Every Trail Tells a Story
Cathedral Trees
Experience the best short hike in the redwood parks – Trailmaster’s pick.
Marvel at family circles of Cathedral Trees and the massive Big Tree.
A lush, jungle-like walk that delights both kids and adults.
Call it Big Tree Loop, Cathedral Trees Loop, or Stop ‘n Gawk. Whatever the name, this is the Trailmaster’s pick for the single best short hike in the redwood parks. If you only have time for one hike, do this one.
Why? Because in less than three miles you’ll encounter nearly every element that makes a redwood walk unforgettable. The giants themselves, of course, soaring like stone columns in a Gothic cathedral. The lush green understory – ferns, redwood sorrel, salal – providing a living carpet. The moss-draped big-leaf maples adding a softer, almost mystical layer. And then the cathedrals: family circles of redwoods that rise in perfect rings from the stump of a long-fallen ancestor. These groupings are architectural marvels in their own right, natural cloisters shaped by fire, storm, and regeneration.
John Muir, who had a knack for bestowing sacred titles on earthly places, would have loved the Cathedral Trees. He named Yosemite’s Cathedral Peak and Cathedral Lake, and it’s easy to imagine him dropping to his knees here, hushed by the power of light filtering down into these sylvan sanctuaries. Many hikers report the same instinct – even kids, who often walk into the grove wide-eyed, suddenly quieted by the enormity of it all.
But make no mistake, this isn’t some somber, incense-filled service. It’s fun. Kids love the jungle-like feel – ferns taller than they are, logs as wide as school buses to climb on, hidden nooks to explore. Adults love that the loop is just long enough to count as a “real” hike but short enough to leave time for other adventures. It’s also easy to improvise. Want a quick hit? Just do the Circle Trail, a lush quarter-mile stroll that includes the famous Big Tree – 304 feet tall, 21 feet wide, and, yes, absolutely deserving of the name. Want a little more mileage? Blend in stretches of Prairie Creek Trail or linger along the Foothill Trail.
Frankly, while I love Cathedral Trees Trail, I never hike the same loop twice. One of the joys of Prairie Creek is that there’s always another variation, another path through the ferns and fog, another way to let the redwoods surprise you. So feel free to improvise. Start from the Visitor Center for a slow build-up into the forest or jump straight to the Big Tree Wayside for an instant dose of awe. Either way, you’ll come face-to-face with those splendid congregations of trees that naturalists long ago likened to cathedrals,
From Highway 101 about 4 miles north of Orick, exit onto the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Drive 0.5 mile to the signed entrance for Prairie Creek State Park. Turn west and drive 0.1 mile to the campground entry/kiosk and the Elk Prairie Visitor Center. Park in one of the two lots on either side of the road.
From the trailhead near the park entry road, follow Cathedral Trees/Elk Prairie Loop east, dipping under the parkway and crossing Boyes Creek. At 0.2 mile, bear right on Foothill Trail, then continue on Cathedral Trees Trail at 0.4 mile. Meander among the family groupings known as cathedrals, complete with nursery logs sprouting ferns and saplings. Cross Cal Barrel Road at 1.1 mile and reach Circle Trail at 1.5 mile to view Big Tree. Continue on Foothill Trail, re-cross Cal Barrel Road, pass Rotary Grove, and close the loop back to the visitor center.