Beautiful scenery…read more There are so many different areas to go and see. All in different cities. The Redwood National Forest spans over a great distance. I drove from San Francisco. To see everything, I had to stay in a hotel overnight. With the exception of driving through carved out tress, all the sites are free. Driving through trees was $15 at each of the 3 sites I visited. There are several rest stop areas while driving to and from there.

You had me at tallest trees in the world…read more Visiting this park feels like stepping into an ancient, enchanted realm where towering trees hush the wind and misty trails invite quiet awe. It's humbling, cinematic, and deeply restorative. Here's what makes this experience unforgettable: Home to the tallest trees on the planet, some stretching 370 feet and have stood for more than 2,000 years. Walking among them feels surreal, like wandering through a cathedral built by nature. Filtered sunlight, moss-draped trunks, and the scent of damp earth create a sensory-rich almost spiritual atmosphere. Fern Canyon is a must, a lush gorge with 50-foot walls blanketed in prehistoric ferns, famously featured in Jurassic Park. Other trails range from gentle strolls to challenging backcountry hikes, revealing old-growth forests, and coastal bluffs. The park isn't just forests. It embraces the northern California coast, with driftwood-strewn beaches and many areas remain quiet, offering a rare kind of solitude. Fun facts: best time to visit is Summer for best weather and accessibility, and there's no entrance fee. If you're drawn to places that blend grandeur with intimacy this park will linger long after you've left.

What a stunning state park! I was headed up to Eureka and had actually never heard of this park…read more(being an Angeleno) when I decided to stop in. There is so much to see and do here! First of all, the scencery is absolutely stunning. It's pretty easy to drive through the park and pop out at scenic spots for a view of the ocean (such as Wedding Rock, so named as a beautiful spot for a wedding). There's also wonderful hiking, including the Rim Trail and the path down to Agate Beach. Also... beachcombing camping learning about the history of the area at the Visitor Center biking nature photography and much more! There is an entrance fee; however, if you avail yourself of the California State Park Library Pass, it's free! Either way, definitely worth a vist.

Spectacular view for a girl from LA…read more I planned a roadtrip to visit all the gloomy coastal cities up north and this park beach truly delivered. It is nothing like the beaches in SoCal which is everything that I wanted to experience. I enjoyed how cool the weather was and the smells of the clean, crisp air. It was just under $10 to visit for the day and we spent about an hour solely taking in the views. Overall, highly recommend if you are in this neck of the woods.

While on a road trip, I had dinner then walked around here. The reason I took 1 star off was…read morebecause of some trash and lots of dead crabs / crab shells on the beach. I did not go into the water, fish or sit around the bon fire, but I am sure those things are fun to do here. It was easy to find parking.

Years ago, long before Mrs. Picante del Monte and I tied the knot, we took the long drive north to…read moreJedediah Smith Redwoods outside of Crescent City, CA to camp and hike and cook over fire and do boyfriend & girlfriend kinda stuff. An outdoorsy gal to match my own granola-ish tendencies, she chatted up a couple of locals at the gas station about nice beaches in the area. An old gnarly hippie, who most likely spoke Boontling as his native tongue, told us about Enderts Beach on the south side of town, and off we went to seek our own insular Tahiti in the cool, perpetual overcast of extreme NorCal. We pulled off Hwy 101 and started down the long stretch of two lane highway, flanked by blackberry briars and wildflowers, to a nondescript turnout and a deer path heading out toward the dunes. Soon, we were walking through long-standing spider webs, as garter snakes skirted across our path, appearing and disappearing just as quickly in the thick green blanket of grass and blackberry vines. Along the way, we picked handfuls of the wild berries and popped them in our mouths, savoring the sweetness of the fruit, and the equally satisfying beauty and solitude of this place. Just a few yards from the trail, a black bear busied herself with her own berry gorging, seemingly oblivious to our passing. Truly, this was one of the most wild and untouched places we had ever been, and so close to the highway. The beach itself is wide and clean, heavily influenced by the tide and the relentless surf that pounds this part of the California coast into submission. Sand crabs, sand dollars, shorebirds, and--at high tide with the right bait-- red tailed surf perch are plentiful. An osprey hunting fish outside the surfline was a welcome sight, as was the occasional bear that would lumber along where the blackberries met the sand. Lots of driftwood, agates on the rock piles, and sea glass polished by the surf made beach combing productive. SoCal beaches can't even begin to compare to this level of natural beauty, even off the beaten path spots like Padaro, Blacks, and El Capitan. If you ever have the chance to enjoy a beach like Enderts or many other spots from Southern Oregon down along the Lost Coast of California, please take a moment to see nature as the Great Programmer intended it. It truly is a Thin Place-- a location where the distance between heaven and earth are significantly closer than average.

