The park is an amazing hidden treasure that everyone should check out. Wonderful nonprofit with…read morecommunity-minded employees and board members. The annual Fall Splendor event in October has the best night of drinks, food and dancing you can get in Humboldt. Check them out at www.sohumpark.org.

Beautiful park with wonderful trails, a labyrinth, CSA Farm with chickens and horses, wooded areas,…read moreand a children's park with river access across the way. Great for bicycling, walking your leashed dogs, eating a pinic lunch under the trees, or a lovely walk on flat land. There is also a discreet trail to Benbow about 2+ miles away.

I was impressed by this park because it was so beautiful, family friendly and it had immaculate…read morebathrooms! There's a little loop path that has little signs about Redwood trees, the birds nearby and the fun facts. I appreciate how there's a grassy pasture in case you bring pups (they shouldn't go on the trails). There were picnic tables around too to enjoy a meal. The bathrooms were clean and unique, I'd never seen a skylight in a bathroom.

Beautiful, easy trails with signage to share information. The river is also easy to access. We…read moreloved learning about the trees as we walked. We were bummed to miss the visitor center but didn't look up the hours in advance.

Avenue of the giants is a great way to drive along the freeway with a more scenic route. It was…read morebeautiful and gorgeous drive and they have stops that you can go to for view points. I suggest you go early to avoid crowds if you want to get to every site and not have toooo much traffic. Also Make sure to get the map at the first stop so you can read about each stop and decide which ones ha wanna go to.

Absolutely wonderful way to experience the Redwoods firsthand. No need to drive the whole avenue;…read moreyou can pop off the 101, drive up Avenue of the Giants for a bit, and then pop back on the 101 to resume your trip. That's exactly what I did and it worked out great. You can slow down and experience the Redwoods close up, rather than whizzing by on the highway. No fee! Don't miss it!

Black Sands Beach is a beautiful beach that is secluded. We went on a busy weekend, although I hear…read morethat on non- busy weekends or weekdays you might have this place to yourself. You park and walk down to the beach. When we went the bathrooms were out of order. It's a beautiful beach to walk along and soak in the views. Tip: Don't go near the water. There are signs all over to stay 100 ft away or more from where the waves break due to the under toe.

Stopped by here a few years ago and loved the area, its peaceful, we hiked down to the black sands…read morebeach, but it was pretty rough on the feet so you can't do bare feet due to the rocks, but it was a gorgeous spot worth checking out since we were there, the water is cold, and the waves are high so you can't swim, but its nice for sight seeing

Now, to call this a park is to take part in the "if you build it, they will come" mentality, but…read morethis little pocket of lawn, trees, roses, and other plants, snugged in what used to be a place where motorbikes churned up the mud, is an ongoing story of community dreams. Taken on by the local veteran's groups back 20 years ago or so, named for a wonderful man, a veteran who wanted this place to exist as a memorial to peace throughout the world, in memory of all who have lost someone or some hope through war, in the vision of peace everywhere someday (yes, you may now tune your guitar and sing. Hey, we believe in this stuff in my town). There's a flagpole with the American flag and the MIA flag, an international peace pole (with peace in many languages), a big memorial boulder placed by the Garden Club of America or somesuch. And there's shade, and trees, and flowers. Travelers of all sorts come and sit in the shade in the summer. Dogs play. Music plays. Life goes on. The "park" does not yet have amenities (no public restroom, no benches, etc). But it is a dream in progress. Right across the way is the local laundromat and the local bookstore, plus Napa auto parts. Down around the corner is Ace hardware (where sometimes they have a soda machine working). It's one of the few green public spots in the minuscule town of Garberville (the graveyard being the other, and the Town Square, also in progress, being the bricked in third).

