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Fern Canyon is one of my favorite places in the world. Located in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, a mere thirty minutes north of Redwood National Park, this small, fern-covered canyon is an essential stop for anyone looking to tour the beautiful scenery in Northern California.
The canyon gained infamy for its role as the setting for part of Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World, and gives you the sense of travelling into another world. Eureka-Humboldt Visitors Bureau writes that the canyon varies from 50 to 80 feet deep, and that five types of ferns join mosses and other plants to cover the canyon walls. In the wetter months, small waterfalls form and drip down the moss and into the stream, creating a breathtakingly serene atmosphere.
A slow-moving creek runs through the middle of the canyon, and while foot bridges are laid out in the summertime, you’re likely to get a little wet no matter what time of year you visit. That being said, I’ve managed to easily hike through the canyon during almost every season (I haven't visited during winter, yet), so if you’re not against damp shoes or rain boots, the trip is definitely worth making.
Near the back of the canyon, you have two options: turn around and walk back the way you came, or hike up a set of stairs to the top of the canyon, where you can continue along the rim until you loop back to the parking lot. The loop is still quite short, bringing your total distance up to a mile, but is well worth the views.
Fern Canyon is a gorgeous, pristine place, in part because of its accessibility. If you don’t want to hike in, you must drive for some distance along a sometimes-flooded dirt road to access the trailhead. Although the road is passable for cars without four-wheel drive, it's narrow and somewhat steep at times. If you care a lot about your car getting dirty, this is not a drive for you… but honestly? I can’t say I’m too sorry about the road conditions. It keeps this beautiful canyon from being overrun with people, and helps to make sure that the people who do visit really want to see it--and hopefully really want to keep it in good condition, too.
The first time I heard about this canyon was in a book I bought as a kid: Kids’ Guide to the National Parks of California and Oregon, by Jenna and Laura Sullivan (not sponsored, just a purchase I was glad I made). It’s a good travel guide for children and families, and in it, the authors mention their struggle with whether or not to include Fern Canyon in their book, and risk it becoming overcrowded. However, they finally agreed that since the National Park Service has lots of information available on this canyon, they should put the word out, too--and I agreed.
I meant it when I wrote that stepping into this canyon feels like stepping into another world: it’s a sight to behold. Even though there's always some level of anxiety about sharing places and stories like this (for me, anyways), I think it's worth it to share the beauty of this incredible place. If you have the chance to visit this canyon, do so. You won’t regret it. Like this post? Why not share it?
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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