Hiking to Enderts Beach in the California Redwoods

Looking for more great places to visit in Redwoods National and State Parks?
Take a hike through the incredible Stout Grove or go for a swim at Myrtle Beach.

CURRENT INFO

Information about Enderts Beach is available on the National Park Service website. Trail reivews are online on the AllTrails website. The book Hike the Parks: Redwood National and State Parks by John Soares is a great resource with information about Enderts Beach and many other hikes in the region.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at the small paved parking lot at the Enderts Beach trailhead.
• A well-maintained vault toilet is available at the lot.
• Pets are not allowed on the trail, as is the case throughout Redwood National and State Parks.
• Enderts Beach is known for its diverse tide pools. Check the tide tables in advance if you want to time your visit for low tide.
• The first section of the Enderts Beach trail hugs the cliff and is prone to erosion, causing occasional trail closures. When the trail is open, be aware that some sections are very close to the edge and may be a bit precarious. Use appropriate caution, especially with children or anyone who may be unsteady on their feet.
• Even if the trail is closed (or if you decide it’s not for you), don’t miss out on the amazing view of Crescent Beach, just to the north of the parking lot.

HIGHLIGHTS

Enderts Beach is the Northern California Coast at its best! Verdant green hills, hidden coves, and turquoise surf (when the sun breaks through the fog). Perhaps because of the short hike to get here, not to mention the relatively remote location, it’s not typically crowded. If you can, aim for a visit at low tide to explore the vast tide pools.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Kids plus beach — is there any better combination? Enderts Beach has sand (naturally), a shallow river perfect for little ones, and scores of rocks and driftwood to climb. My kids were thrilled to discover that someone had left behind an elaborate driftwood fort. After making a few modest changes, the fort was theirs. It was high tide, so we missed out on the tide pools. They are said to be some of the best in the region, so visit at low tide if you can.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There are numerous other beaches and viewpoints along this stretch of the coast. From the Enderts Beach parking lot, you can also hike the short but steep trail to Crescent Beach to the north. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park lies just east of Crescent City, where you can hike through gorgeous Stout Grove or swim in the Smith River at Myrtle Beach. To the south, in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, several different trailheads lead to Hidden Beach.

Hungry? Try out Sea Quake Brewing in Crescent City for delicious beer and food.

The day we left the California Redwoods for Southern Oregon, I planned one last hike. But this time, the focus wasn’t on trees, but rather the big, blue Pacific Ocean. From the time of our arrival in the region three days earlier, the beach had never been far, but had remained largely out of sight. Our hike to Enderts Beach would remedy that.

We lucked out with a relatively clear morning. Wisps of fog clung to distant headlands, but below us the sea was a brilliant, almost tropical turquoise. And I do mean below us — after parking in the lot at the trailhead and passing a few trees at the start of the trail, the path opened up to breathtaking views. What also took my breath away was just how close to those views we were. In a few spots, there was little between us and the rocky surf below. Little, at least, that would keep us from tumbling down if we strayed to close to the edge. Fortunately, the trail is wide. I held T’s hand tightly and stayed as far from the drop-offs as possible.

The scary part was mercifully short, and soon we were walking through a natural tree tunnel, the branches arching gracefully overhead. Through gaps in the greenery, we caught peek-a-boo views of the ocean as we drew nearer. In the final stretch through the forest, the trail grew rockier before opening onto a low bluff above the water. A dramatic walk over a natural stone arch led down to the sand.

The kids were immediately taken with the cozy beach tucked behind the arch. It was sheltered from the wind, and a shallow stream trickled gently over the sand, making it the perfect place to dig and build sand sculptures. For my part, I found that the large driftwood logs provided an ideal seat while the boys busied themselves in the sand.

T decided this was just the spot to try some amateur rock climbing. He discovered a route that wasn’t too steep that took him to the top of the arch, which he strode proudly across. He was so tickled with his accomplishment that he did it again, calling for me to watch him a second time.

Michael, meanwhile, returned from a stroll down the beach. Not far from our sheltered spot on the sand, he found a driftwood fort made with impressive skill. I called the boys over to check it out. What a find! J, who is the primary fort-builder in our family, couldn’t resist making a few small modifications of his own. We ourselves could never have built such an edifice, and just thinking about lugging those heavy driftwood logs into place made me tired. In fact, J and I had tried unsuccessfully to build a fort of our own earlier, but the beached logs were too cumbersome for us to manage. Now, here was the fruit of someone else’s labor, just begging for a couple of kids to come live the adventure!

We spent a few hours on the beach, and had the place mostly to ourselves. Another family arrived, but stayed largely out of view on the opposite side of the arch. A few other adults wandered down, and we passed a few more on our way back up. For such a beautiful spot, it was surprisingly off the beaten track.

Back at the parking lot, I took a few minutes to stop at the Crescent Beach viewpoint. A pale ribbon of sand threaded its way between green forest and blue sea. It stretched for miles, graceful and serene. When you come to the Redwoods, the trees command immediate attention. But listen closely, and you’ll hear the ocean’s call. For us, Enderts Beach was the perfect place to answer that call.