Trailspotting Hiking California, New Hampshire and More

Armstrong Redwoods, Russian River CA

• 4-star hikes
• ½ to 2 mile options
• Easy | Gain 70 to 500 feet
• Guerneville, CA | Sonoma County
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A person wearing a red shirt and backpack walks alone along a gently curving dirt path through a towering redwood forest. The path is bordered by low wooden railings and surrounded by dense undergrowth and lush ferns. Immense, straight tree trunks rise vertically on either side, their bark textured and deeply furrowed, with the canopy high above filtering soft sunlight onto the forest floor.

Giant redwood trees on the Pioneer Trail.

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve offers a serene and accessible opportunity to experience a grove of old-growth coastal redwoods. The park is home to several notable trees, including the towering Parson Jones Tree (310 feet tall), the Colonel Armstrong Tree, estimated to be over 1,400 years old, and the Icicle Tree, known for its dramatic burl formations, which are distinctive growths characteristic of redwoods.

For an easy and immersive redwood hike, we recommend the Pioneer Nature Trail which forms the backbone of the park and offers a trail that is ADA accessible and mostly flat. We've mapped a route that we've dubbed the Redwood Loop, which begins at the park entrance and visits all of the reserve's most iconic features.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Redwood Loop 1.7 mi part-loop, easy, gain 70 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 3★ Pool Ridge Short Loop 2.1 mi loop, easy, gain 500 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ 3★ Waterfall Trail 0.4 mi out & back, easy, gain 70 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

$ CA State Park fee

Those preferring to explore by car can still take in much of the redwoods’ grandeur via the park’s drivable roads. In addition to the main parking lot near the entrance, several smaller lots are located deeper within the reserve. Fortunately, the trail system is thoughtfully separated from the roadways, maintaining a peaceful, traffic-free atmosphere for hikers.

We also explored two additional trails within the reserve. The Pool Ridge Trail traverses gentle hills and is pleasant, though it offers limited visual highlights. The Waterfall Trail begins at a wooden bridge and leads to a viewpoint overlooking a small, distant cascade. Although the original viewpoint was closer to the falls, trail erosion has since shortened access. While these trails lack the visual drama of the main loop, they still provide a tranquil experience for those seeking less-traveled paths.