10/10, went on a group camping trip here with my friends for my partner's birthday. We reserved…read morecampsites #33 and #13. We used #33 for the primary site as it was huge and accommodated all of us. The rangers did an awesome job at helping each person in the party find the site as we all arrived at different times. There is a steep hill right by the rangers station that we thought was too the swimming hole. We were mistakenly wrong and had an unintentional hike. We eventually found it in the hickey site adjust to us. This swimming hole was awesome! Kid friendly as there is a section of water that is shallow. It is a hike down and up but very worth it. For the showers, $2 gets you 10 minutes! I thought that was reasonable. Nice bathrooms and a lot of easily accessible water spouts and trash cans throughout the campground.

We enjoyed our stay!…read more We went with a group and booked a few conjoining campsites in the southern campground - unfortunately right next to the highway. I was woken up a few times by passing trucks during the night, but it wasn't unreasonable. Cons: - So many mosquitos - bring bug spray. - Poison oak everywhere! There was a ton within a foot or so of our picnic table. - Yellow jackets - keep your food covered and tread carefully. - There must have been some heavy drinking going on around the campground, because we found the bathrooms covered in vomit a few times - the poor park rangers were doing their best to keep them clean, but yuck. Pros: - The swimming hole was fantastic. Warm water, DEEP, and fun to swim in. The hike back up was rough, but I'd do it again for that swimming hole. - Directly across from the Peg House, which is always a delight to visit. - The rangers would circle once an hour or so in a golf cart selling wood, which was super handy. Despite the cons, I'd be open to camping here again.

Grr. Oh Yelp, why dost thou load my photographs backwards? I wanted to tell a story …read more.. Just back from a beautiful weekend on the Humboldt/Mendocino Coast. Back to what appears a rainy day in the Bay Area. In late June. Wtf. This walk was as splendid as the last. Different, as I had a hiking buddy this time, different as I left the water filter on my bed at home and had to beg other hikers for the use of theirs. Different in those respects but similar in many others. Tips: 1. Bring the bear can for the food. I still don't think you need it if you think about what you're doing before you do it but the rangers don't agree and as we saw two this trip and they are serious about the bears you may as well bring it along. I hate bear cans. 2. Time your walk so you can stay at the best campsites. I like Big Flat the best of all. It's about 17 miles in from the northern trailhead, so either: a) start early and walk all the way there in one day, or b) start late, spend the first night at the lighthouse (3 ish miles), and make a more leisurely day of it to the sweet driftwood shelters that will serve for your Big Flat dwelling on day 2. 3. Time the tides. I don't fret too much over them but it pays to have a general sense of when they'll be high. Some spots are tough to traverse at high water. And some of the tough spots at high water are comprised of stones the size of bowling balls that when wet and when you're in a hurry because of sneaker waves can be a real pain to get across. Literally. 4. Watch for the rattlers in the grass; don't tree your food. 5. Pack a little tequila for the gloaming. About 280 miles from Temescal to the mouth of the Mattole (north trailhead). Less to Shelter Cove. You can take two cars and shuttle around (if you have company) or park at Shelter Cove and arrange for a shuttle to take you north (you'll be hiking back to your car at SC). A couple of years ago I paid 50 clams for a solo trip from SC to the put-in. Takes about an hour and a half to get around. The Lost Coast is about as far in miles and time as Yosemite Valley. In all other respects, it's a world apart. We're blessed to live in such a wonderful place. Take it all in.

I went backpacking this Memorial weekend. It was an unforgettable experience…read more Lost Coast. First time I heard the name, I imagined a very desolated and abandoned coast. I got a picture in my mind the ocean sitting with sadness. I went there and found my image was not so wrong. There were a lot of driftwood on the beach as if it was abandoned by somebody. Scattered woods looked in grief. However, right next to the beach with dead trees, steep hills with lush green reside. What a contrast. The other side is Pacific Ocean. Ocean is powerful and strong. Reflecting the sun, the ocean was very shiny. So beautiful. I was able to see whales, sealions, and sea otters. Beauty and sadness exist on the same page. Actually the naming is from depopulation in 1930. Now many backpackers are attracted by the pretty scenery. In terms of difficulty of backpacking, I would say it is very different from doing in the Eastern Sierra. Hiking on the sandy and rocky beach requires another muscles. Overall, this Memorial Weekend was memorable.

