Wellman Trail,
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
The Wellman Trail is a steep loop trail with many tight switchbacks located a short drive from the entrance of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park campground. There's no official parking lot for this trailhead, but visitors may park their cars at a small turnout along the highway, just a short walk away from the trailhead.
There are many giant redwoods at the start of the hike, but as the trail ascends, the old growth redwoods start to thin out and the trail becomes consumed by dense douglas fir, fern, madrone and rhododendrons. Unfortunately, this trail is located close to the highway and the sound of cars passing by can be a disappointment.
Elevation
The Wellman Trail has a maximum elevation of 649 ft., a minimum elevation of 142 ft. and an elevation range of 507 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 1.5 mi | 142 ft | 649 ft | 507 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 48 min | 36.8 | 442 ft | 446 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 49 min | 37.2 | 446 ft | 442 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Wellman Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Smith River, CA
- North Topo Map: High Divide, CA
- Northeast Topo Map: High Plateau Mountain, CA
- West Topo Map: Crescent City, CA
- Topo Map: Hiouchi, CA
- East Topo Map: Gasquet, CA
- Southwest Topo Map: Sister Rocks, CA
- South Topo Map: Childs Hill, CA
- Southeast Topo Map: Canthook Mountain, CA
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Wellman Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Wellman Trail?
The length of the trail is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) or 3,376 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Wellman Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 48 minutes in one direction and in 49 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) may be present in this area. The American dog tick transmits Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.