Grizzly Creek Redwoods Campground

There is one hike/bike site, but it doesn’t seem like there are any biking trails in the park. The hike/bike site is close to the park entrance right on the beach of the Van Duzen River, the perfect part of the river to go swimming. Romantic date with your bike, yes? (Don’t bring it into the water though.)

The Van Duzen River is great for non-power boating. Although the river fluctuates depending on the season (it can get pretty low in the summer), during the winter the currents can be pretty strong for class III kayaking and rafting! Don’t be a Van Doofus and miss out on this Van Duzen adventure. See the kayaking section below.

Grizzly Creek remains cool year-round for some relaxing, secluded fishing. Catch and release fishing is allowed in the Van Duzen River for steelhead and salmon migrating from the ocean. Sit back on the beach, take in that earthy redwood smell, and let the fish bite! Make sure you have a California fishing license!

Hikes here are short and sweet: the Memorial Trail, open during the summer thanks to a seasonal footbridge over the Van Duzen River, is a 1.25 mile loop through the forest. The Nature trail in the campground explains some of the local flora in a small hill of old-growth redwoods. The Fisher-Wouk trail has the most impressive redwoods, and if you follow the river west you’ll find the Devil’s Elbow for a great view of the park. There are 4.5 miles total of hiking that wind through the redwoods and the river, making for some rad scenery! Read all about it here.

The Van Duzen is a rad river for kayaking and canoeing. The rapids are class III for those with intermediate experience. Be wary that the water level changes each season, so the best time to head there is in the winter and early spring. If you’re up for a challenge, check out this hole-in-the-wall park!

The section of beach below the campground is a designated swimming spot in the river. The currents can be strong, so be careful out there! (Don’t let your swimsuit wash away!) There’s also a swimming hole nearby if you’re down for some discovering. Take a dip in the river and dry off on the beach or under some redwoods while it’s hot!

Paddling downstream on the Van Duzen River is sure to become one of your favorite rafting spots once you try it! The scenery is absolutely astounding: before you hit some waves, take in the muted redwood forests and the birds chirping. Then round the Devil’s Elbow and paddle through some wild waves! If you’re not convinced, check out this blog post about the glories of paddling the Van Duzen.

Among the silent redwoods, you can hear twigs cracking beneath your feet. If you were one of the black-tailed deer living here, you’d probably be dinner for bobcats by now. Lucky for you, you’re just a camper who can do some wildlife watching: there are black bears, raccoons, spotted owls, Stellar’s jays, woodpeckers, and endangered marbled murrelets living in these redwoods. Maybe you’ll see river otters sprawling on the banks while great blue herons peck the waters for their lunch!