Elopement in Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park | Curtis and Katie

As a husband and wife elopement photographer and videographer team, we first fell in love with Fern Canyon back in 2020. Nestled in the heart of Northern California, it immediately stole our hearts when we were scouting locations for adventure elopements and intimate weddings in Northern California. It’s a magical forest that makes for a stunning Northern California elopement location. So, keep reading to see why you should consider an elopement in Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park! 

Logistics for a Fern Canyon Elopement

Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is hands down one of our favorite places in the entire US. We truly don’t think you can go wrong with getting married in such a magical and memorable location!

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you plan!

Know Before You Go

• Entry to Fern Canyon is typically covered by a National Park pass, although it’s part of a State Park. If you don’t have a National Park pass, there’s an $8 fee for access. During the busy season, day passes are required for entry. 
• The canyon’s operating hours are from sunrise to sunset, providing ample time for elopement exploration.
• While you can’t actually elope in Fern Canyon, you can take stunning elopement photos there! If you’re accompanied by a commercial photographer (like us!), they’ll require a permit from the California Commission, which can be obtained online for free. Just visit http://film.ca.gov/state-permits/online-permit-application, but keep in mind that it takes about a week for the permit to be approved.
• Since you can’t elope in Fern Canyon, we usually do elopement ceremonies in the Redwoods. You’ll need an elopement permit for Redwood National and State Parks. Learn more and get the permit here: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/supweddings.htm
• Consider bringing a 4X4 vehicle because of a stream crossing at the park entrance. While we’ve managed in our van, higher vehicles are preferable, especially if the stream is high. Otherwise, you’ll need to park 1 mile from the entrance and hike in.

Once You Arrive

• The actual hike to the start of Fern Canyon is only 0.1 miles.
• Restroom facilities are available at the parking lot, although they are basic state park bathrooms.
• You can hike pretty far in the canyon, but we found there were plenty of shots within 1.3 miles of the entrance. It took us about 1.5 hours to explore this area.
• This canyon has a lot of small streams in it, so it is best to have water shoes to explore! We started climbing all the tree bridges but then just gave up and walked through the streams as it was much faster and easier.
• During summer months, footbridges are installed over the creek to make this trail easier (and dryer), but it is generally passable year-round if you’re nimble and can tolerate getting damp.
• There is a beautiful beach on the way that has an amazing mountain view. It’s a phenomenal spot for photos! This area of Northern California is known for its mist off the ocean and is really awesome for the moody photos that pair well with the magical feel of Fern Canyon. And don’t worry, we bring water boots for you to make getting through the canyon easier! 
• Fern Canyon is considered a part of the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and has many groves of Giant Redwoods to explore! These are unique and awe-inspiring natural wonders you won’t find anywhere else! I would highly recommend exploring these while you’re in the area!

Before You Leave the Area

If you have some spare time to extend your day, consider taking a 45-minute drive up the coast highway to the Trees of Mystery. You can enjoy a gondola ride there and stroll across swaying bridges with the towering Giant Redwoods beside you.

Example Elopement Timeline for Your Fern Canyon Elopement

Start by renting a beautiful Airbnb near Orick, CA right next to the Redwood National Park.

8:00 am – Get ready at the Airbnb
9:00 am – First look at the cabin
9:30 – 10:00 – Drive to Fern Canyon
10:00 am – Get to Fern Canyon Parking lot
10:00 am – 11:30 – Explore Fern Canyon with a 1-mile hike out and back
11:30 – 12:00 – Freshen up and take the 15-minute drive to Skunk Cabbage Trail
12:00 – Set out on a short .2-mile hike to a picnic on Gold Bluffs Beach
12:00 – 1:00 – Enjoy a picnic lunch with an acoustic music performance (your song choice!) by my husband 
1:00 – 1:30 Explore the beach and find a private area to read your vows and officially elope! (My husband can serve as the officiant if needed) 
1:30 – 2:00 – Drive to Atlas Grove in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
2:00 – 3:00 – Explore and take couples photos
3:00 – 3:30 – Drive back to the Airbnb
3:30 – 5:00 – Indulge in a private chef dinner

Here’s a closer look at all of the locations mentioned! 

Curtis and Katie’s Real Fern Canyon Elopement 

We loved getting to spend time with Curtis and Katie on their elopement day! These two came all the way from Ohio and had never been to the West Coast. Seeing their reactions to the Redwoods was such a joy! They made a week-long trip out of their elopement and spent time exploring the West Coast together. 

We started the day at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center on the Karl Knapp Trail. We took some photos there, as it’s one of our favorite locations! With easy access and jaw-dropping big trees, it makes for a great spot for elopement photos.

Following the photos, we went to Berry Glen for their elopement ceremony. After about a 15-minute hike, we came across a big tree on the trail that made for the perfect elopement backdrop. 

After the ceremony, Curtis and Katie posed for some photos as newlyweds, and then we made our way to Fern Canyon for more photos. 

At our last stop of the day, we went to Gold Beach for a picnic and some sunset photos. We had a lovely champagne toast to end the elopement day! 

We were honored to be a part of Curtis and Katie’s West Coast adventures! Here are a few more photos from their Fern Canyon elopement.

Planning Your Fern Canyon Elopement