Giant Redwoods

Temps will be mild and nice. Go see God's tree...there's nothing like seeing the mist in the forest and the giant arms of the tree surrounding you. You will never forget it.

katleman wrote:

4runnerguy wrote:
The last time we visited the redwoods in northern CA, we stayed at Harris Beach SP in OR and commuted down. OR SP's are just spectacular and usually less money for more amenities. (Sorry Californians :) )

+1

No need to apologize, Oregon's state park facilities are much better than California, often have showers, etc, for less.

x2!

4runnerguy wrote:
The last time we visited the redwoods in northern CA, we stayed at Harris Beach SP in OR and commuted down. OR SP's are just spectacular and usually less money for more amenities. (Sorry Californians :) )

+1

No need to apologize, Oregon's state park facilities are much better than California, often have showers, etc, for less.

Having done this trip this last May, the temps were great. Warm days 70 or so and cool nights about 45.

I like Burlington Campground It is set in the Redwoods and has a visitor center next to it that has a gift shop and some really good exhibits in it from the early days of logging including a old truck from the era.

Sites 1 thru 18 and 53 thru 57 are walkup the rest are reserveable Sites 21 thru 33 are 33 ft or longer. as are 55 thru 58 but mid week it is mostly empty. As mentioned the roads are tight but I saw rigs larger than mine, 28 Ft, in there. See Map There is hiking and a trail to the river.

In my Profile you can see what it looks like. It is in space 17.

Humboldt Redwoods SP may be our favorite area for viewing redwoods. A little off the beaten path so quieter. We've stayed at Burlington CG right next to the visitors center, but be warned, if your rig is big, the interior roads are tight, although we've seen 35'+ RV's in there.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP is often mentioned as a good camp spot, but we once drove through when it had been dry, and the dust was unbelievable.

Around Redwoods NP are several CA SP's with CG's. Gold Bluff's Beach is right on the ocean, but no hookups and no reservations. Once the fog rolls in (from what I understand, a little later than your visit), it's sometimes nicer to stay inland a little. We've used Panther Flat NFS CG up US 199. No hookups, but coin operated showers available. The last time we visited the redwoods in northern CA, we stayed at Harris Beach SP in OR and commuted down. OR SP's are just spectacular and usually less money for more amenities. (Sorry Californians :) )

Prairie Creek and Humboldt redwoods are beautiful state parks. Prairie creek is closer to the coast and Humboldt is more inland. Neither one has hookups but still are worth the visit. If you stay at Prairie creek I would choose the sites that are facing the prairie instead of the ones inside the park. The ones inside are very dark due to the height of the trees covering the sunlight Another nice place is Patrick's Point near Trinidad .Happy camping

sremsing wrote:
Thanks for all the input. Our plan is to head to northern California to see the redwoods then head south along the coast and stop to see anything of intetest to us. Been to yellowstone and grand canyon. Plan to head down south as far as los angeles. We will be in no hurry.

If you intend to take an RV on a California Coast Highway trip, south to north is an easier drive. It puts you on the inside. However, north to south gives you better access to most of the scenic outlooks. Coast redwoods are in the fog and mist in April. Sierras may still be in snow.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove just above Oric, below Klamath Beach. Might want a flashlight to go in the day time. The elk are great to see there too!

Camping on the beach south of there or campgrounds in Klamath before fishing season opens.

Even within our family, there is disagreement on which redwoods are the best! DW likes the coastal redwoods -- a lush, moist environment, with giant ferns growing among the huge trees. I personally like the Sequoias -- thicker trunks, not as lush, up in the mountains, and you can see more of the tree because the foliage is not as dense.

The solution, of course, is to visit them both, and spend some time doing it -- get out and hike a little into the silence. Some folks say it is like going to church, without the sermon!

So here are two comparison shots -- pretty much at the same scale. DW is the little person at the bottom center of each shot. This first one is in Humboldt State Park, near Garberville, on the Bull Creek Flat trail, last September:



And here she is in Sequoia National Park in Lost Grove, in late October:



In April, there still might be some snow in the Sequoias. In May, it is less likely to be snowy. This year, there is almost no snow so far.