Trying to figure out where you can find redwood trees in Oregon? As a lifelong local, I have you covered!

Giant sequoias and coastal redwoods are native to California, but a handful of these majestic trees didn’t get the memo and made their way over to Oregon.

Known as being the tallest trees in the world, redwoods are am impressive sight to behold. By volume, Sequoias are known as the largest trees in the world and the size of these bad boys is mind-boggling.

The natural range for these trees is rather small and mostly limited to Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon and the Sierra Nevadas. Hot and dry summers make way for snow-laden winters, creating the climate is ideal for these trees to thrive.

Which begs the question — how in the world are there any redwood trees in Oregon? Great question. Oregon doesn’t boast the same elevation or even climate as the tree’s natural habitat, and yet – these redwoods in Oregon seem to be thriving.

So without further ado, let’s dive into the best spots to see redwood trees in Oregon.

Where to See Redwood Trees in Oregon

Redwood Trees in Portland

When my husband first moved from Atlanta to Portland he was stunned to see sequoias and redwoods in our neighborhood. We lived in Northwest Portland at the time and often passed Couch Park on our way to Trader Joe’s.

There, in full glory, we would come face to face with a stunning sequoia tree in the park. He was flabbergasted and promptly dove into research, trying to understand how Sequoias and redwood trees in Portland were even a possibility.

We learned that the city of Portland inventories all trees and counted nearly 500 sequoias and redwoods in Portland proper. Of those 500 trees, 93% are in good/fair condition. The trees naturally thrive in forests, and Portland is home to one of the largest urban forests in the country (Forest Park).

Did you know? Mature giant sequoia and redwood trees in Portland can store more than 6 tons of carbon.

So, you might be wondering, where’s the best place to see redwood trees in Portland? Well, the answer may surprise you.

Tucked neatly into the confines of Washington Park, one of the best parks in Portland, the Redwood Trail Loop is one of the best spots to see Oregon redwood trees within city limits.

REDWOOD TREES IN Oregon — The redwood tree at Couch Park in Portland, I’m standing in front of the trunk for scale

The Redwood Trail Loop at Washington Park

Hike distance: 1 mile loop
Elevation: Flat
Difficulty: Easy

One of my favorite hikes at Hoyt Arboretum (within Washington Park) is the Redwood Trail Loop because it takes you along a trail peppered with majestic Oregon redwood trees.

There’s a great Redwood deck that provides an interesting vantage over the healthy redwood grove below. Benches are provided for those wanting to rest their legs or enjoy a picnic.

This area is popular for weddings, so sometimes the Redwood Deck is reserved and you may not be able to walk on it, so try to visit during the weekday if your schedule allows.

best hikes Portland Oregon
where to see Redwood trees in Portland — The Redwood Trail Loop at Washington Park

Redwood Trees in Southern Oregon

Alright, so if the natural range of redwood trees is limited to California, it would make sense that the highest concentration of redwood trees in Oregon would be found in the southern reach of the state.

Growing to impressive heights of 250 feet (and 10 feet wide!), many of the redwood trees in southern Oregon can grow to be 2,000 years old.

Redwoods thrive on fog, using their tall canopies to absorb moisture from the air. You don’t even have to be a local to know that the Oregon coast is notoriously foggy!

As such, the Pacific Coast, which runs from norther California and Southern Oregon, creates an ideal climate for the coastal redwoods. Gray, wet winters and warm summers area perfect mixture for the foggy conditions that Oregon coast redwoods come to rely on.

If you’d like to know about the best spots to see redwood trees in Oregon, there’s two trails worth knowing about.

Oregon Redwoods Trails (Brookings, Oregon)

Hike distance: 1.7 miles
Elevation: 280 feet
Difficulty: Easy

There’s no denying that folks travel long distances to see majestic redwoods and sequoias firsthand. Hard to blame them, being in the presence of these ancient beauties is a feeling words fail to adequately describe.

Luckily for us Oregonians, we need not travel far because the coast is home to an impressive display of redwoods in Oregon. Case in point: the epic Oregon Redwoods Trail located less than 15 miles southeast of Brookings.

This quick 1.7 mile hike will deliver you in the midst of a breathtaking grove of Oregon redwoods you have to see to believe. Making matters more interesting, there’s ample interpretive panels along the path that explain the impressive lifecycle of these striking giants.

The trailhead starts in the forest and presents hikers with a fork in the road. The left will take you downhill to a series of switchbacks that leads to redwoods that get bigger the further you go. You’ll see a dense cluster of redwoods growing among soft ferns, making the hike feel like a movie scene.

Continue the loop to be rewarded with incredible views of the most impressive redwoods in Oregon before returning to the parking lot.

Local’s Tip: The Oregon Redwoods Trail is easy to find, just follow the signs off Highway 101. However, the road leading to the trailhead is a bumpy endeavor. We travel in our Prius and made it to the trail without a hitch, but heads up, it’s not a smooth ride.

Redwoods Oregon — Oregon Redwoods Trails | Image Courtesy Redwood Hikes

Redwood Nature Trail

Hike distance: 1 mile
Elevation: 290 feet
Difficulty: Easy

Found in the Siskiyou National Forest (near Brookings) the Redwood Nature Trail is one of the best spots to see redwoods in Oregon. The short trail meanders past a stunning grove of small to medium-growth redwoods peppered alongside Douglas-Fir.

This is a very tranquil hike full of interesting foliage, wildlife and birds. Likewise, this Oregon redwood tree grove is unlogged, which leads folks to assume it’s the oldest-growth redwood grove in Oregon.

Begin the hike at Alfred Loeb State Park and follow a scenic river trail before connecting with the Redwood Nature Loop. If you opt to start the hike at the state park, the trail leading to the Oregon redwood grove is around 0.7 miles.

While you won’t find any redwoods growing along the banks of the Chetco River, you will begin to notice larger redwoods the further uphill you climb. This is unusual because typically redwoods at lower elevations tends to be larger than the ones at higher elevations.

Local’s Tip: Open to learning something new? Pick up a FREE informational brochure at the trailhead and learn about the various plants you’ll see along the way. Oregon redwood trees aren’t the only spectacle along this pretty trail!

You May Enjoy Reading: Visiting Sequoia National Park in Winter

My husband and I spent a few days in Sequoia National Park during winter and have the photos to prove it. This helpful post covers a few things you should take into consideration before embarking on a similar trip. Hope you enjoy!