Leiffer Loop Trail

Leiffer Loop is a 1.5-mile loop from the northern Walker Road pullout, counting the shared access path out to the circuit and back. The trail marker shows 0.8 mile and the trail map labels the core circuit at about 1 mile; the full outing from the pullout maps to about 1.5 miles. Allow roughly an hour. For a shorter forest walk, turn back at the lowland junction; continuing around the loop adds a sustained hillside climb and descent.

The approach winds gently through an alluvial flat beneath large coast redwoods, with ferns, fallen nurse logs and berry bushes along the path. Near the junction, the canopy opens onto a marshy patch. Stay on the Leiffer route there: the connected Ellsworth Loop is a separate, shorter circuit and is not part of this hike.

The Leiffer loop climbs along an old roadbed partly hidden by groundcover. The trees grow smaller higher up, and the slope gives a view back over the redwoods below. On the way down, redwoods return among maples and tanoaks; the last stretch winds through especially large trees. Visitors often value the quiet here, though the hillside climb is more effort than the lowland entrance suggests.

Some living redwoods have large hollows and scars from past fires. Ferns, moss and nurse logs add detail at ground level, and benches provide places to pause. A section of the old Crescent City Plank Road, once used to haul supplies inland from Crescent City, can still be seen on these trails. Coast redwoods, big-leaf and vine maples, western hemlock and California hazel grow here; spring brings trillium, wild ginger and clintonia.

Reach the north trailhead on unpaved Walker Road off Highway 199; at the only junction, the narrower left branch leads to a small semicircular pullout with room for about five or six cars. Large RVs, camper vans and vehicles with trailers do not have suitable parking here. A 0.75-mile section between access points is identified as wheelchair accessible, but the complete loop climbs a hillside and is not established as accessible. Junctions can be confusing, so check the signs and keep to the Leiffer circuit. Pets are not allowed on park trails.