Redwood National and State Parks · California

Trillium Falls Trail

2.3 mi of trail, end to end · about 450 ft of climbing · 50 ft–304 ft · native surface · hiking

WaterfallsBridges

60 ft 70 ft · 2.0 mi high 302 ft

Along the way Trillium Falls Trail Bridge Trillium Falls Trail Bridge Trillium Falls Trail Bridge Trillium Falls Trail Bridge Trillium Falls Trail Bridge Trillium Falls

Hike to Trillium Falls the Park Service's write-up

30-90 Minutes · no dogs · season Temperate year round. Wet in winter.

Start Trillium Falls Trail: Elk Meadow day-use area

Best 1-hour walk in the Redwoods

A Highly Recommended Walk For the Whole Family

Located in the south of the parks, this is a family-friendly hike through old-growth redwoods, maples, past trillium flowers, ferns, and fir trees... with a small waterfall too! There are some switchbacks and an elevation gain of 200-feet to reach the falls.

The trailhead is located at Elk Meadow - just off Davison Road, three miles north of Orick. There are flush toilets, picnic tables and it has parking for vehicles of any size (busses, RV's, and trailers included). Because of the scenic beauty of the trail, and facilities at the trailhead, many rangers recommend this as one the best walks in Redwood National and State Parks. At the parking area, there is a good chance of seeing one of the Roosevelt elk herds that live in the park.

Trillium Falls is 1/2 mile from the trailhead and is a great photo stop and turn-around point. To protect the vegetation at the waterfall please stay on the hikers' bridge.

If you wish to spend more time under these giant trees, then you can do the full loop (back to the parking area) in less than 3-miles (5km). This extra section climbs and decends several hundred feet more.

Accessibility Trail is made of compact gravel, aggregate and wood. It averages about four feet wide. There is a moderate climb of 5-10% and switchbacks for 1/4 mile. Tree roots occasionally cross the trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 170 trails in Redwood National and State ParksFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.