Trees of Mystery

Trees of Mystery opened in 1946 and has been running ever since, making it one of the oldest continuously operating roadside attractions on the West Coast. The giant Paul Bunyan out front has a history all its own: the first version was made in Long Beach and melted in the coastal rain, a wood-and-concrete replacement went up in 1947, and a third, far larger Bunyan was raised to catch traffic heading to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.

The attraction leans into the tall-tale mythology of Paul Bunyan, the legendary lumberjack of logging-camp folklore, with roughly fifty chainsaw carvings depicting characters from forest legend along the trail, cut into milled redwood.

The SkyTrail gondola is the modern highlight, a rare canopy gondola that climbs nearly 600 feet in a third of a mile up through the redwoods to a viewpoint over the treetops and, on clear days, the ocean. It is one of the only forest gondolas of its kind on the continent.

On foot, the trail passes the property's celebrated named trees. The Cathedral Tree, a circle of trunks grown from one root system, is the emotional heart of the place, while the Brotherhood Tree and others show the strange forms redwoods can take over a thousand years of growth.

The attraction sits within the greater Redwood National and State Parks and on the ancestral coast of the Yurok people, the largest Native nation in California, whose reservation follows the nearby Klamath River. The End of the Trail museum on site holds a large collection of Native American baskets, carvings, and artifacts from across the West.

The surrounding forest is the real thing: old and second-growth coast redwoods in a cool, fog-fed rainforest, with ferns, sorrel, and the constant drip of coastal moisture.

Trees of Mystery is open year round. Summer and early fall bring the driest weather and the most reliable gondola views above the fog, and also the biggest crowds on the highway. Winter is wet and quiet, with the redwoods at their greenest.

Even if you do not buy a ticket, the towering Bunyan and the gift shop are worth a quick stop, and the attraction pairs naturally with the free old-growth groves and wild beaches of the national and state parks all around it.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Trees of Mystery is a beloved and quirky roadside attraction along the redwood coast near Klamath in Northern California, famous for its towering statues of the folk hero Paul Bunyan and his companion Babe the Blue Ox that greet visitors at the entrance. Beyond the giant figures, the attraction features a trail through a beautiful redwood forest with unusual and interesting trees, a gondola ride, called the SkyTrail, that carries visitors up through the redwood canopy for spectacular views, and a well-regarded Native American museum. Blending natural beauty, kitschy fun, and cultural exhibits, the Trees of Mystery is a delightful and family-friendly stop in redwood country.

You can pose with the giant Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues, walk a scenic trail through the redwood forest to see unusual tree formations, ride the SkyTrail gondola up through the redwood canopy for breathtaking views over the forest and toward the coast, explore the End of the Trail Native American Museum with its impressive collection of artifacts, and browse the large gift shop. The combination of natural beauty, the unique gondola, quirky charm, and cultural exhibits makes it engaging for all ages. The Trees of Mystery offers a fun, scenic, and memorable outing in the redwoods.

The SkyTrail is a gondola ride at the Trees of Mystery that carries visitors in enclosed cabins up through and above the redwood forest canopy to a mountaintop viewpoint, offering a unique perspective among the towering ancient trees and, on clear days, sweeping views over the forest and toward the Pacific coast. It is a highlight of the attraction, providing an easy and thrilling way to experience the redwoods from high up, which is otherwise hard to appreciate from the ground. The scenic gondola ride is enjoyable for all ages and adds a special dimension to a visit.

The Trees of Mystery is enjoyable year-round, with late spring through early fall offering the driest weather and the clearest views from the SkyTrail gondola, though the redwood coast is often atmospherically foggy. Fall is pleasant and quieter, and winter is wet but the forest is lush and green. Clear days are best for the gondola views. Checking current hours before you go is wise. For the best weather and views, aim for late spring through early fall on a clear day, though the attraction's forest trail and exhibits are rewarding in any season.

The Trees of Mystery is near Klamath on California's far North Coast, within the redwood country close to the Redwood National and State Parks, including Prairie Creek Redwoods with Fern Canyon to the south and Jedediah Smith Redwoods and Crescent City with its lighthouse to the north, with the Klamath River nearby. That makes the Trees of Mystery a fun and scenic stop to combine with the majestic redwood parks, Fern Canyon, and the coastal attractions of California's far North Coast on a visit to the redwood country.