Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - Rhododendron Loop Trail

I've hiked this loop multiple times during the past two years, but finally, as of early March 2019, photographed some of the magnificent scenes observed along the journey. This trail once again proves, in my opinion, that Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is the best place to experience the grandeur of the redwood forests found in northwest California. The Rhododendron Loop takes about 3 hours to complete. I started northward from the "Big Tree" Parking Lot...and yes, there is a very big tree to gaze upon (see picture below). The trail then weaves through slightly smaller, but still big, trees for another mile or two, then ascends up the slope of a ridge, eventually reaching Cal Barrel Road, which I took on the westward descent back down to Foothill Trail. I then headed north on Foothill Trial back to the parking lot. Click here for a Prairie Creek State Park brochure.