What a GREAT place to make a pit stop…read more Quality/Quantity - Tourists stop. Great place to get souvenirs for friends and family. Many locally made gifts. And of course, many Bigfoot gifts. Lots of wood carved items and photo opportunities with Bigfoot. Atmosphere - Huge cool place, especially if you are into Bigfoot, Sasquatch. Last year, they did a good job with marketing; added flags, more merchandise outdoors to entice drivers to stop by. Parking on the side of the road, yet still safe; less safe parking across the road. Clean bathrooms (outhouses), hand sink, soap, and paper towels. Open 7 days a week. Service - Everyone was friendly. Price - Tourist prices. Owner Suggestion - Congrats to the Carlson family for 41+ years and all your success and your new marketing. :) Can I suggest a website?

Stopped in to buy some items on our way through. The shop and product selection is pretty…read moreimpressive. I wish I could say the same for the customer service which was horrible. Most of the employees were helpful and in good spirit. There was however one employee who cussed at me and threatened me in front of my family and others customers over a misunderstanding. Foul language and aggressive behavior is not ok and that is something that I will not tolerate. I asked to speak to the manager but was told he was on vacation and that he was not going to be of any help on assisting me with this matter. I asked why and I was told by a second employee that this behavior is viewed as acceptable by the manager. I am choosing to write a review so that everyone knows what could happen if you are planning on stopping by. I will never return and I will advise others in the area not to do so as well.

I visited Humboldt State Park on the first weekend of Spring, and spent most of my visit on the…read moreNorth Bull Creek Trail (8 miles round trip). My destination was the Tall Tree, and I passed miles of banana slugs, moss, lichen, spring wildflowers, and the refreshing surge of Bull Creek with its turquoise hues. The park was far from crowded, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Park Staff tending the maintenance needs (weed abatement). I felt safe & incredibly relaxed on the trail. There are over 100 miles of trail in this park and plenty of river access, providing something for everyone. If you only drive through the Avenue of the Giants, it will be time well spent in this gorgeous paradise.

As with many of the California State Parks this park is a jewel not to be missed. For starters,…read moreadmission is FREE! The many old growth redwood groves are interesting and beautiful to saunter through. Way finding is easy and park maps and internet resources make for a wonderful road trip. Visitor centers are well stocked, have clean bathrooms with ample parking. Volunteer staff are well informed and helpful. Trails are well marked and very clean. Surprising lack of random trash so volunteers and visitors do a great job. We have learned over the past few years to avoid the crowds and cost of visiting National Parks in California when we are truly blessed with such exceptional California park options. This park is amazing and fascinating with manageable visitor sizes. Take the time to experience the area small towns too!

If you are driving up Highway 101, this is a fun attraction to stop at…read more There is a $15 fee for automobiles and you can drive through the tree and take pictures. It's a spot that has lots of carved figures that makes it unique as well. Chandelier Tree is approximately 2400 years old, which is cool in and of itself. The grounds are impeccable and this place is always well kept. It's about three hours north of San Francisco so if you are driving through, it's a great place to stop, stretch your legs, and take in the beautiful views. In 1937, the first car drove thru this drive thru tree so it's cool to see pictures of this and that this has been preserved over all of these years. Everyone was really friendly here. There is a gift store that is open during certain hours that you can check out. You can also walk around or sit on a bench and relax for a bit. Please Note: If you have an extra large vehicle, you might not be able to drive thru it, although you can always walk through it if you want to visit the area.

You're going to be shocked here, but it's a big tree. That you can drive through…read more Kind of a cool side quest and just know that you're not driving anything big through (we were in a VW Atlas and had about 2" of clearance.)