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
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
Morning light filtering through the canopy creates dramatic shafts in the mist here — arrive before the fog burns off for the best atmospheric shots.
