Best Redwoods Elopement Locations in California for 2026

If you’ve been dreaming of a redwoods elopement but aren’t sure which park is right for you, you’re in the right place. As a California-based redwoods elopement photographer, I’ve explored and photographed ceremonies in nearly every major redwood grove in the state from the giant groves in Redwood National Park to the coastal trails of Big Sur.

Whether you’re prioritizing privacy, guest accessibility, massive trees, or proximity to the coast, this guide breaks down the best redwood parks for elopements so you can confidently choose the best one for your elopement (without needing to spend hours comparing park websites or Googling away).

Park	Max Guests	Permit Cost
Redwood National and State Parks	20	$100-$300
Humboldt Redwoods State Park	100	$150-$300
Muir Woods	30	$700
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve	30	$200
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve	400	$200
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park	150	$325
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park	30	$300

7 Best Redwoods Elopement Locations in California

There are dozens of redwood parks in California (50 to be exact), but only a handful truly work well for elopements. Guest limits, permit rules, accessibility, and scenery vary more than most couples expect. Below are seven of the best redwood parks to consider for your elopement, with a few additional honorable mentions waiting for you at the end of this guide.

1. Redwood National and State Parks

If you’re looking for the best Redwoods elopement location on this list, Redwood National Park is it, hands-down. You won’t find larger, taller, more impressive trees anywhere else in California than in this very park. There’s a reason why it’s constantly put on lists of the best places to elope in the US and lists of the best national parks for elopements. It really is that good.

Redwood National and State Parks is made up of one national park (Redwood National Park) and three California state parks (Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, and Del Norte). Jedediah Smith is my personal favorite for elopements. The groves here are massive. Not only is it home to the largest trees in the world, but it’s also home to some of the best beaches in the entire state, especially if you drive a bit north to explore the Samuel H. Boardman area for portraits.

Because this area is located so far north and covers so much land, it’s much easier to find secluded ceremony spots without crowds compared to redwood parks farther south. If you want to dive deeper into permits, locations, and planning tips, check out my full guide on how to elope in Redwood National Park.

• Max guest count: 20.
• Permit required: Yes, a $100-$300 permit is required depending on national vs. state park jurisdiction.

2. Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Humboldt Redwoods State Park is what I like to call Redwood National Park’s little sister. Located just 4 hours north of San Francisco, this tends to be a popular location for couples who want something that feels like the national park without having to drive 7+ hours to reach it. It’s a little smaller, a little more remote feeling, and a little older.

This is one of the few parks on this list that can accommodate up to 100 guests in a select grove. Otherwise, the trails in Humboldt can only accommodate less than 10 people, so it’s great for smaller weddings and elopements.

You may have heard of the Avenue of the Giants Road. This is where it can be found, along with an area of coastline called the Lost Coast, which is easily one of the best places to elope in Northern California (black sand beaches and deer galore). This area is also home to some incredible rivers and mountain views.

• Max guest count: 100.
• Permit required: Yes, a $150-$300 permit is required.

Check out this real wedding I photographed along the Avenue of the Giants Road!

3. Muir Woods

Most couples who know about the Redwoods are probably familiar with Muir Woods. In fact, I would even argue that Muir Woods is in a league of its own, hence why I gave it it’s very own spot on my list of the most incredible places to elope in California.

This is a fantastic location, especially for guests, as it’s just under an hour away from the airport. Couples love this location not just for the redwoods, but also for its proximity to the coast. You can have your ceremony in the trees then drive less than 10 minutes to a beach or overlook.

This location does tend to be a bit busier than other redwoods elopement locations on this list. Ceremonies are only allowed during the early morning or late afternoon to help with crowds, but it’s not uncommon to run into others along the trail. Regardless, you can’t beat the proximity and accessibility this location has to offer, especially for folks coming from out of state.

• Max guest count: 30.
• Permit required: Yes, a $700 permit is required.

4. Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve

If you were to ask me what the most underrated redwoods elopement location on this list would be, it’d be Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve, no questions asked.

This small patch of redwoods is located an hour inland of Mendocino. In fact, blink you may just miss the turn off for the grove (only 7 spots for parking!), but my oh my are you in for a treat if you decide to elope here. The scenery here is eerily similar to what you can find at Muir Woods, just with less people and less city.

