Scenic and Adventerous roads around the Redwoods

I don't recall the road name, but in cresent city if you stop at the ranger station they will give you a route of an OLD road from crescent city to part way through the redwoods that is a MUST TAKE drive. It's a gravel road, mostly 1 1/2 lane with turnouts, but don't worry it's easily navigable by most any vehicle. we took our 3/4 ton crew cab w/o any problems, and most small SUV's would be fine as well. lots of places to stop and take pictures, great redwoods, great drive. IIRC it's about a 30 mile drive. there are multiple places to stop and park and take short and long hikes as well. many of the stopping spots have turnouts and parking and benches as well.

We toured some of the Redwoods with the grandchildren this summer. I would suggest basecamping at Benbow RV KOA. It is a lovely resort with a 4 or 5 star restaurant at the Benbow Inn (I say 5 star, excellent food and service) adjoining golf course (if your into that thing). Located in Garberville. This will give you close access to the historic Redwood drive area, with the drive through tree, the cabin on wheels, Mystery Forest, all that tourist stuff from childhood newsreels. The road is accessible but narrow, so you will want to take the car. Both my wife and I have mobility disabilities, and we never had a problem visiting all these touristy spots. Enjoy, and Happy Trails.

Here is a link to the NPS "Scenic Drive" list in the Redwoods area:

http://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/drives.htm

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.

Clickable link for the info in the post above:
http://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/drives.htm

Smith River NRA backcountry roads guide: link I drove the Old Gasquet Toll Road in the Tiger a few years ago.

See also Tony Huegel's book California Coastal Byways. Link to bits of that in Google Books.

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.

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

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

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.

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.