What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
King Peak Trail
A popular adventure for visitors to the area, this trail offers incredible views of the scenery.
Length: 4.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Lost Coast Trail
Located right in the King Range Wilderness, this trail is perfect for backpacking, but visitors can also choose to start and stop at any section for a shorter hike.
Length: 25.3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Bull Creek Flats Trail
This seasonal trail offers beautiful views of wildflowers during the summer and is great for hiking during the fall.
Length: 8.6 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Saddle Mountain Road
A popular option for OHV riding, this trail is also a great option for hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
Length: 3.5 miles
Intensity: Easy
Grasshopper Mountain Trail
This challenging trail near Honeydew offers incredible opportunities for spotting wildlife.
Length: 14.5 miles
Intensity: Difficult
Fishing and Boating
The South Fork of the Eel River is one of the best local places to fish, swim, or boat. Salmon is the most common catch, but trout are also frequently spotted. Visitors can access the river at Richardson Grove State Park or Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Climbing
There are dozens of rock climbing opportunities near the King Range Wilderness. Moonstone Beach, for example, provides 44 traditional, sport, top rope, and bouldering options. Sue-meg State Park offers 51 climbs. Most are traditional routes, but there are also many top rope options and some bouldering, sport, and aid routes.
Wildlife Viewing
Visitors to the King Range Wilderness are already in the perfect place to view or photograph wildlife. Birds are generally the most commonly spotted creatures, and local species include bald eagles, peregrine falcons, California brown pelicans, Northern spotted owls, and osprey. Elk, deer, black bears, gray foxes, bobcats, pine martens, newts, and salamander are also common sights.
Picnicking
One of the best nearby picnic areas is the Redwood Creek Picnic Area. This location provides shaded picnic tables and restrooms. Visitors can also head to Richardson Grove State Park. There are shaded picnic tables, and the park provides easy access to hiking, fishing, and swimming options.