Wednesday, August 7
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Unceded land of the Yurok Tribe
15.11 miles
2,047′ ascent
1,881′ descent
Karl Knapp Trail and up Zig Zag #2
West Ridge Trail to Friendship Ridge Trail
James Irvine Trail back to headquarters
This is the last hike of our summer break and we eagerly hit the trail at 8:15 am. The first few miles of the Karl Knapp Trail are flat and wide to accommodate strolling tourists. Luckily we are ahead of them all for now. We hike alongside the stunning and beautiful Prairie Creek where there’s even a full fledged bridge troll.
We pass cutoffs to Drury Parkway and Zig Zag #1 Trail. After this point, the trail gets more challenging and overgrown. After climbing through and over the massive root ball of a downed redwood, we take a short snack break at the edge of the trickling Prairie Creek.
We start the steep climb up Zig Zag #2 Trail and pass a couple older hikers. To our surprise, we are stopped by a giant redwood across the trail. The thing is way too big to climb over. Erin is able to squeeze through between a broken end and a large huckleberry shrub. I take the long route and bushwhack through the dense forest. This tree was definitely not down when I hiked through here a week ago.
At the top of Zig Zag #2 we merge with and take a right turn onto West Ridge Trail. We follow this segment almost two miles until the junction with Friendship Ridge Trail. We turn left and start switchbacking down on the hunt for a good lunch spot. After maybe a half hour we come to a spot where there’s a bench. I sit on my mat on the ground and Erin takes the bench.
Deep in the dark forest, lunch is a bit chilly and I almost need another layer. After lunch, I realize that I have hiked a ways without restarting my watch. We pass a hidden trickle of water before finding some Western hemlocks who aerial roots are putting on a magnificent architectural display.
Throughout the whole Friendship Ridge Trail we’ve been following what seems like very fresh elk poop. I keep thinking that we will catch up with them and that they must be around the next corner. We hear voices as a group climbs up towards us. We stop and chat with the first two people while the rest of the older group catches up. They’re out doing a nice loop too.
At the junction with the James Irvine Trail we turn left, opting not to go the short distance to Fern Canyon. There are a few tourists which we pass. It’s hard to tell if they started from Fern Canyon or have to hike all the way back to park headquarters.
The trail goes quiet for a while before two young women smelling of marijuana are approaching us. They ask how far it is to Fern Canyon. I make my best guess and they seem super stoked about their hiking accomplishments so far. Sure hope they can make it all the way back.
We pass a few more hikers and a family with sneezing and wildly climbing children. The afternoon flies by and we’re back at the car just before 3pm.
Journey Return 