Redwood National and State Parks
Hatton Trail
easy_moderate Quick StopsForest BathingPhotographers
0.3 mi Distance
Varies Estimated Time
one_way Trail Type
What to Expect
The Hatton Trail is a brief dip into the damp, fern-draped understory that makes Redwood country feel like another planet. At just a third of a mile, this isn't a destination hike — it's a doorway. The trail threads through moist forest floor thick with sorrel, sword ferns, and the kind of green-on-green layering that photographers lose their minds over. The footing is soft earth and occasional root, shaded almost entirely by the canopy overhead. It connects you to the longer Hatton-Hiouchi Trail, so think of it as the appetizer before a proper meal. The payoff here isn't a vista or a waterfall — it's immersion. Within minutes you're swallowed by old-growth atmosphere, surrounded by the quiet drip and creak of a living forest. Perfect for hikers who want a quick taste of the redwood understory or need a mellow connector to a longer route.
Safety Advisory
Slippery roots and muddy patches are common year-round due to the moist understory — watch your footing, especially after rain.
Trail Details
Distance 0.3 miles round-trip
Difficulty easy_moderate
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type one_way
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Hatton Trail
Pro Tips
Trail Tip
Use this as your launching point for the Hatton-Hiouchi Trail — it's short enough that the real decision is what you do once you connect to the longer route, so plan your mileage accordingly.
Trail Tip
The forest floor stays damp well into summer, so wear shoes with decent tread even though the distance is trivial — smooth-soled sneakers will slide on wet roots and mud.
Trail Tip
Morning light filtering through the canopy creates dramatic shafts in the mist here — arrive before the fog burns off for the best atmospheric shots.
