Eureka is counted among the most beautiful coastal towns of California - and is certainly one of the most stunning in Northern California. It is not only a great place to discover the Pacific Coast of California (which is similar to the Pacific Northwest), but it is also a great place to discover the iconic coastal redwoods of California.

One of the new attractions of Eureka is the Redwood Sky Walk - it is worth visiting and very different from other skywalks like the more famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. What better way to get Redwood National Park photos, than from a Redwood Sky Walk 100 feet off the forest floor? One of the unmissable attractions in Yosemite National Park is the giant Sequoias of Mariposa Grove. The Sequoias of California are some of the most famous and visited trees in the world.

UPDATE: 2023/04/30 12:51 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Explore Historic Eureka While Visiting The Redwood Sky Walk

The Redwood Sky Walk may be one of the most novel attractions in Eureka, California, but the town has much more to offer. Eureka is the getaway to the redwoods and the dramatic coasts of Northern California - plus the town itself is historic. This article was expanded with more things to see and do after visiting the new Redwood Sky Walk.

What To Know Of The Coastal Redwoods & Why The Redwood Sky Walk Is Worth Visiting

There are three types of redwoods. These are the Sequoia of coastal California and Oregon (aka the Coastal Redwoods), the Sequoiadendron (aka the Giant Sequoia) in the Sierra Nevada (including Yosemite), and the Metasequoia in China. They are the largest and tallest trees in the world and can live for thousands of years.

The Coastal Redwoods can live from 1,200 to 2,200 or perhaps even more years. They tower above other trees getting up to heights of 115.9 meters or 380.1 feet. Before many were felled from the 1850s, they covered around 2,000,000 acres of land along much of coastal California and the southwestern corner of coastal Oregon. They extend south of the Bay Area.

The tallest known living coastal redwood is Hyperion. Hyperion is also thought to be the world's tallest living tree (at 115.92 meters or 380.3 feet). It is found in a remote area of the Redwood National Park and is believed to contain around 530 m3 (18,600 cu ft) of wood. It is thought to be 700 to 800 years old and was only found (and measured) in 2006.

The Redwood Sky Walk is a self-guided interpretive experience where people can learn more about the ecology and secrets of the world's tallest trees. From the Redwood Sky Walk, people can enjoy a new perspective of the mighty redwoods.

Eureka is the cultural hub of the picturesque Humboldt County and is home to a majority of California's north coast restaurants, museums, and hotels. Another great destination in Northern California is Fort Bragg, where visitors see Glass Beach, the Skunk Steam Locomotive, and the coastal redwoods.

Related: 10 Things To Know Before Visiting The Gatlinburg Sky Bridge

Height & Length Of The Redwood Sky Walk

The Redwood Sky Walk is 100 feet above the lush forest floor and at an elevation where people can enjoy a better view of the old-growth canopy as well as mature second-growth redwoods. At a quarter mile to the end and back, the Redwood Sky Walk is the longest skywalk in the western United States. The ascent ramp to the skywalk is 360 feet or just short of the height of the tallest known living coastal redwood (around 380 feet).

• Length: Quarter Mile Out And Back
• Height: 100 Feet

The upper canopy of the trees that the sky walk is in is around 250 feet. That means the platforms are around a third of the way up the old-growth and mature second-growth redwoods in the grove.

The walk stretches out over a network of suspended bridges - even without a notable breeze; visitors can feel themselves swaging and moving across the bridges. But don't be worried. The ascent ramp and the launch deck were designed with earthquakes and high winds in mind.

Related: Island In The Sky: How To See It Via The Road And The Trail

What To Know About Visiting The Redwood Sky Walk

The Redwood Sky Walk is tucked away in the Sequoia Park of Eureka and inside the Sequoia Park Zoo. As it is located in the Sequoia Park Zoo, it follows the opening hours of the zoo. The zoo is open year-round from Tuesday to Sunday. The Redwood Sky Walk is only accessible through the Sequoia Park Zoo.

• Days Open: Tuesday to Sunday Year-round
• Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (Last Entry 4.30 pm)

While at the zoo, explore the various exhibits and educational attractions. Come back another time, and there is planned to be a future Redwood Discovery Center and a bear/coyote exhibit.

• Address: 3414 W ST, Eureka, Ca

Admission Fees:

• General: $24.95 (Aged 13 to 59)
• Child: $12.95 (Aged 3 to 12 - under 3 are free)

There are significant discounts for residents (but ID or proof of residency is required). The Redwood Sky Walk is included as part of the zoo admission. The Redwood Sky Walk has also been designed to be accessible.

It is very easy to explore and suitable for families. As it is not an adventure course, no harnesses or helmets are needed on the sky walk. Walkers are protected by 3.5-4 foot guardrails.

What Else To See And Do In Eureka - The Gateway To The Coastal Red Woods

Far northern California is sparsely populated and Eureka is one of the main towns along the coast between San Francisco and Oregon. It has a population of 27,000 and a Greater Eureka population of 45,000 (making it the largest coastal town between San Francisco and Portland). It is relatively remote being 270 miles north of San Francisco and 100 miles south of Oregon.

Eureka is one of the top destinations along this northern stretch of coastal California - and not only for its Redwood Sky Walk. It is home to the majority of California's north coast hotels, museums, and restaurants. There are plenty of alternative lodging locations - including among the Red Woods.

Besides being a gateway to the Red Woods, it may come as a surprise to many that Eureka's zoo, the Sequoia Park Zoo, is the oldest in the state.

The town itself is historic with the entire city being designated a state historic landmark with its hundreds of charming Victorian homes.

The climate in Eureka is very much a maritime climate with only small temperature differences between summer and winter. The main seasonal difference is the rainy winters and the dry summers.