On our drive to the Tall Trees Grove trail in Redwood National and State Parks, we noticed a turnout for Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail along the scenic Bald Hills Road. Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail was recommended to us as an easier, family-friendly alternative to Tall Trees Grove. Since it was on the way, we decided to make a stop at Lady Bird Johnson Grove as well. Even though there are better hikes in the area, this short and easy trail is an excellent way for beginner hikers or kids to walk among the ancient redwoods and Douglas-fir forest.
Note: Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surrounding areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, no graffiti, no taking artifacts or fossilized items, and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!
Stats
Where
Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trailhead
Bald Hills Rd, Orick, CA 95555
41°18’12.2″N 124°01’05.2″W
Parking
Decent size paved lot. Parking on the side of Bald Hills Road is not safe and also not allowed.
Restroom
Vault toilets at the parking lot
Fee
Free
Pet-friendly
No pets are allowed on trail.
Distance
About 1.5 mi R.T.
Elevation Gain
104 ft
Level
Easy
Time:
45 mins – 1 hour
Ideal Time
Late spring, early summer if you want to see wildflowers. Summer can be hot and crowded.
Weather
Video
History of Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail is named after Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady, who actively promoted and encouraged the protection of natural habitats. In the mid-1960s, the beautiful old-growth redwood trees were being cut down all over these hills. With an effort to save the redwoods, Redwood National Park was officially established in 1968. In 1969, President Nixon dedicated this grove to Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady, to commemorate all of her environmental and conservation work. After that, there were multiple ongoing efforts to save the last remaining redwoods. Only 5% of the world’s old-growth redwood forest remains with half of that being in Redwood National and State Parks.
The Adventure
Getting There:
To get to Lady Bird Johnson Grove trailhead, from Redwood Highway (Highway 101), turn onto Bald Hills Road. It is a 2.5-mile drive to the parking area. This road is narrow, windy, and bumpy. There are also a lot of heavy trucks that use this road. Once the road passes under a large footbridge, you’ll immediately see a parking lot to your right. Get there early since the parking lot can get filled up pretty fast. Please note that parking on the side of Bald Hills Road is not safe and also not allowed.
The Beginning of the Hike
We started the hike from a footbridge at the parking lot. This footbridge crosses over Bald Hills Road. Once crossing, the trail climbs gently to follow an old roadbed. There is a QR code on the brochure box past the bridge. You can use this to download the NPS app and the numbered guide. These numbers correspond to the numbers on the small wooden posts sprinkled throughout the hike.
The Start of the Loop
At about 0.2 miles, you’ll come up to the start of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail loop. The trail is very well marked and mostly flat so it makes for a pleasant walk. We followed the loop clockwise. About 0.3 miles down, there is a dedication plaque for Lady Bird Johnson. As you hike further, the scenery gets better: lush green forest, interesting-shaped tall trees, and tons of cool mushrooms. The best part of this trail is right after the intersection for the Berry Glen Trail. It is a cluster of big redwoods.
Once you complete the loop, follow the main trail to go back over the bridge. As we said above, there are way better trails in the area such as Tall Tree Groves or the nearby Prairie Creek Trail near Prairie Creek Visitor Center. However, the Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail makes a wonderful stop if you have some time to spare, a beginner hiker, or have smaller children.
These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
adventure gear
This is our favourite hiking shoes. We use them for canyoneering as well. Lots of traction. Vy’s version.
Dustin’s version for La Sportiva shoes
Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.
Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.
You should always bring plenty of water. Vy loves the Camelback L.U.X.E.
For shorter hikes, the Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is perfect to hold water and your essentials.
If you want something lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket
other things to bring
Always good to bring some snacks with you. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
camera gear
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