Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Howland Hill Road is unpaved, narrow, and can become impassable after winter storms due to fallen trees and washouts — check road conditions with the Jedediah Smith visitor center before driving out.
Slick roots and muddy sections are year-round features, not seasonal inconveniences — a twisted ankle is the most common trail injury here, so watch your footing on descents.
Trail Details
- 1
Drive Howland Hill Road from the east side via Elk Valley Road out of Crescent City — it's shorter and less rutted than approaching from the west, and you'll avoid the worst of the one-lane squeeze points.
- 2
Wear waterproof trail runners or boots with aggressive tread regardless of season — the trail stays perpetually damp under the canopy, and exposed roots turn into ice rinks when wet.
- 3
The most photogenic section is the stretch just before Fern Falls where massive fallen redwoods create natural archways — arrive before 10 AM when soft light filters through the canopy and fog still lingers in the creek drainages.
Photos
NPS
