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.

Like so many people have told me, hiking through the Redwoods cannot be described but rather…read moreexperienced. I got to experience this for myself, as my husband and I are on a road trip from LA to NorCal and beyond for a combo work trip for him, and 50th bday spent in nature for me. We stopped in to the Thomas Kuchel Visitor Center and spoke with a friendly park ranger that gave us a map and suggested a hike for us. We stopped in another visitor center (Prairie Creek), where we spoke with another friendly ranger that gave us the more rugged option of said hike. The hike was absolutely beautiful, with Redwoods that go up, up, up. And all around the ground level are so many types of fern, lichen, moss, mushrooms, and other dense forest growth. We did a 3.5 mile hike, which was a great work out, and so scenic. But, my words will do it no justice. Go for yourself and experience it. And remember, leave no trace and pack it in pack it out. Long Live our National Parks!!!

We did a beautiful 2.2 mile loop from the visitor center at Prarie Creek Foothills/Trailhead. It…read morewas a very easy hike and still beautiful. We were able to see Big Tree! Would do it again.

We drove here per a recommendation from someone we talked to where we were camping. We hadn't been…read morehere before and it really was worth checking out! Gorgeous big trees and the information center was awesome as well. Something for everyone visiting here and I did a lot of walking and forest bathing. We visited the "Big Tree".

It's one heck of a drive to get here, but it's so worth it…read more My husband has always wanted to go see the redwoods so I'm glad we were able to cross it off the list finally. It's magical to get to drive through and walkthrough the redwoods as it rained during our time here. I wish there was more I can say, but you're just going to have to plan a trip here and see it for yourself. We would happily plan a second trip back here.

I mean... wow. I went hiking here last weekend, and it honestly took my breath away…read more As a SoCal girl now living in NorCal, I've made it my mission to explore as much as I can around this beautiful state, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods completely stole my heart. These trees are absolutely massive, walking among them feels like stepping into another world. The light, the air, the silence... everything feels calm, ancient, and sacred. The trails are super well maintained, the weather was perfect, and there was plenty of parking even though it was busy. The roads and trails are a bit narrow, but honestly, that just adds to the charm. The river that runs through the park is crystal-clear and peaceful a perfect little spot to stop and take it all in. Standing next to those giant redwoods makes you realize how tiny you are in the best possible way. It's humbling and magical at the same time If you're driving from Eureka toward Crescent City, the entire drive is breathtaking, every curve along the coast looks like a postcard. You'll even pass through Elk Valley, and oh my god, there are actual elks just hanging out by the side of the road! They're so beautiful and so used to seeing people; it felt like nature welcoming you in. If you love hiking, nature, or just want to feel grounded and amazed, this place is a must. California, you really outdid yourself with this one.

What a beautiful trail that takes you to old growth redwood trees, which is exactly why we visited…read morethe northern California coast. The tallest trees in the world can be found around these parts and Lady Bird Johnson Grove makes it accessible to find these gems. We visited Redwood National Park and our first stop was at Lady Bird Johnson Grove that's easy to get to once you're in the national park. It's a very popular trail, so parking can be hard even with a private lot, but we were able to find street parking nearby, which is where a lot of cars end up parking. Once you're in the lot, you walk on a pedestrian bridge that crosses over the street that you just drove on to get to the other side where the grove starts. The grove is a 1.4 loop and is a very easy and flat trail, so is accessible for many. As soon as you make your way along the trail, you'll see old growth redwoods everywhere, giving you a neck cramp because you can't help but look up the entire time. Eventually, you'll see a plaque about Lady Bird Johnson who visited this grove, to highlight the need of conservation and preserving our redwood trees. I can get on board with that! If you're visiting Redwood National Park and are looking to find old growth redwoods on an easy and flat trail, this one is key. Get here early to avoid crowds and find parking. Beautiful grove.

Leaving early from our hotel in McKinleyville, California (06:00), my wife, her mom, and I arrived…read moreat our first stop of the day (06:37) at Lady Bird Johnson Grove. This is the start (and end) of the relatively flat 1.4 mile loop trail, walking through a pedestrian land bridge that goes over the road that we had just come through (Bald Hills Road). That being said, we didn't want to exhaust Mom on our first stop, so ended up walking over the bridge but stopping before the start of the loop. The parking lot is paved, with spots for about 25 cars or so, with us being the first car there. It has outhouse style bathrooms. We were able to see downed old growth redwoods here, and marveled at how thick redwoods are. It's one of the few areas of the park where cell service was available, so my wife and I ended up playing a bit of Pokemon Go while we walked, leaving some in 2 blue and 1 yellow gyms. A bit of history: Redwood National Park was established in 1968, and the park dedication was done here the same year. The following year, the grove was formally dedicated in honor of Lady Bird Johnson. In 1980, the park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of twelve natural sites in the US.

