Fern Canyon
Hike Review
Fern Canyon is a popular trail located in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
I wanted to hike this a few years ago but was unable due to the high water flow (and my fear of hiking with wet feet).
There are numerous creek crossings, and it’s more fun with sandals on your feet. I’m not sure if there’s a path through the canyon where one’s feet can stay dry without waders.
The water was pristine and so was the surroundings.
Because we went in late winter/early spring, the ferns were mostly brown. I think in summer, the ferns turn super green and plentiful.
The trail was a little busy with more people on it than I had expected with the rain—albeit light— we were getting. Some people showered in the waterfall water, which looked like lots of fun!
We brought hiking poles, but it wasn’t necessary as the water flow wasn’t too heavy.
Because of the high flow of Squashan Creek, the parking lot was closed. Rather, we had to park at Golf Bluffs Beach Campground and walk on Davison Road. Still, the restroom at the Fern Canyon trailhead was open, which was nice.
What I Learned
I love my Bedrock 3D Adventure Sandals. They grip like crazy, are super comfortable and are super light (especially compared to the still-good Chacos). Cassie had yet to get her own sandals, so she suffered with her trail runners—it wasn’t so bad, as she had her waterproof socks, but she was definitely jealous of my sandals.
What Happened?
5.1 miles, 2 hrs 50 mins, 240 ft of ascent
Fern Canyon was a destination that I definitely wanted to introduce Cassie to, so we made it a priority to carve out time for it—we spent less time at Eureka and headed up without stopping anywhere else.
We arrived after an adventurous drive on Davison Road and quickly changed in the car for a wet (rain + stream-crossing) multi-hour hike. Due to the elevated creek levels, the road to the trailhead was closed to cars. It was open to hikers (thankfully), so we started the hike at the campground. This meant that the first mile was a flat, quiet walk on Davison Road. It would have been boring, except for the beautiful views in all directions.
We soon found ourselves at the mouth of Fern Canyon, and unlike last time, I dove straight into the current and started trudging across the stream. Cassie was a little more wary, but after a few stream crossings, she gave up the quest of keeping her feet dry and went straight into the stream.
Once we got a quarter mile or so into the canyon, the views turned magical and I felt transported into another world—everywhere I looked, it was a visual treat. Thousands of fern plants were jutting out of the canyon walls—it was as if a fern field were turned 90 degrees. The color palette consisted of all shades of green, a few different shades of brown, and some light gray stones of the creek. The sound though, is what made it seem even more otherworldly. At times, the roar of the creek and the numerous waterfalls bounding within the confined canyon walls was deafening. It drowned out all other noises and yet, at other parts of the canyon, things were quiet and I could focus on the sounds of the pebbles being displaced as I stepped through the canyon.
In what seemed like a blink of time, we made it to the end of the Fern Canyon trail (where the flora overwhelms the trail), but since we had a bit extra time, we decided to explore an offshoot of the canyon. We made it a quarter mile into this side canyon, meditated for a short duration, and then started back as we wanted to be on the road before dark.
Throughout the walk back, we could not help but marvel at the beauty that surrounded us. It was such a special hike for both of us and it just whet our appetite for more canyon hikes.