Scenic and Adventerous roads around the Redwoods

[GertiesTravels]

We're heading off to explore the Redwoods next week. Heading south along the Washington and Oregon coast into northern California. We have 10 days for this trip with the redwoods being the main focus, planning to explore Crescent City area south maybe to Trinidad, due to time.

Hubby is recovering from ankle surgery and has very limited ability to walk so we are planning to spend our days relaxing and exploring by truck. We like to take scenic and adventurous drives, scary curves, back roads,off the beaten path and less traveled routes.

We will be driving a F350 4x4

Do you have any ideas? Bring em on!

[ktmrfs]

sdianel wrote:
Here's the one we took near Crescent City. We stayed at the KOA.
The scenic drive is a dirt road but well packed and lots of regular cars.
Howland Hill Road
Mostly unpaved; Motorhomes/RVs and trailers not advised.

Distance & Duration: 10 miles, one way (from Crescent City, Calif. to junction with U.S. 199 near Hiouchi, Calif.); 45 minutes.

Directions: From Crescent City, Calif.: drive south 1 mile on U.S. 101 and turn left (east-northeast) onto Elk Valley Road; continue 1 mile and turn right (east) onto Howland Hill Road; after ~1½ miles the road becomes unpaved as it enters Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park; continue another 5½ miles on Howland Hill Road until it becomes Douglas Park Road (paved); after ~1½ miles turn left onto South Fork Road; after ½ mile South Fork Road junctions with U.S. 199 just east of Hiouchi, Calif.

Description: Just a couple miles west of Crescent City, an unpaved stretch of Howland Hill Road offers motorists an intimate encounter with the towering old-growth redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Numerous pull-outs and trailheads along the way, including the Boy Scout Tree Trail and Stout Grove.

yup, that's one we took and IMHO WELL Worth the trip. very easily navigable in most any truck or reasonable clearance car.

[aerbus32]

GertiesTravels wrote:
Great stuff!
Has anyone driven the Lost Coast drive? It looks like a great all day adventure to Mattole beach.
Narrow, bumpy, curvy roads often go somewhere with less people and beautiful.

Very cool, but do plan for a full day. Also recommend the drive to Shelter Cove. Used to have phenomenal fish & chips. Plus the drive to the coast at Praire Creek. Having said that, these are dinghy drives. Lost Coast could be done in a smaller rig. Shelter Cove has an RV park, but also signs warning of RV fatalities due to the grade. The drive in Praire Creek recommends 4wd, so I waited until I had a Jeep to do it. A 370Z was there when I got there.

[full_mosey]

GertiesTravels wrote:
Great stuff!
Has anyone driven the Lost Coast drive? It looks like a great all day adventure to Mattole beach.
Narrow, bumpy, curvy roads often go somewhere with less people and beautiful.

Yep!

[Naio]

Thanks, all!

Here is a map showing where redwoods are, and national forest. Some slight overlap. Dave54's on-the-ground knowledge may be better.

[2oldman]

Avenue of the Giants is my favorite place.

[dave54]

Driving trips include the Bald Hills Road. Climbs through a redwood forest to a long ridge top with spectacular views. Gold Bluffs road is right on the ocean. Ends at Fern Canyon, which is also beautiful, but not for anyone recovering from foot surgery. There is no maintained trail through the canyon. You are cross country stream hiking, crawling over logs and wading the creek.

[dave54]

Naio wrote:
Thanks, paulj.

I've done a lot of FS dispersed camping. But am not sure how to tell before I get there, which areas will be redwoods vs other evergreens. I guess I can look for a tree species map, if nobody here weighs in with a favorite site.

Six Rivers National Forest is the closest NF to the redwoods. There are a few scattered redwood trees on NF land, but no big groves. Too far inland.

In Oregon, Siskiyou NF has a few less spectacular groves, but all on steep slopes, no boondocking possible in a redwood grove.

[Naio]

Thanks, paulj.

I've done a lot of FS dispersed camping. But am not sure how to tell before I get there, which areas will be redwoods vs other evergreens. I guess I can look for a tree species map, if nobody here weighs in with a favorite site.

[paulj]

There probably isn't any boondocking (free without designated sites) in and among the big redwoods. Those are mostly protected in state and national parks. Forest Service typically allows 'dispersed camping', but check local districts for details.

[Naio]

paulj wrote:
Howland Hill Rd is relatively short, with trees closely lining both sides. You'd be lucky to find a place to pull off to take pictures, much less boondock. Plus it enters park (state or national) almost right away.

When I toured the area a decade ago, I drove up 199 to Patrick Creek, camped over night (small forest service campground), and then returned to the coast on forest service roads high on the ridge to the north. Old wagon roads tended to follow ridgelines, rather than the river bottoms that modern highways favor.

Thanks, paulj!

I'd love to find a place to boondock among northern redwoods. Anybody know of such a place?

I haven't driven it, but on the map (and photos) Bald Hills Rd looks interesting.

I m tempted by that one, too! Google maps has a few images, and they are lovely, especially once the road gets up high.

[paulj]

Howland Hill Rd is relatively short, with trees closely lining both sides. You'd be lucky to find a place to pull off to take pictures, much less boondock. Plus it enters park (state or national) almost right away.

When I toured the area a decade ago, I drove up 199 to Patrick Creek, camped over night (small forest service campground), and then returned to the coast on forest service roads high on the ridge to the north. Old wagon roads tended to follow ridgelines, rather than the river bottoms that modern highways favor.

In Prairie Creek State park, I recommend driving to the shore at Gold Bluffs. There's a nice campground among the dunes, and an easy hike in Fern Canyon (almost like the Olympics). Lots of elk as well (to watch and be watched).

I haven't driven it, but on the map (and photos) Bald Hills Rd looks interesting. It crosses the mountains, eventually meeting CA169. 169 follows the Klamath River north, but does not reach the coast. South it connects with 96 and 299 back to the coast.

Bald Hills is also the the access road to Lady Bird Johnson Grove (I think), which may be an easy enough walk through big trees.

[Naio]

Is boondocking allowed off Howland Hill Road? I might be in the area later this year or next :).

[korbe]

If you make it down to near Trinidad, then definitely take the scenic route through Prairie Creek State Park. The old 101 highway that the new freeway bypasses, takes you through many redwood groves where you can pull off the road and visit the groves with minimal trail length. Enjoy

[GertiesTravels]

Great stuff!
Has anyone driven the Lost Coast drive? It looks like a great all day adventure to Mattole beach.
Narrow, bumpy, curvy roads often go somewhere with less people and beautiful.