Fern Canyon is one of those places that makes you wonder how it can even be real. This ancient canyon is about 50 feet tall, shrouded in ferns whose ancestors date back millions of years, and will have you clamoring through a stream while soaking in all its beauty.

You MUST get a permit online to access the Fern Canyon trailhead near Gold Bluffs Beach. If you don’t get a permit, you can hike in from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, but that hike is around 10 miles round-trip. So, get the permit online and accept the $10 parking fee.

Unless the seasonal footbridges are up, you’re very likely to get your feet and ankles wet. I recommend wearing footwear you don’t mind getting wet and possibly bringing a backup pair of shoes to change into afterward.

After hiking through the canyon, head out to Gold Bluffs Beach and keep an eye out for elk. I’ve seen them every time I’ve gone to Fern Canyon, but remember, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

Link to hike on AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/fern-canyon-loop-trail