Fern Canyon Trail

Described by Steven Spielberg as “an unforgettable natural wonder,” this place is truly magical.  The canyon is aptly named due to the abundance of flora that surrounds it.  You’ll quickly see why it was chosen as a filming location for Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.  The park is a designated World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. With minimal elevation gain, this 1.1-mile trail is a short excursion from Gold Bluffs Beach that leads you through a 50-foot deep walled canyon. The creek bed that leads through this canyon creates a bit of an obstacle course with downed trees and stumps. Navigating through will likely mean your feet getting wet, so come prepared. Small footbridges are installed during the summer. This is an out-and-back trail unless you want to continue onto the James Irvine Trail which will lead you to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park visitor center. This is a 5-mile moderate trail.