Trees Of Mystery

At first glance, Trees of Mystery appears to be a tourist trap. Starting in Cresent City from the north and Eureka in the south, giant billboards dot Highway 101, and every hotel, campground, and visitor center houses their brochure. Trees of Mystery, however, is a family-friendly informational walk and ride through some of the giants located near Redwood National and State Parks. The park does have a $17 dollar entrance fee for adults and a $14 dollar fee for children; this fee includes a 20-minute round trip ride on the Sky Trail.

The Sky Trail is the feature that makes Trees of Mystery stand apart from anywhere else in redwoods. Here you have an opportunity to climb aboard a sky tram that holds six people and slowly glides through the forest canopy. From here you will look down onto aspens and firs that dot the edge of a clearing as well as the very tops of the redwood forest canopy. The tram ride provides an opportunity to see the towering redwood trees from a unique angle and perspective. Once you arrive at the top of the Sky Trail you'll have the option of checking out the observation deck, which has great views of the Pacific Ocean on a clear day, and then heading back down the Sky Trail for another one-of-a-kind view of the forest. Those up for a challenge can hike the 0.5-mile Wildwood Trail that leads back to the entrance of the park via a steep and moderate-difficult hike through some of the tallest trees in the park. Those who opt to take the Sky Trail back at the base will wind through another small section of forest paths to the Trail of Tall Tails. This is the last section of the Trees of Mystery, and one that children love. The Trail of Tall Tails is a short section of the park that is fully interactive; you will find carved redwood sculptures paired with press and play stories of Paul Bunyan's life. As you walking through, don't forget to look up, and down! The artist has included many surprising and whimsical carvings throughout the path. 

After walking through the Trees of Mystery, which ends up being almost 2 miles when completed, be sure to check out the gift shop and the attached Native American museum.