Del Norte County - The REAL Northern California
Majestic Redwood Forests of Del Norte County
Walking through a redwood grove on a fog-shrouded morning can be an unforgettable experience. Sounds are reduced to the musical gurgle of water trickling among ferns and mossy rocks. Light ebbs with the somber mist and shafts of sun hang like cobwebs. Stillness and peace weave their spells upon the adventuring traveler.
Majestic Redwood Forests: Soft Adventure
Day One: The Howland Hill/Hiouchi Loop
- Head out on Howland Hill Road from Crescent City for a spectacular drive through old growth redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks.
- Stop at the Nickerson Ranch trailhead and stretch your legs on a comfortable 2-mile walk along Mill Creek, over a moss covered bridge, finish on Howland Hill road back to your vehicle.
- Proceed east to Stout Grove and the easy .5-mile walk through the river bottom grove of tremendous trees.
- Continue east, following signs and through the covered bridge to Hwy. 199 and head west.
- In Hiouchi, plan a lunch break or buy lunch and head for the picnic area in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, just west of town. Lounge among giant trees beside the Wild and Scenic Smith River. A little warm? Plan a cooling dip in the river. There isn’t a more beautiful place to spend a relaxing afternoon.
- As you head back to Crescent City, top off your redwood experience with a stroll in the one-mile Simpson-Reed Nature Trail where you will encounter large redwoods, octopus trees (hemlock), and many redwood-associated plants.
Day Two: Klamath Redwoods
- Plan to spend the morning at Trees of Mystery, maybe you will be greeted by Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox. Enjoy experiencing giant redwoods from the forest floor or aboard the Sky Trail, high up on the canopy. Be sure to catch the End of the Trail Museum, an extensive collection of Native American artifacts.
- How about a drive through the base of a giant redwood? Head south on Hwy. 101 to the Klamath Tour-Thru Tree off the Terwer Valley exit.
- For a magnificent mix of ocean views and redwood forest cross south of the Klamath River on Hwy. 101, take the first exit. Turn west to the mouth of the Klamath River and the Coastal Drive. You get off the beaten path on this adventure! This 8-mile rough and tumble road winds past expansive Pacific Ocean views. Look through binoculars at the massive off shore rocks to spy thousands of seabirds nesting. Whales, sea lions, and pelicans are often seen on this journey. (Recreational vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers are prohibited on Coastal Drive).
- At the southern end of the Coastal Drive one can turn north and soon catch Hwy 101 back toward Klamath. An outstanding option is to turn south and capture the incredible Newton-Drury Parkway that traverses 7 miles through the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park until it intersects with Hwy. 101. Numerous short (and longer) hikes off the parkway offer wonderful options to get out in an inspiring old growth redwood forest and maybe see an elk or two in Elk Prairie.
- As you return north, not to be missed is the awesome Klamath River overlook, mixing a vista of ocean and river mouth often teeming with wildlife. Travel west on Requa Road from Hwy. 101 and maybe see whales, sea lions, osprey, and more, along with the spectacular view.
- Top off the day with an ocean sunset from along Hwy 101. Try the short walk to the beach at the Yurok Loop Trail for a private show, or park at one of the many overlooks like at Wilson Creek or Vista Point above Crescent City.
Multi-Day: Sleep Among The Ancient Trees
- For a memorable multi-day experience in the heart of an ancient redwood forest try camping at the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. The location of the Jed Smith campground is about perfect. In the summer the mixing of the cool coastal fog and warm inland temperatures creates an idyllic environment of moderate temperatures. In the winter, the campground is shielded from the intensity of Pacific storms by coastal hills and the redwood forest. In addition, the campground’s location next to the beautiful Smith River that teems with wildlife creates a wonderful place to camp. People have used this area for thousands of years.
- In the summer a footbridge is installed across the Smith River that allows easy access to spectacular Stout Grove and the Mill Creek and Hiouchi trails. And fishing, the Smith River is world renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs. This is a classic camping experience in the truest sense.
Majestic Redwood Forests: High Adventure
Day One: Redwoods and the Sea – Boy Scout and Beaches
- For a great day mixing a hike through the heart of the redwood forest and a quiet beach experience try this one. First check a tide table and plan the beach experience at low tide.
- For the forest part of the day head out for a short trip on Howland Hill Road from Crescent City to the Boy Scout Tree Trailhead (at Mile 5 on Howland Hill). This trail is moderate in difficulty with some uphill. The hike is about 6 miles in length and generally takes about 4 hours. This is an adventure into a classic mature redwood forest. Huge branches hang like elbows down the side of redwood trunks. Look ever skyward into the canopy to see another redwood tree on a massive redwood branch. Travel 2-1/2 miles to the fork that leads to Boy Scout Tree, a mammoth double-trunked redwood, and 3 miles to Fern Falls, a sparkling cascade that varies with the season.
- For a wonderful place to dip your toe in the Pacific explore Enderts Beach and Crescent Beach Overlook. Absorb outstanding Pacific Ocean views from the overlook; you may even see a gray whale! Walk 1-mile to Enderts Beach, an access route to a multi-colored, myriad of tidepool creatures. Be sure to check low tide times. Take Enderts Beach Road off of Hwy. 101, 3 miles south of Crescent City. Trailers not advised.
Day Two: The Damnation Creek Trail
- Damnation Creek: This strenuous 4-mile round trip hike through old-growth coastal forest to a private ocean setting has rewards around every corner. This is a steep trail that descends 1,000 feet through an ancient forest of immense redwoods, Sitka spruce, red alder, and all the forest has to offer, traversing all the way to the ocean. Used in the past by Tolowa Indians for food gathering at the ocean, the trail offers excellent photo opportunities of both the forest and the ocean. Expect at least three hours to complete in a hurry, most plan to enjoy the day. Bring your own water. Trailhead is located on Highway 101 at mile marker 16.0, south of Crescent City.
- Not enough for you? Stretch out on the Last Chance section of the Coastal Trial which intersects the Damnation Creek Trail. You will be greeted by ocean vistas and more incredible trees!
Day Three: Bikes and Redwoods
Two great options for those with a mountain bike:
- Howland Hill/Little Bald Hills: The first 10 miles of this trip is a relatively easy ride on the graded gravel surface of Howland Hill Road. The first climb out of Crescent City is the only tough grind. Crest the hill and the ride through the old growth redwood forest can’t be duplicated anywhere on the planet. This is amazing. At the Little Bald Hills trailhead off Howland Hill head south and start climbing. This trail climbs out of the redwood forest into mixed conifers and open prairies with spectacular views. The trail currently ends 5 miles out at the National and State Park boundary. The ride back down into the redwood forest makes the climb worth it. Return to Crescent City via Howland Hill.
- Last Chance Section - Coastal Trail: A strenuous mountain bike ride, particularly to first several miles. This 12-mile trail (round trip) includes a difficult climb near the beginning then levels off on the old abandoned coast highway road. Trailhead is located at the end of Enderts Beach Road. Ocean vistas greet you in the first mile; side route (on foot) to Enderts Beach allows tidepool exploration. Trail ascends on the tough climb through red alder and Sitka spruce and meets old-growth redwood forest. Junction with Damnation Creek Trail exists at milepost 16.0 (bikes not permitted on Damnation Creek); continue south to Coastal Trail junction with Hwy. 101 and double back for the return trip.