You will need to do some hiking in this area, about a mile walk to get into the grove, but the trail is super easy for all ages. If you’re the kind of couple who wants a quiet, off-the-grid kind of redwoods elopement location, I think you’ll fall in love with Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve.

And if you’re interested in learning more about the Mendocino area and its redwood groves, you’ll love my Mendocino elopement guide!

• Max guest count: 30.
• Permit required: Yes, a $200 permit is required.

5. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is the place people from San Francisco go when they want to see the Redwoods, as opposed to the more popular area of Muir Woods. They’re practically the same, all the way down to similarly built borders for the trails. Funny enough, while Armstrong Redwoods is still considered one of the more underrated redwoods elopement locations, it sees just a smidge less people than Muir Woods, though Armstrong does feel significantly less busy.

This area is much more mountainous than the others on this list, but it’s still very close to the coast, making it a great area for couples who want to see a little bit of everything.

One of the perks about Armstrong is its picnic area, which can accommodate up to 150 people for a ceremony. They even have a giant amphitheater that can accommodate up to 400 people! You won’t find another redwoods elopement location on this list with that sort of guest capacity.

• Max guest count: 400.
• Permit required: Yes, a $400 permit is required.

6. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is by far one of the most popular redwoods elopement locations on this list thanks to its proximity to both Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Like Armstrong Redwoods I just listed, Henry Cowell is also very similar to Muir Woods in terms of scenery and trail borders.

While there are lots of gorgeous redwoods, and one called “The Giant” that’s worth the stop alone, this is a great location for couples looking for something a bit more lush and condensed. I find that the redwoods in this area are a bit smaller, with the majority of the scenery being other trees, clover, and rivers.

One of the biggest advantages of this location is that you’re practically in town. You may not feel as immersed in redwoods here as you would with other groves, but it’s accessibility easily makes this one of the best redwoods elopement locations on my list.

• Max guest count: 150.
• Permit required: Yes, a $325 permit is required.

7. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Last on my list of the best redwoods elopement locations in California (though keep scrolling for honorable mentions), I have Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

There used to be a lot of redwoods in the Big Sur area. However, after some fires, most of the redwoods ended up being damaged. That being said, there are still a good amount in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, particularly around the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground.

This is a stunning area, especially if you love the coast. In fact, I tend to recommend this area more so for couples who want to prioritize the coast but want to take a stop or two at a redwood grove. If you have the money for it, and redwoods are a must for your ceremony, I highly recommend checking out some of the local venues such as Glen Oaks Big Sur or Big Sur Lodge to rent out for the hour or two. Most of the best redwoods in the area are located on private venues.

• Max guest count: 30.
• Permit required: Yes, a $300 permit is required.

Other Redwoods Elopement Locations

While the parks listed above are my top recommendations, they’re far from the only redwood locations in California. If you’re open to exploring smaller groves or lesser-known state parks, there are lots of gorgeous options worth considering. Below are a few additional redwood elopement locations worth looking into.

• Hendy Woods State Park – Max 30 guests, $200 special use permit
  • Easily one of the most underrated and overlooked redwood elopement locations in California. Stunning trails and cathedral-like groves.
• Navarro River Redwoods State Park – Max 20 guests, $200 special use permit
  • Gorgeous campgrounds close to the river and coast. There are hardly any designated trails, but lots of road pull-offs for two-person elopements.
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park – Max 150 guests, $325 special use permit
  • Many of the redwoods burned in a fire, but those that remain are gorgeous. Lots of hiking trails and road pull-offs. It’s the oldest state park in California and is right next to Santa Cruz.
• Samuel P. Taylor State Park – Max 80 guests, $160 special use permit
  • Great picnic sites for ceremonies along with a tiny grove of redwoods in a canyon. Has some amazing trails with views of the surrounding valley.
• Portola Redwoods State Park – Max 100 guests, $325 special use permit
  • One of the best redwood parks in the Santa Cruz area. This park has much smaller redwoods, but it’s a great choice if you need something close to town.

If that wasn’t enough, I have an entire guide on the best redwood wedding venues in California! If you want to see more locations for an elopement, scroll to the bottom of that guide for some more redwood locations you might like.