Name: River Trail
Rating: 2.5

“A short trail connecting Little Bald Hills trailhead to Stout Grove trailhead along the banks of the Smith River.”

— Zander Göpfert

GPX File — Driving Directions

Overview

Features: River/Creek — Wildlife

Family Friendly: Explore the banks of the Smith River and look for birds and wildlife!

Dogs: No Dogs

Description

Access this trail at the marked trailhead off Howland Hill Road, across from Little Bald Hills Trail parking and trailhead.

Head northwest along the Smith River, which is the last major undammed river in California. In the summer months, these pristine waters flow next to an old-growth redwood forest, while being home to a thriving school of chinook salmon and steelhead trout.

Flora & Fauna

California bay, tanoak, Douglas-fir, Pacific madrone, and salal, huckleberry, and thimbleberry. Look for trout and salmon in the deeper corners and eddies of the river.

Contacts

Land Manager: California State Parks - North Coast Redwoods District

Rate Trail

Clear

2.5 from 2 votes

Your To-Do List

Your Difficulty Rating

Get On-Trail Navigation

Send to Phone

Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Aug 24, 2016

Randy Bertoli

Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, crossed the foot bridge and did the stout grove loop as well! Beautiful!

Full Details

Trail Ratings

2.5 from 2 votes

#15

in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

#13599

Overall

2.5 from 2 votes

5 Star		0%
4 Star		0%
3 Star		50%
2 Star		50%
1 Star		0%

Rankings

3 Views Last Month

70 Since Dec 22, 2016

Easy/Intermediate

		67%
		0%
		33%
		0%
		0%
		0%

Conditions

Minor Issues 96 days ago

Mostly Dry, Some Mud: Lots of cobbles and roots on trail. Mill Creek is not crossable in May 2017 to reach other side.

Update Conditions — History

Getting forecast...

Add a Photo

Photos

Redwood sunset.

You just can't get a sense of how massive these trees are from a photo.

The River Trail passes through these beautiful forest 'tunnels'.

Mill Creek meanders gently into the Smith River.

Stout Grove stays verdant and lush all year.

The Stout Grove Trail gives you a sense of just how small you are in comparison to these age-old trees.

Roots and cobbles define the trail surface on the River Trail.

While the River Trail is often damp, the moisture adds to its beauty.

Cedar Creek flows along the River Trail near Stout Grove.

Stout Grove Trail traverses beautiful verdant forests.

You can't get a feeling for the immense size of Stout Grove from a photo; you have to be there in person.

Cobbles armor the River Trail near Stout Grove.

The River Trail navigates through a corridor between age-old redwood forest and the Smith River.

Stout Grove is a must-see in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Fallen redwoods remind you that this area is constantly evolving, albeit slowly.

Cobbles armor the River Trail near Stout Grove.

A bridge crosses Cedar Creek on the River Trail near Stout Grove.

The Stout Grove Trail travels between unbelievably large redwoods.

Tall, tall trees along the River Trail.

The foot bridge over Smith River.

Stout Grove is a must-see in the park!

Stout Grove displays some truly unique forest scenery.

You'll have great views of the Smith River from the River Trail.

The confluence of Mill Creek and the Smith River is a beautiful scene.

Be careful on this slippery staircase along the River Trail near Stout Grove.

The bridge over the River Trail.

0 Comments

Thanks for the comment

Slow down, you've reached your posting limit

Nearby Hikes

1.3 mi 2.1 km

Stout Memorial Grove

Bertsch-Oceanview, CA

This trail makes you feel like you should see a dinosaur.

3.7 mi 6.0 km

Damnation Creek Trail

Bertsch-Oceanview, CA

1.1 mi 1.8 km

Yurok Loop Trail

Bertsch-Oceanview, CA

Nearby Gems

Stout Grove

Bertsch-Oceanview, CA

Enderts Beach

Bertsch-Oceanview, CA

Hiking Project is part of the REI Co-op family,
where a life outdoors is a life well lived.

Shop REI Hiking

0.9 Miles 1.4 Kilometers Singletrack	90' 27 m Ascent -226' -69 m Descent
234' 71 m High 98' 30 m Low	7% Avg Grade (4°) 20% Max Grade (11°)
Minor Issues 96 days ago — Update

River Trail

0.9 Miles 1.4 Kilometers

Singletrack

90' 27 m

-226' -69 m

234' 71 m

98' 30 m

7%

20%

Minor Issues

“A short trail connecting Little Bald Hills trailhead to Stout Grove trailhead along the banks of the Smith River.”