Redwood Park sits on 27 hectares in South Surrey and contains something you do not expect in a BC park: a cathedral-like grove of California and coastal redwoods, some reaching over 30 metres tall. The trees were planted by twin brothers David and Peter Brown starting in the 1880s, and the grove they created has been a quiet landmark in the area ever since. The City of Surrey now manages the park, and entry remains free.

What makes Redwood Park worth a deliberate visit rather than a passing mention is the combination of the redwood grove, a network of walking trails through mixed forest, a small children’s play area, and a treehouse structure that has become one of the more photographed spots in South Surrey. It is the kind of park that rewards visitors who take their time rather than those looking for a quick loop and exit.

The Redwood Grove: Walking Among Giants

The redwood grove is the centrepiece of the park, and the experience of walking into it is noticeably different from the surrounding mixed Douglas fir and cedar forest. The canopy closes in overhead, the light changes, and the bark of the mature trees has the characteristic spongy, reddish texture of coastal redwoods. In summer, the filtered light through the canopy creates a particular stillness that makes the grove feel set apart from the rest of the park.

The main grove contains both giant sequoias and coast redwoods, distinct species, though both are in the Sequoioideae subfamily. The sequoias tend to be broader at the base, while the coast redwoods grow taller and more columnar. Neither species is native to BC, which is part of what makes the grove interesting: these are trees that should not, by geography, be here, and their survival and scale show how well South Surrey’s mild maritime climate suits them.

Walking through the grove takes about 20 minutes at an easy pace, or longer if you stop to look up and orient yourself to the scale. The trail is relatively flat and well-maintained, making it accessible for most visitors including families with young children. The best light in the grove is in the late morning on clear summer days, when the sun comes through the canopy at an angle.

The Treehouse and Children’s Area

Redwood Park is home to a wooden treehouse structure that has been part of the park’s identity for decades. The current structure is a rebuilt version of the original, which dated back to the Brown brothers’ era. It sits within the grove and is a natural focal point for families with younger children, who tend to discover it and spend a significant portion of their visit in and around it.

The children’s play area adjacent to the treehouse is modest by modern playground standards but well-suited to the park’s character. The setting, surrounded by large trees rather than a flat suburban field, gives it a different feel from a standard neighbourhood park. There is also a picnic area with tables and benches, making the park a practical destination for a longer outing with lunch rather than just a walk.

For families with mixed-age children, the park works well because it offers different things at different scales. Younger children gravitate toward the play area and treehouse, while older kids and adults tend to be more interested in the grove and the longer trails through the surrounding forest. The layout makes it easy for a group to split and reassemble without losing each other.

Trails and the Surrounding Forest

Beyond the redwood grove, Redwood Park has a network of walking trails through second-growth mixed forest that extends the visit considerably. The trails vary in difficulty from easy gravel paths to rougher dirt routes that get muddy in wet weather, and together they cover enough ground that a full circuit through the park takes 45 minutes to an hour at a relaxed pace.

The forest outside the grove is typical of South Surrey’s second-growth character: Douglas fir, western red cedar, bigleaf maple, and red alder, with a dense understorey of sword fern and salal. In spring, trilliums appear along some of the shadier trails. In summer, the canopy provides enough shade that the trails remain cool even on warm days, which makes Redwood Park a good destination specifically when you want forest cover.

The park connects to a wider trail network in the South Surrey area, and some visitors use the park as a starting point for longer walks. The trails at the edges of the park are less maintained than the central paths, and trail conditions vary with the season, but the core loop through the grove and back is always in good shape.

Planning Your Visit to Redwood Park

Redwood Park is located at 17900 20th Avenue in South Surrey, just north of the US border. The park has a dedicated parking lot off 20th Avenue, and parking is free. The lot is reasonably sized but can fill on sunny weekend afternoons in summer, particularly when the treehouse is drawing families. Arriving before noon on weekends generally avoids the busiest period.

The park is open year-round and the grove is accessible in all seasons, though the trails outside the grove can be muddy and slippery in winter and early spring. Rain gear and waterproof footwear are practical in the shoulder seasons. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout the park, and the trails are wide enough that leashed dogs and young children can coexist without much conflict.

There are washroom facilities near the parking lot and picnic area. The park has no café or food vendor, so bring water and anything you want to eat. Cell coverage is decent throughout the park, and the 20th Avenue approach from King George Boulevard is straightforward. The park is not directly served by transit, so most visitors arrive by car.

What to Bring and When to Go

July and August are the best months for Redwood Park if you want reliably dry trails and good light in the grove. The shoulder months of May, June, and September are also excellent, with fewer visitors and often better photographic light in the mornings. The grove is at its most atmospheric on overcast days when the diffused light brings out the texture and colour of the bark without harsh shadows.

Comfortable walking shoes are sufficient for the main grove trail and picnic area. For the outer trails, closed-toe shoes with some grip are better, particularly in spring or after rain. A light layer is worth bringing even in summer, since the forest shade can make the park feel cooler than the surrounding area, particularly in the morning.

Redwood Park is an excellent photography destination regardless of season. The grove provides a consistent, unusual backdrop that photographs well in almost any light, and the scale of the trees gives images a natural sense of depth. Visiting mid-week reduces the chance of other visitors appearing in wide shots of the grove.

Redwood Park Tips

Walk to the far end of the grove before you stop to look around. The first entrance to the redwood section is impressive, but the grove deepens as you move further in, and the largest and most closely spaced trees are further along the path.

The treehouse is more interesting than it looks on a map. It is worth pausing there even if you do not have children with you. The structure sits in a good spot among the trees and gives a sense of the original vision the Brown brothers had for the space.

If you are visiting in summer and want the park mostly to yourself, try a Tuesday or Wednesday morning before 10 a.m. The park is busy on sunny weekend afternoons but quiet on weekday mornings, and the light in the grove is at its best before noon.

Combine Redwood Park with a visit to Crescent Beach or White Rock Pier if you are driving from Vancouver. Both are within 15 minutes and make for a complete South Surrey outing without backtracking.

Questions Often Asked

Is Redwood Park in Surrey free to visit?

Yes, Redwood Park is free to enter and open year-round. Parking is also free in the dedicated lot off 20th Avenue. There are no admission fees for the grove, trails, or treehouse.

How big are the redwoods in Redwood Park Surrey?

The mature redwoods in the park reach heights of over 30 metres, with some of the larger specimens having trunk diameters of more than a metre. The trees were planted starting in the 1880s by the Brown brothers, making them roughly 140 years old. They are not as large as old-growth California redwoods, but they are substantial by any local standard.

Are dogs allowed in Redwood Park Surrey?

Yes, dogs are welcome in Redwood Park on a leash. The trails are wide enough to accommodate leashed dogs comfortably, and the park is a popular destination for dog walkers in the area.

How do I get to Redwood Park in Surrey?

Redwood Park is located at 17900 20th Avenue in South Surrey. From King George Boulevard, head west on 20th Avenue and the park entrance will be on your right. Parking is free. The park is not directly served by transit, so driving is the most practical option for most visitors.