Austin Creek State Recreation Area

Austin Creek State Recreation Area offers diverse scenery — towering redwoods near the lower groves, creekside stretches, grassy hills and ridge overlooks — plus many trails, including steep routes like East Ridge and the Austin Creek Trail. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, picnicking and a generally quieter feel than busier redwood groves. Practical tradeoffs include a narrow, winding access road that can be challenging to drive, hot exposed sections where you should bring water, occasional overgrown or lightly maintained singletrack, and the presence of ticks. Dogs are restricted on many trails but permitted on paved roads.

Our summary of 53 traveler reviews.