In far northern Humboldt county, is some of the best closed water lagoon kayaking around. Usually…read morecalm waters that make for great kayaking, this lagoon offers easy access for loading and unloading literally right off the 101. This is NOT an RV park, this is only a visitor center with vehicle parking. The visitor center at this lagoon has a nice parking lot area, rest rooms inside (when open) and direct access to the water. There are usually a few people either on the water or hiking/biking at this lagoon, even in the off season locals come here regularly. Some great closed water that makes for some easy kayaking. A cool place to visit and well worth a pull off the next time you're in the area. 5 Star usually calm water. 00347

Easy to find, as it is right off the 101. We parked next to the visitor center for free and were…read moreable to get some breathtaking photos. Looks like an anglers paradise. There is an area where you can back your boat straight into the water.

The Yurok Loop Trail, a little known, gem of a trail, is a short, easy 1 mile loop trail with some…read moreoutstanding ocean views. The trail head is in the Lagoon Creek Picnic Area on the west side of 101. Coming from the south, It is just short of 7 miles north of the Klamath River bridge off Highway 101. From the north it is just south of Hidden Beach. The trailhead can be found at the north end of the Laguna Creek picnic area, which has lots of parking and bathrooms. This is part of Redwood National Park; ironically, there are no redwoods on this trail - but plenty of other beauty to compensate. The trail was pretty from the start: we immediately found ourselves in a mini alder forest that was very picture-worthy. After just a couple minutes, you come to the first trail junction and go left across a bridge that goes over Lagoon Creek. We proceeded up the trail, and soon saw the first of several gorgeous ocean views on our right. Again very shortly, you'll come to another fork in the trail. This is the beginning of the loop and the end of your hike will come back to this spot. We stayed to the right, and quickly emerged to an open ocean viewing spot. This is the best Ocean viewing spot on the trail, and we commandeered a broken down bench and had lunch with the best ocean views of our vacation. After lunch we continued down the trail, and soon reached a junction with the Coastal Trail. Here we turned left to continue our loop back to the parking lot. The Yurok trail at this point goes downhill and is a little overgrown - we had to bat away overhanging vines quite a few times. But you move through a lovely forest with many Sitka Spruce. The loop trail ends at the junction, which is where you started at. Go right, recross Lagoon Creek bridge, and return to the parking lot.

Alright, alright. I know I've written almost every review there is to know about the Redwood Parks…read morearea of Northern California, but I wanted to include specifically, this nice and easy Cathedral Trees Trail. I guess, just, I feel this casual pathway walking along some of the most statuesque trees in the Redwood Parks section deserves some recognition. Well, to get straight to the point, this Cathedral Trees Trail is situated right next to Big Tree, or also known as Big Tree Wayside...just 2 miles down the road from Prairie Creek State Park. For those Yelpers out there who may need specific instructions on how to find this Cathedral Trees Trail, it's simple. Just plug Big Tree Wayside into Google Maps and you'll be lead exactly here. Well actually, you'll be instructed to drive into the roadside parking lot. But then just grab a spot, get out of your car and there'll be a trailhead and or sign for Big Tree and Cathedral Trees Trail as well. So for those folks interested in having the "full plate" or menu of every sort of symbolic "flavor" about the famous Redwoods surroundings...then I'd certainly recommend stopping at famous Big Tree for good photo opportunities and then casually walking right beside Big Tree known as this, Cathedral Trees Trail. Cathedral Trees is a very simple, flat level and not really elevated (well maybe 200 - 300 feet at the most) 3 mile out and back trail. There'll be a sign and trailhead for this Cathedral Trees that cannot be missed. To best summarize this pleasant pathway and walk among some of the giant redwoods of the Prairie Creek district, I feel it can be best described by what I discovered at websites - nps.gov and redwoodhikes.com.... "Cathedral Trees Trail gives access to some of the largest trees in the Prairie Creek area. Many Cathedral Trees, or a family group of trees, tower on the slopes. Cathedral Trees Trail passes through superb redwood uplands. It feels like you're getting off the beaten track and really diving into the forest. The trail crosses Cal Barrel Road descending through an impressive cluster of lowland redwoods. Finally, the trail approaches Drury Parkway. Follow the path alongside the road returning back to Big Tree." For me, this Cathedral Trees Trail maybe took 1 hour or so where I was afforded the chance to breathe in the fresh redwood forest air while stopping for plenty of moments to pose alongside these monumental redwoods. If photography is what you're after...then this Cathedral Trees Trail is terrific for those memorable pictures. I can't recall how many times I had to pause and soak up the setting here. It was very memorable and my photos came out wonderfully. The lighting for early summer morning was ideal and some of my best pics came from right here at Cathedral Trees! And what I especially appreciated about walking through this trail was that it was not crowded whatsoever! It was sort of a hidden and under the radar gem! Most tourists come for photographing Big Tree and then return to their cars. No one seems to take the time to explore this Cathedral Trees hike. Meanwhile back at Prairie Creek State Park...it's much more of a hiker's adventure section with James Irvine and Miner's Ridge Trails set over there. Yet here Cathedral Trees warrants notoriety for being a walk with and among the massive redwoods. Ultimately, I certainly suggest taking the time (if only a small amount needed) out of your day to enjoy this walk/path. Since so many tourists are solely interested in discovering Big Tree...you actually can pair both (Big Tree and Cathedral Trees Trail) and simply immerse yourself in the heart of the Redwood Forest area!