Cool park with lots of strangely grown redwood trees. If you're traveling with a furry friend, they…read moredo allow dogs on everything except for the Redwood Canopy Trail, which contains a lot of suspension bridges. Admission is a bit steep, at $30 for adults and $25 for seniors. No extra fees for dogs. The trails contained plenty of dog poop bags, trash cans, and restrooms. It is quite well maintained. The trees are massive and nice to look at the vast variety. The Redwood Canopy Trail was cool to explore and is pretty short. There is also a gondola that takes you to an observation deck, though you may not be able to see anything if it is foggy. There are a couple of audio tapes that explain stories behind some of the figures that were there. Last but not least, the gift shop at the very end had lots of unique goodies to commemorate your time here.

The sixth stop (09:43) during our drive up the 101 through the redwood forests to get to Crescent…read moreCity, the Trees of Mystery is a tourist stop that has a 49 foot high Paul Bunyon and his 35 foot high blue pet ox, Babe. The parking lot is large, with space for plenty of cars and tour buses. There are multiple buildings on the property, with a very large gift shop (ended up buying some souvenirs here, including salt and pepper shakers made from redwood), a shop that sells homemade fudge, and a private shop that sells more high end artistic crafts and artifacts. The restrooms are in a separate building to the side. Today wasn't the right time to take the gondola ride (1,500 foot high over the forest floor) and trail hike ($30 per adult), so will need to try it some other time when we have more time and ability to hike.

Gold Bluffs Beach and Campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a remote beach in northern…read moreHumboldt County. I personally love how secluded this beach is that stretches out for miles. This beach is great for walking along the shoreline and/or enjoying a picnic at. In order to get here you will have to drive on a somewhat twisty road for about 6 miles. It is right next to Fern Canyon so I love visiting both at the same time due to the close proximity to one another. There are unique hikes in Fern Canyon due to the fern-covered walls you can walk through. This is such a beautiful area. I have not used the campground and only visited the beach so I can't speak to the campground aspect of this area. It is very peaceful and serene and a place where you can often spot elk.

Gold Bluffs Beach extends for 10 miles along the Humboldt County coast in Prairie Creek Redwoods…read moreState Park. It requires a day use permit to enter because of the volume of visitors that come here. Mostly because popular Fern Canyon is next to it. Gold Bluffs has a campground with 26 sites. Permits are not required if you have camping reservations. To reach Gold Bluffs Beach, you have to drive on a 6 mile windy dirt road called Davison Rd that you can access near the Elk Meadow picnic area. Trailers are not allowed on Davison Road. Visitors will need to pay the day-use fee, or show their federal pass or CA state park passes at the Gold Bluffs Beach entrance station. You can also hike the 11-mile James Irvine loop trail from Prairie Creek Visitor Center. No permit is required if you are hiking. Gold Bluffs Beach was named after a gold discovery in the 1850's that attracted some interest by miners. If you are going to come here, make sure you check out nearby Fern Canyon. It is a must-see! The 1,200 mile California Coastal Trail runs through Gold Bluffs. After hiking Fern Canyon, I walked over to the coast of Gold Bluff to walk in the water and soak in the sun.

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.

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.

I don't think there's a city park that could ever amount to anything more than a reminder of this…read moreone. The scenery is reminiscent of scenes from the movie Excalibur (1981) in that it captures this sense of the ethereal and divine. Thick, lush foliage covers every inch of the hilly trails and you're surrounded on all sides by towering redwoods. Throughout the trail you hear a babbling brook and bird song unlike any I've heard in my life. The experience then ends nearby one of the most beautiful parks I've ever seen in my whole life that sits upon a well tended field that's also surrounded by redwoods and ferns.

Wow, absolute breathtaking. I had to check out of my hotel and had 2 hours to kill before heading…read moreto the airport. I am so glad I stopped here for a short hike! The tall redwoods were mesmerizing, lots of friendly folks on the trail. Some parts were a bit muddy so be careful where you are stepping.

Got to see tons of elk roaming around grazing. Walked the trails located next to the meadow and it…read morewas gorgeous. Weather was great. Worth the stop to check it out

Such beautiful animals. We saw two elk as we drove into the visitor center parking lot. We needed…read moreto refill water bottles before our hike. These elk still had fuzz on their antlers and were very close to the parking area. They didn't seem disturbed at all that cars were driving and parking close by. What a delight and surprise. So glad we stopped.