River Trail

This short out-and-back follows the Smith River — California's last free-flowing major river system — through a corridor of old-growth redwoods that block out most of the sky. The trail hugs the riverbank, weaving between massive trunks and fern-choked understory, with the constant soundtrack of moving water beside you. The path is mostly flat but earns its moderate rating from root-studded terrain and a few sections where winter storms rearrange the landscape. At a mile in, the forest opens to gravel bars along the river where the turquoise-green water is almost absurdly clear. This is a trail for anyone who wants the full redwood cathedral experience without committing to a half-day death march — and for photographers who understand that the best light in old-growth forest is the diffused, moody kind.