Ultimate Guide for a Redwoods Elopement
If an enchanted forest wonderland sounds like your wedding vibe, then you HAVE to considering a redwoods elopement. These gigantic trees grow in coastal environments with plenty of moisture, mostly along the coastlines of northern California and southern Oregon. Because of the unique environments that redwood trees prefer, choosing to elope near them usually means you get both beach and forest scenes for your wedding photos! But since it’s such a wide area that these gorgeous trees call home, there’s a lot to know about how to elope in the redwoods. This guide covers it all!
About the Redwoods in Northern California
The most dense (and highly protected) redwood forests can be found in the Redwood National and State Parks in northern California. Technically Giant Sequoias are a type of redwood, but we’re talking about coastal redwoods in this blog. I write a lot about national park elopements, so it may stick out to you that this area is known as the Redwood National and STATE Parks (RNSP). This area encompasses 1 national and 3 state parks: Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. In 1968, the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service agreed to jointly manage this collection of parks to give them the best possible protection of resources.
Now that we’ve got the nerdy park structure details out of the way, let’s talk about how gorgeous these parks are for redwoods elopements! The richly colored trees towering overhead are just one part of the lush forests in these parks. In fact, redwoods foster their very own unique ecosystem! Soil mats grow on their branches so the redwood forests are filled with ferns, lichen and moss that provide the perfect environment for wildlife to thrive. So when I say you are totally getting an enchanted forest vibe when you plan to elope in the redwoods, I mean it! Walking into these forests feels like stepping into an entirely different world.
When to plan a redwoods elopement
As with any outdoors elopement, you’ll need to consider the season when you plan to elope in the redwoods. While the weather is generally mild in this area, averaging between 40-60 degrees year-round, rainy season runs from November to April. Summer can be very busy in these areas (and also bring lots of mosquitoes!), so my recommendation is to choose a shoulder season in spring or fall.
How to legally elope in California
Before you have a destination elopement, you’ll need to secure the right paperwork. Here’s everything you need!
Best locations for a redwoods elopement
Because there are so many different parks in this area, there are SO MANY options for perfect redwoods elopement locations! Inside RNSP, each location has a different capacity for guests, so it’s important to be mindful of that when choosing a spot. Here are some of my top picks!
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
This is a personal favorite choice for a redwoods elopement. Located just below the Oregon border, the trees here are massive and there are so many great elopement locations! River Trail allows a max capacity of 8 people and features beautiful downed redwood logs for a unique look. Organ Donor’s Grove and Templeman Grove both allow a capacity of 20 people. Weddings are not allowed in Stout Grove.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
This is one of the more underrated spots withing Redwoods National and State Parks. It’s also right along the coast, so it provides for some great beach vibes if that’s what you’re into! Crescent Beach allows weddings for 20 people or less seasonally between October and May. It’s also dog-friendly!
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
This park is jam-packed with redwoods elopement location choices. While ceremonies are not permitted on the popular Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, James Irvine Trail or in Fern Canyon, there are plenty of other options. Prairie Creek Amphitheater has more traditional wedding vibes with seating and a capacity of 20 people. If you have a smaller group, check out Berry Glen’s lush fern meadows with a capacity of 6 people. It’s a great alternative to Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail since this trail connects to that grove.
High Bluffs Overlook is the perfect choice for coastal views, while Schmidt Grove and Lost Man Creek have gorgeous redwoods and all allow 20 people. Zig Zag #2 (10 people) and Merriman Grove (8 people) don’t have redwoods, but they do have total Jurassic Park vibes (it was filmed in this region!) and are great for smaller groups.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Outside of the Redwood National and State Parks vicinity, there’s Humboldt Redwoods State Park. This park lies by itself south of the town of Eureka, and requires entirely different permitting for a redwoods elopement than the other parks that lie within RNSP. The permitting system is relatively new here, and you’ll have to mail it in.
Lagoon Creek Beach
You’ll find Lagoon Creek Beach about 5 miles north of Klamath. Not only is the beach gorgeous, but the way the land is shaped here lends itself to collecting driftwood on the shore. You can also spend time at the lagoon pond here, or hike to a viewpoint that overlooks the cove.
Oregon Redwood Trail
If you’re wanting to adventure into southern Oregon, this is the best place to elope in the redwoods there. These trees aren’t as big as the ones you’ll find in RNSP, but heading this direction will allow you to access some other beautiful spots on the southern Oregon coast. In fact, I wrote an entire guide about eloping here!
Big Sur
Technically this spot is well outside of the Redwood National and State Park area, but there are redwoods here, especially in places like Limekiln State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. If you’d like to go this direction instead for your redwoods elopement, check out my guide to a Big Sur elopement!
Where to stay for a Redwood National Park elopement
Like I mentioned, this area is not super populated, so don’t plan a redwoods elopement expecting to find sprawling resorts and fancy restaurants. The towns here are humble and quiet, so lodging will be too. Here are some of my favorites I’ve found.
Infinity Ocean View with a Hot Tub
Rustic Private Cabin Close to the Beach
Things to do for a redwoods elopement
Okay OBVIOUSLY the best things to do for a redwoods elopement include visiting ALL of the state and national parks in the area! Outside of that, Eureka and Crescent City are going to be the most populated areas to stop in. They’re still relatively small and quiet areas, but I rounded up some food and activity options for you there.
Food
Café Waterfront, Eureka – oyster bar in an old saloon
Sea Grill, Eureka – classy restaurant with craft cocktails, seafood and steak
Gill’s By the Bay, Eureka – pretty waterfront views
SeaQuake Brewing, Crescent City – modern brewery with bar favorite options
CC Diner & Ice Cream – classic old-timey diner and ice cream counter vibes
Activities
Redwood Trails Horse Rides – what’s better than walking through the redwoods? Horseback riding through them! I grew up riding horses and would love to capture photos of you and your person adventuring through the woods on horseback!
Kayak with Kayak Trinidad – the coast in Trinidad is truly gorgeous with the blue waters and seastacks! You can rent kayaks and paddleboards here or even take guided whale and wildlife tours .
Walk the Redwood Sky Walk at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka – this series of bridges through the trees is one of the most iconic sights in redwood country and a great way to see the forests from a different vantage point.
Go on a Boating and Oyster Tasting Tour – Humboldt Bay is considered the Oyster Capital of California and this company will take you on a 4-hour boat ride to get you up close and personal with the oyster experience and then fix them up so you can taste authentic oysters from the area.
Visit Battery Point Lighthouse and Museum in Crescent City – this cute lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places
Visit the unofficial Bigfoot Musuem – if you’re into cryptids, the Willow Creek-China Flat Museum is unofficially known as the Bigfoot Musueum. Learn more about this mystical creature and sightings of him in the area.
Tour the Dick Taylor Chocolate Factory in Eureka – while these factory tours are closed for COVID as of August 2022, you can still visit the shop and café.
Mendenhall Studios – this artist compound is home to 20 different artists including glass blowing studios.
Picnic on the coast at sunset – for a super romantic evening, have a picnic on the coast! It’s also a great place to get some extra portraits together.
Let me help you plan a redwoods elopement !
Does this all sound absolutely gorgeous to you or what?! My husband and I love the redwoods and have enjoyed our time there so much. If you’re ready to adventure there with us, we’re ready! I can help you plan the magical enchanted redwoods elopement of your dreams.