Best Time to Visit Redwood National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit Redwood National Park are April, May and August — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. June is the crowd peak (95,116 monthly visits); December is quietest at 24% of peak.

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Bring for Redwood in April

Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy)See it on AmazonWhy: mornings average 43°F.
Rain shell + pack coverSee it on AmazonWhy: 6.6″ of precipitation is normal this month.
Waterproof bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: 6.6″ of precipitation is normal this month.

April is one of Redwood's best months. Going in another month? Pick it in the month row above: each month page has its own list.

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Current NPS alerts (as of 2026-10-31, live conditions →):

DeMartin Trail and Campground (Information)
44 Creek Bridge Failure (Information)
Delays along Highway 101 (Caution)

Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at Redwood, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

Redwood in December24% of the June peak Redwood in January26% of the June peak Redwood in February26% of the June peak

Monthly crowd curve

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Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

View from forest floor looking straight up. Ferns as seen close up and redwood trunks meet. — Redwood National Park — photo: NPS Photo / Steve Olson (public-domain NPS media)

Redwood month by month

Month	Verdict	Avg visits	% of peak	High / Low	Precip	Daylight
January	Shoulder	24,578	26%	55°F / 39°F	13.4″	9.5h
February	Shoulder	24,451	26%	56°F / 39°F	10.7″	10.6h
March	Shoulder	31,915	34%	57°F / 40°F	10.7″	11.9h
April	Best window	40,599	43%	59°F / 43°F	6.6″	13.3h
May	Best window	64,976	68%	61°F / 47°F	3.6″	14.5h
June	Peak crowds	95,116	100%	64°F / 47°F	1.8″	15.2h
July	Peak crowds	91,104	96%	66°F / 53°F	0.3″	14.9h
August	Best window	80,684	85%	66°F / 51°F	0.3″	13.9h
September	Peak crowds	71,819	76%	67°F / 50°F	1.3″	12.5h
October	Shoulder	49,415	52%	63°F / 45°F	5.0″	11.1h
November	Shoulder	28,514	30%	58°F / 41°F	10.1″	9.9h
December	Shoulder	22,579	24%	54°F / 38°F	15.3″	9.2h

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station KLAMATH, CA US (4 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit Redwood each year

Redwood National Park had 1,202,480 recreation visits in 2025, 93% more than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2025, with 1,202,480. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 625,750 visits a year, which makes it the 30th least-visited of the 63 national parks.

Year	Recreation visits	vs. year before
2025	1,202,480	+93%
2024	622,883	+52%
2023	409,105	−11%
2022	458,400	+5%
2021	435,879	+64%
2020	265,177	−47%
2019	504,722	+5%
2018	482,536	+8%
2017	445,000	−17%
2016	536,297	+2%
2015	527,143	—

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for Redwood in April

Computed from April's weather normals — Redwood's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 43°F
Rain shell + pack cover — 6.6″ of precipitation is normal this month
Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 6.6″ of precipitation is normal this month

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Common questions

What is the best month to visit Redwood?

April, May and August rank best for Redwood on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight. The numbers are on Redwood in April.

What is the most crowded month at Redwood?

June: an average of 95,116 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is December, at 24% of the June peak.

When is Redwood least crowded with decent conditions?

December. It is the park's quietest month (24% of the June peak, 22,579 average visits) without harsh-season weather.

How many people visit Redwood per year?

What is the weather like at Redwood through the year?

The warmest month is September, with average highs of 67°F. The coldest nights come in December, averaging 38°F. The wettest month is December, with 15.3″ of precipitation. (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, KLAMATH, CA US station.)

Redwood month by month: notes from the park service

January: January at Redwood is wet-season planning. The park service keeps dispersed camping along Redwood Creek closed from October 15 to April 1 because of high water, and Davison Road's two stream crossings to Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach are harder after rain (high clearance recommended).
February: February at Redwood is high-water season on Redwood Creek, where the park service closes dispersed backcountry camping from October 15 to April 1. Wet weather also affects Davison Road, the route to Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, whose two stream crossings get harder after rain; the park recommends a high-clearance vehicle.
March: March at Redwood is still inside the high-water closure for backcountry camping along Redwood Creek, which the park service keeps shut from October 15 to April 1 (and says the dates can move with the creek level). The Tall Trees Trail needs a reservation whatever the month.
April: April 1 is the date the park service gives for reopening dispersed camping along Redwood Creek after the winter high-water closure, though it notes the date can shift if the creek runs high. Plan the Tall Trees Trail ahead: it takes a reservation all year.
May: May at Redwood comes after Redwood Creek's high-water closure, which the park service lifts on April 1 (dates can shift with the creek), so dispersed backcountry camping along the creek is open again. The Tall Trees Trail keeps its year-round reservation rule.
September: September is the last full month before Redwood Creek's seasonal closure: the park shuts dispersed camping along the creek from October 15 to April 1 for high water. Book the Tall Trees Trail ahead, since it needs a reservation in every season.
October: In October, one Redwood trail needs planning ahead: the park service requires a reservation for the Tall Trees Trail year-round. October 15 is also when dispersed camping along Redwood Creek closes for the high-water season, until April 1.
November: November at Redwood falls inside the creek-side camping closure: the park service shuts dispersed camping along Redwood Creek from October 15 to April 1 for high water. Rain also makes the two stream crossings on Davison Road, the way to Fern Canyon, harder; a high-clearance car is recommended.
December: Two things to know for a December trip to Redwood. First, the Tall Trees Trail needs a reservation in every season, winter included.