Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop
This loop hike shows off the many levels of the climax forest community.
Plan Around Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop Details
This loop trail in the northern part of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park begins at a marked trailhead off Walker Road, 0.4 miles from the Highway 199 junction. The trail follows what used to be the Crescent City Plank Road before it descends into a canyon. Although there are some grades and the trail is not completely level, it never gets very steep. As you hike, pay attention to the forest understory, midstory, and the towering redwood canopy: all of these plants make up a mature, or climax, forest. Jedediah Smith is the most unspoiled of the redwood parks, full of old-growth forest. A less visited trail than Simpson-Reed, the Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop makes for a more intimate redwoods experience.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
2.6 miles
Estimated time
2 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop
Compare nearby parks around Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Leiffer-Ellsworth Loop while the map context is still fresh.
0.2 mi away
Simpson-Reed Trail
This popular loop trail is a quick way to stretch your legs while seeing one of the more lush and moist old-growth groves in the park.
1.8 mi away
Jedediah Smith Visitor Center
Location, hours, and amenities available at the Jedediah Smith Visitor Center.
1.8 mi away
Jedediah Smith Campground
Jedediah Smith Campground is located amid old-growth redwoods, with great access to outdoor activities.
1.8 mi away
Mill Creek Trail
This horse and hiking trail offers scenic views and traverses several human-impacted ecosystems.
1.9 mi away
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
An astounding 7% of the worlds remaining old-growth redwoods can be found in this state park near the Oregon California border.
