This canyon is breath taking. Fern walls, going straight up from the canyon floor, towering redwoods. You walk right up the creek, where boards have been placed across the creek. Plan on your feet getting wet. Early in the season, very wet.
Distance: 1.2 mile. Loop, Maintained dirt and creek bed
Elevation: Flat till upper trail, then stairs. Crowded in season
$8 per car, No dogs, Bathrooms.
While this trail can be crowded during the season, it is so spectacular that it should be on your bucket list. And bring your camera, the good one with a tripod if you have one. If you are driving up Hwy 101, plan for a stop here. It is a 7 mile, beautiful drive to the parking lot. Road prohibited for large vehicles or trailers. Not good for very low slung cars as you may have to ford a creek, especially early in the season.
Animals: Do not mess
with the animals. That is not Bambi, that is an elk that does not
like you. Give them space, or turn around and go back. 
The tiny ones
can be hurt by you. Step over them. There are fish in the stream, so
try to not stir up the silt, and teach children to avoid adding to
the silt load. This area has been home to Ewoks and T-Rex as well, but you
probably won’t see them right now.
When you first get
to the parking lot, you will probably be cursing me. It is dusty,
and too small for the number of cars during the busy time of the
year. There is a bathroom here, but no water or other amenities. Do
take the time to read the informational signs at the trail head. The
history here is wonderfully typical of this area.
The first part of
the walk as you leave the parking lot is unremarkable. There is a bench just before the Fern
Canyon Trail.
Once you turn onto the Fern Canyon Trail, you will understand how special this place truly is.
The canyon itself is up a narrow slot cut by Home Creek. The walls go straight up 50 feet, often with fern covered rock face kept watered by seeping springs. Count the different kinds of ferns you find here. There are at least 5 different verities.
The path itself changes from year to year as the winter creek fills, scouring paths and dropping new rock and silt. The rangers arrange planks to walk across the shallow creek providing access to walkers and to prevent silting that will harm the tiny fish that live here.
A ways up the creek (https://goo.gl/maps/uBnieHvZijX8HKbL7) you can opt to go up the stairs and walk along the developed trail to loop back. The James Irvine Trail has stairs, but is not too challenging for someone that can do 1-2 flights of stairs. Take your time. There is no hurry here.
Thanks to Kay and David for treating me to this lovely walk.
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