Driving the Narrow and Curvy Cal-Barrel Road in California

Cal-Barrel Road is a very narrow, unpaved road located in Humboldt County in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the Redwood National and State Parks.

Cal-Barrel Road

Where is Cal-Barrel Road?

The road, running through a tunnel of trees, is located in the northwestern part of California, within the Redwood National and State Parks. It is open to cars in summer only.

How Narrow is Cal-Barrel Road?

The road is extremely narrow and steep. It’s best avoided if you’re scared of narrow roads, as it is impassable for two small cars at the same time. The road, with occasional car traffic, is so narrow that motorhomes/RVs and trailers are prohibited.

How Long is Cal-Barrel Road?

Starting from the paved Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, the road is only 3.05 km (1.9 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 245 meters, with an average gradient of 8.03%. It ends at a small trailhead parking area, at 310m (1,017ft) above sea level.

Is Cal-Barrel Road Worth the Drive?

It’s a beautiful scenic road weaving through enormous redwood trees. You can also walk along this road if you'd like. When driving, due to its narrowness, watch out for other drivers and walkers. This winding road offers extraordinary opportunities to experience colossal old-growth coast redwoods by car. It is definitely worth making a few stops to take a walk in the forest. The road winds slowly through the redwoods and dead-ends at a trailhead parking area, which is a great lunch stop. You can drive as slowly as you like, giving you a sense of what driving through the redwoods must have been like before the roads were paved.