for some fabulous fairy-tale creature to pop up from the ferns, creeping at the bottom among the trees and hiding their roots. And the fact that people give names to some of the most unusual and extraordinary trees adds to their similarity with fantastic creatures
After all the hustle and bustle of a modern life in a city this peaceful place with serene views will let you just relax and soak in the beauty of this secluded place. In spring and in summer you may also admire the variety of wildflowers, growing along the trail.
Though being quite steep and strenuous at some places, the Berry Glen Trail is a worthy hike for everyone, staying at that area. The Berry Glen Trail is also a wonderful place if you want to provide your kids with some firsthand experience of communication with nature.
The trail is well-marked and has connections with several other trails.
Photo: Roman Khomlyak
Photo Editing: Juliana Voitsikhovska
Information: Svetlana Baranova
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