Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo revealed the stunning Redwood Sky Walk back in 2021, and it continues to be one of the most unique hidden gems in Northern California. The breathtaking pathway is suspended from the redwood trees themselves, hanging at a colossal 100 feet above the ground at its highest point.
Visitors can stroll along the Redwood Sky Walk for an unparalleled view of the biggest and tallest trees in the world, suspended about a third of the way up into the 250-foot canopy.
Not only is the giant pathway ADA-accessible, but there are no harnesses or helmets required because all structures are very substantial and completely safe. To be clear, this is not an adventure course, although there is a 369-foot “adventure segment” that sways in the wind, with open mesh decking so you can see through the platform. It’s the only section that is not ADA-accessible.
The Redwood Sky Walk has no stairs, but rather a long ascent ramp which measures almost identically to Hyperion, the tallest known redwood tree in the world at 380 feet. The experience is a “virtual redwood climb,” so you can truly feel the height of these spectacular trees on your way up into the canopy.
Most of the walkway is made from a fabricated aluminum material called Dynaplank, which is a durable tread surface. It takes you between wooden platforms, which were designed to have little impact on the trees from which they are suspended, allowing them room to grow.
The adventure section is created with just as much safety in mind, but it’s meant to make you feel especially aware of your height among the redwoods. Visitors can feel each other walking on the bridge as it sways gently in the wind, and the mesh railings make you feel more exposed.
The Redwood Sky Walk is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Sequoia Park Zoo, which is the oldest accredited zoo in California. At the zoo, you’ll find native California predators like bears and coyotes, playful otters, bald eagles, owls, red pandas, barnyard animals, and a variety of birds in a free-flight habitat. One ticket will get you access to both the zoo and the sky walk — and if you’re a resident of Humboldt County, admission is discounted. If driving by car from San Francisco, the trip will take about six hours.
Here in San Francisco, we’re lucky to live minutes away from the tallest, biggest trees in the world. You can head just across the Golden Gate Bridge and check out Muir Woods, which has amazing redwood trees that are between 600 and 800 years old and up to 300 feet (91 meters) tall. But if you’re willing to make a road trip up north, this new Redwood experience in Eureka is the ultimate California bucket list item.
🌐 Learn more: RedwoodSkyWalk.com