Miners Ridge Trail

This 4.1-mile one-way route traces the footsteps of Gold Rush-era miners along a ridgeline that delivers some of the most dramatic coastal forest views in the Redwoods. You'll start in dense old-growth canopy — towering redwoods filtering the light into cathedral-green columns — before the trail opens up along the ridge with jaw-dropping vistas of the Pacific crashing against steep ocean bluffs. The path is well-defined but earthy, with root-laced sections that keep your eyes on your feet when they should be on the scenery. Ferns carpet the understory, and in the quieter stretches you'll hear nothing but wind through the canopy and distant surf. This is a one-way trail, so arrange a shuttle or plan on doubling back for an 8.2-mile day. Hikers who love history layered into wild landscapes will find this one hard to beat.