California's Redwoods are among the most stunning landscapes that you could pick for your wedding! With the lush greenery, huge trees, and nearby views of the magical California coastline, it's difficult for the Redwoods to be beaten as an ideal location for eloping.
Elope in the Redwoods: Where to Stay
When you’re eloping, where to stay is one of the first considerations you have to make. As massive as Redwoods is, you don’t want to pass through the hassle of finding where to stay on arrival. Here are your top 4 options of where to stay when you elope in the Redwoods:
Elk Prairie Campground
Elk Prairie Campground is open all year round. It is located 6 miles to the north from Orick, CA on the Netwon B. Drury Scenic Parkway. They offer hot showers, ADA-accessibility restrooms, a dump station, picnic tables, fire pits, barbecues food lockers, trash bins, and a campfire area
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground is usually accessible all year round, however, for information on the current status, the best option is to contact them at (707) 464-6101. The campground is situated 10 miles to the north of Orick, CA on Davison Road. The road isn't paved and trailers aren't permitted. You can only camp in cars and tents.
That said, they provide bathroom showers with solar energy and picnic tables, wind shelter grills, fire-it-ups, food lockers, as well as garbage bins.
Jedediah Smith Campground
Jedediah Smith Campground is accessible to the public all year long and is sitting 10 miles to the east off of Crescent City off of Highway 199. They provide heated showers ADA accessible cabins and dump stations, ADA-accessible bathrooms, picnic tables, barbecues, fire pits grills, food lockers, receptacles for trash, a campground fire center, and a visitor center
Mill Creek Campground
Mill Creek Campground is open all through the month of May until September and is situated 7 miles to the south from Crescent City on Highway 101. They provide hot showers, ADA-accessible toilets, a dump station, picnic tables, fire pits and barbecues food lockers, garbage bins, and a campfire area.
Elope in the Redwoods: How Much Does it Cost?
To obtain the Special Use Permit needed to get married within Redwood National & State Park, you have to pay $100. You may incur additional fees depending on the elopement arrangement of your wedding or elopement requests that go beyond normal conditions or at pre-approved venues!
Getting Married in the Redwoods: Do You Need Permits?
Yes! For you and your partner to legally get married within the Redwood National & State Parks, you must obtain the Special Use Permit. The permit costs $100 and allows you to marry in any of the approved parks. However, you’ll be charged a $200 application fee if you're applying to be married outside of the parks that have been approved or have other specific reasons! Your photographer can be a great resource for pointing you in the direction of permit information.
Pre-Approved Locations to Get Married in the Redwoods
Merriman Grove for 8 participants max
Zig Zag #2 for 10 participants max
Schmidt Grove for 20 participants max
Templeman Grove for 20 participants max
Organ Donor’s Grove for 20 participants max
High Bluff Overlook for 20 participants max
Prairie Creek Amphitheater for 20 participants max (from Oct 25th – May 1)
River Trail for 8 participants max
Crescent Beach Day Use for 20 participants max (from Oct 25th – May 1)
Crescent Beach Overlook for 20 participants max (from Oct 25th – May 1)
Berry Glen for 6 participants max
Lost Man Creek Gate for 20 participants max.
You can get married at other locations with the Redwoods Park as long as you have submitted your permit before time.
I hope this guide gives you some ideas and resources to start planning your elopement!
Looking for a Redwoods elopement photographer? Look no further - inquire through my website today!
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