Every Trail Tells a Story
Berry Glen
Walk a “stimulus trail,” one of the rare cases where federal dollars built paths instead of pavement.
Experience upland redwoods with shafts of light that make every step a scene change.
Connect two landmarks – Elk Meadow and Lady Bird Johnson Grove – on one rewarding hike
Extending from Elk Meadow Day Use Area to Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Berry Glen Trail winds its way through both old-growth and second-growth redwoods. “Berry Glen” once meant fresh berry pies – the place was a 1930s wayside store for Highway 101 travelers – but now the name conjures switchbacks, tall trees, and a steady climb.
The upland redwoods are spaced just far enough apart to let light in. Slants of sunlight find their way between columns of bark, shafts of gold falling across the forest floor. The play of dark and light can feel almost theatrical – particularly on foggy days when the light diffuses and the whole forest seems to glow. It’s a redwood walk with atmosphere, where you become an extra in a drama starring tree and sky.
And here’s a rarity worth noting: federal money actually went to build this trail. Yes, some of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds – billions for roads, but a mere trickle for trails – ended up here. The California Conservation Corps put their shovels and muscle to work in 2010 and gave us Berry Glen. If only trails got even a fraction of the dollars that pour into asphalt, America would be a fitter, happier, more forest-loving nation. But I digress.
Berry Glen today feels wide, smooth, and fresh compared to many older redwood trails, which meander around boggy patches and tangle with roots. The only thing missing? A panoramic view. With all the climbing, you might expect a window to the sea or mountains – but the redwoods keep their secrets.
Hike it as an out-and-back from Elk Meadow, or if you’re feeling clever, arrange a shuttle and stroll the mostly downhill version from Lady Bird Johnson Grove back to the meadow. Either way, you’ll come away with a renewed respect for redwoods, sunlight, and the occasional small miracle of federal funding.
From Highway 101 in Orick, head 2.8 miles north to Davison Road. Turn west and drive 0.3 mile to plentiful parking at Elk Meadow Day Use Area. The signed trail begins at the south end of the large lot.
From Elk Meadow, descend a paved path and angle right past the grasslands, then cross Prairie Creek on a stout wooden bridge – often with Roosevelt elk lounging nearby. Cross Highway 101 carefully, then begin climbing on the Berry Glen Trail.
The path switchbacks through second-growth thick with huckleberry, then rises into bigger redwoods, ferns, and ridge-top forest. Eventually the trail levels and follows an old road trace before joining Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail near the grove’s dedication plaque. Loop the nature trail or simply return the way you came.