National parks near Hayfork, California
Redwood National Park is the closest national park to Hayfork, California — 66.9 mi (108 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 2 min behind the wheel.
Redwood and Lassen Volcanic make a full day trip — leave early. Crater Lake is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Hayfork gates the entrance itself, but 6 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Hayfork has a population of about 2,368.
National parks near Hayfork
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood National Park | 66.9 mi (108 km) | 2 hr 2 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 88.5 mi (142 km) | 2 hr 33 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 174 mi (280 km) | 4 hr 34 min | Best as a weekend |
| Yosemite National Park | 269 mi (433 km) | 6 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pinnacles National Park | 302 mi (486 km) | 7 hr 36 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 356 mi (572 km) | 8 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sequoia National Park | 374 mi (602 km) | 9 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mount Rainier National Park | 441 mi (709 km) | 10 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 455 mi (733 km) | 11 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 484 mi (779 km) | 11 hr 54 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Hayfork
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yosemite | Half Dome Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Kings Canyon | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Sequoia | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Mount Rainier | Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Hayfork
Within reach of Hayfork, 60 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite, 14 at Lassen Volcanic, 9 at Kings Canyon, and 7 at Sequoia, plus 5 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Redwood National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Hayfork are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Yosemite → Pinnacles | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
| Redwood → Lassen Volcanic | 142 mi (228 km) | 3 hr 48 min |
| Redwood → Crater Lake | 149 mi (240 km) | 3 hr 59 min |
| Lassen Volcanic → Crater Lake | 171 mi (276 km) | 4 hr 30 min |
Planning a trip from Hayfork
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Trinity County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Hayfork?
Redwood National Park. It is about 66.9 mi (108 km) from Hayfork, roughly 2 hr 2 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Hayfork?
Yes — Redwood National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Hayfork?
10 parks are within reach of Hayfork, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Hayfork?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 6 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits, Half Dome Permits at Yosemite, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Hayfork?
Recreation.gov lists 60 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Hayfork. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Hayfork?
For Redwood National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.