Fern Canyon is a Hiking Trail You Have to See to Believe

An hour and half’s drive south of Crescent City, California, and thirty miles past Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox at Trees of Mystery, you can find yourself on a bumpy and pot-hole filled dirt road. After ten miles of bouncing up and down and covering your vehicle in mud, you arrive at a trail through what can only be described as prehistoric beauty. Fern Canyon is located in Prairie Creek State Park, in the Northern California Redwoods and is a magical hiking trail that looks as though you are stepping back to the Jurassic period.

With rock walls, completely covered from ground to top with native ferns, guiding visitors to the back of the canyon, each step turns into a step back in time. Birds hide deeply in the tree top canopies above. While they cannot be seen, they can most certainly be heard. Their faint tweets and chirps playing a melody all their own.

Hiking back into the canyon visitors must be aware that getting a bit wet is more of a guarantee than a chance. This is especially true for visitors with small children as the small creek is ever calling out to be splashed and played in. In the summer months these serve as a perfect way of beating the heat and becomes its own natural water park for visitors. Between the reflections in the crystal-clear waters of the creek and the lush plant life incased within the canyon walls the area can often appear to be glowing in a vibrant green.

There are also camping spots available throughout the year but be prepared that you may be sharing your camp site with an elk or two, as a herd of protected elk also call Fern Canyon home. The wild salmon berries and thick green vegetation make a perfect location for wild life. Though there are basic rules to keep yourself and your property safe, animal observing is not only allowed, but encouraged to further education and a deep appreciation for creatures outside of the human species.

For Jurassic Park fans this area can almost feel eerily familiar and may cause them to expect a prehistoric beast or two to come rampaging through the canyon. This form of déjà vu comes expected as director Stephen Spielberg used Fern Canyon to shoot a few well-placed scenes within The Lost World, the second film within the Jurassic Park Series. With the prehistoric and unusual landscape, visitors can see why the director chose to feature this location within his work. Spielberg is not the only director that has been captivated by the majestic landscape of the Northern California Redwoods. Director George Lucas used areas within the Jedidiah Smith Redwoods for famous scenes in Return of the Jedi.

With the backing of Hollywood actors and directors, and conservation efforts, parks within the California Redwoods have remained open. Most of these parks are also free or incredibly affordable for people to visit. This makes them the perfect outings for those who need to get away from it all, even if it is just for a few hours. Though there are discussions each year to close or privatize more state and national parks across the country, those who grew up visiting these locations and with fond memories continue to fight to keep them open. In January of 2018 another government shutdown left much confusion in the world of state parks and recreation. Numerous state parks across the country were shut down, and many have not been opened since.

State parks provide affordable, family-friendly, outing opportunities while furthering conservation and a respect for nature within the public. Children brought up visiting national and state parks benefit not only on an educational stand point, but also in terms of healthy psychological development. These benefits extend past youth and into adulthood where being in nature boasts positive impacts on mental health and well-being.

For Shirley Landstrom, a frequent visitor to the canyon, the park is about finding calm like she cannot get anywhere else.

"It's a peaceful and tranquil place to be. Visiting is very uplifting, because of the beauty," she says with a smile, "It's God's handiwork."

Fern Canyon is more than just a hiking trail or place to see. It is a place that needs to be appreciated and fully experienced. From the creek to the scenery, all the way to the wild life and ecosystem, it is a place to satisfy not just your five senses, but to satisfy your soul.