The West Ridge Trail joins the Friendship Ridge and James Irvine trails on a 12.8 mile loop through Redwood National Park. This challenging route sees lighter crowds and passes through miles of stunning old growth in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

During summer when inland temperatures are high, fog is drawn in from the coast and captured by the forest canopy; moisture drips to the forest floor and provides a steady source of nourishment for redwoods

Western Hemlock, which are more numerous in upland forests and high points along the loop, have bark with bark high tannins which native people used for dyes and cleansing solutions

Evergreen huckleberry bushes line lengthy stretches of trail and produce edible berries in great quantity by late summer

Roosevelt Elk bulls reach sexual maturity after 3-4 years and average 700 - 1100 lbs

Fog accounts for about 40% of redwoods' moisture intake

Turkey Tail is a polypore mushroom and a saprotroph, which means it draws nutrients from decaying matter

The West Ridge Trail climbs steeply from Prairie Creek to a ridge, where it moderates along many up-down intervals toward the coast to the Friendship Ridge Trail

Redwood sorrel is a perennial herb found throughout the park that grows low to the ground and favors cool, moist and shady conditions

Fairy Rings, an almost perfect circle of redwoods, occur when several bud-collar sprouts circle a fallen parent tree

Burls develop when the tree is very young (typically in a 'bud-collar' around the base) and assume a bulbous, knobby shape shape as the tree grows

The West Ridge Loop is among the longer and more challenging routes in Redwood National Park

Redwoods are one of the world's fastest growing conifers, with seedlings sometimes growing more than a foot per year