My mom and I had an amazing afternoon ride through the redwoods with the Buckarettes. The horses…read morewere beautiful, and so tame. The redwood trail was a great and had beautiful views of the old growth redwoods. Our guide also shared some fun facts about the forest. As a Humboldt county local we highly recommend the Buckarettes for your horsing riding experience!

What a fun excursion! Myself and a couple of girlfriends wanted to go horseback riding locally…read more This family owned business in Orick was the most appealing option based on location. The state park trails we rode the horses through were so beautiful and serene that it made for a magical ride. After a brief introduction to our horses, we embarked on our tour (90 minute Goose Pen Trail). Our guide shared lots of interesting information about the trees and other native plants. We rode up some steep hills, gave the horses a couple of breaks, and of course had a photo opportunity in the Goose Pen Tree. After the ride back, we got to feed the horses some baby carrots as a thank you treat. This was such a lovely experience and I'm grateful for this family owned venture. I would recommend this again and again.

The "Skunk Cabbage section" of COASTAL TRAIL starts at the edge of Route 101, and follows along…read morenear Skunk Cabbage Creek, and brings you to the beach at the Pacific Ocean. This trail is also called, "Skunk Cabbage Trail." The one way distance from Route 101 to the beach is about two and a half miles. According to Google maps, Skunk Cabbage Creek disappears at the half-way point to the Pacific Ocean. The trail keeps a distance of about 50 feet from the creek. It is possible to walk from the trail to the creek to get closer to the huge number of colorful skunk cabbages growing near the creek, but you might need to push yourself through a blanket of small plants and small bushes. Only a few skunk cabbages grow next to the trail (we saw about 20 of them), and some of these have big holes in the leaves and look deteriorated. MAGICAL THINGS TO SEE. As shown by my photographs, the magical things to see along the Skunk Cabbage Trail include the abundant ferns blanketing the landscape, green-colored lichens hanging from branches of nearby trees and, of course, the redwood trees. One of the redwood trees by the trail has a monsterously huge bizarre-looking burl. I decided to post only one photo of this burl because it is ugly looking. Another magical thing are the shelf fungi. We saw two trees with shelf funguses growing from them, and the shelf funguses looked like pancakes with a brown upper side and a white bottom side. Shelf funguses having a brown upper face and a white lower face include, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma sessile, and some species of Trametes versicolor. SKUNK CABBAGE (Symplocarpus foetidus). This plant has large leaves (50-135 centimeters long and 30-80 centimeters wide). The flowers are produced in a spadix. The skunk cabbage produces heat. The goal of the plant is to use the heat to melt snow, and ensure its survival in the winter. The temperature of the flowers can be about 20 degrees centigrade higher than the surrounding air. Skunk cabbages have a stinky odor that attracts insects that help pollinate the plant. Skunk cabbages have a hood, which is a modified leaf called a "spathe." The spathe wraps itself around a space that encloses a sphere of flowers called a "spadix." See, 1-page article on skunk cabbage published by California Native Plant Society (Calscape). See also, Skunk Cabbage by Craig Holdrege (9 pages) published in Fall 2000 in the newsletter, "In Context." MY PHOTOS. My photos show the parking lot where the trailhead is located, a huge sign at the edge of the parking lot, where the sign explains things about Skunk Cabbage Trail. My photos show shelf fungi growing on a tree next to the trail. My photos also show thick bushy lichens hanging from small trees, a few skunk cabbages, and a photo of me wearing a Cal Berkeley hat and a Cal Oski bear T-shirt. Other photos show a view of a huge ugly burl that grows on a redwood tree, and two photos 5 redwood trees growing in a tight bunch. One photo shows the area near the ground, where the 5 trees are bunched together. Another photo shows a higher area, where the 5 trees are separated from each other. ATTRACTIONS TO THE SOUTH ALONG ROUTE 101. We hiked to the half-way point along the Skunk Cabbage section, and then turned back. The town of Orick is a one minute drive south from the trailhead. Bald Hills Road is even closer. Bald Hills Road takes you to the east, and to the trailhead for Lady Bird Grove Trail. Both of these trails include some gentle up-and-down sections, and wooden footbridges crossing over tiny creeks. Trinidad is 17 miles south of Orick (see, my YELP review of Trinidad Head in Trinidad). Holiday Inn at McKinleyville is about six miles south of Trinidad. We stayed at this Holiday Inn. This Holiday Inn is elegant and very clean, and I felt like a king during our stay here.