To Redwood National and State Parks - Thur. & Fri.

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Geo: 41.0255, -123.228

After doing the two hikes in Crater Lake and seeing the main attraction, the lake, we decided to travel on to Redwood NP instead of hiking any more in Crater Lake NP. We spent the night at the Union Creek resort and you can tell from the pictures on the previous page that it wasn't much of a resort. But beds were comfy and warm.

This entry will cover the two days, Thursday and Friday, at Redwood NP.

Up fairly early on Thursday and drove through Grants Pass, Oregon, and on US highway 199 to Crescent City, California, where the Park headquarters is. This park is one of just a few jointly managed by a state and the National Park service, hence the name "National and State Parks". Drove down to the end of Endert's Beach road and hiked along the Coastal Trail above the ocean for a short bit and down to a trail that went to the beach. Decided to hike a bit further on the Coastal trail thinking it would be along the coast above the ocean like the first little bit - but no. Hike for probably 2 more miles, climbing most of the way before deciding we weren't going to see the ocean again on that trail. Turned around and retraced our steps to the trail to the beach. Interesting cold, grey sandy beach with fog continually rolling in from the ocean, up and over the coast, bathing the forest in mist. Very unusual and impressive effect to observe and apparently very beneficial for the redwood forests.

After hiking we drove on down the coastal highway, US 101, into the Yurok Indian Reservation and the village of Klamath on the Klamath river. Found a relatively nice motel across from the privately run Trees of Mystery attraction called 'Motel Trees' where we spent Thursday night.

Up the next morning and drove on South to the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and stopped at the Big Tree Wayside parking area and hiked about four miles around the Foothills and Cathedral Trees Trails. Drove on to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and then on South to the Kuchel Visitor Center just beyond Orick, CA, on the coast. Walked out on the beach there and down to where Redwood Creek empties into the ocean. Perpetual fog all along the coast continually rolls in from the ocean and restricts visibillity to less than a mile most of the time. After the beach walk we drove on to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and took about a one mile loop trail through the tall trees there.

After walking the Lady Bird trail we drove on down to Arcata and picked up US highway 299 East. A very scenic drive, though very curvy and slow, along the Trinity River gorge to Redding, CA where we spent Friday night.

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Photos

The coast looking South
Taken from Endert's Beach on Thursday. We were told the fog or mist is normal - clear days are the exception.

The coast looking North
Also taken from Endert's Beach on Thursday.

Elk
Taken along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. This was a herd of around a dozen elk munching the tree leaves along the road side.

Old Man and the Sea
Taken on the beach at the Kuchel Visitor Center. This short log was upended on the beach and was the perfect place to sit, take a break, and ponder the mystery of the sea and fog.

Tall Trees
Along the Foothills Trail from the Big Tree Wayside.

One more TallTree Picture
From the Cathedral Tree trail at Big Tree Wayside.

Cathedral Tree Trail
Us - by the big tree

Anne in the tree
Taken at the Lady Bird Johnson grove. This huge redwood has been damaged by fire in its center, yet still is alive and well. See the other picture with the rest of the tree above Anne.

The rest of the tree
Note the green foliage near the top of the tree. Amazing how these trees can withstand such damage and continue to live and, apparently, thrive.

Comments

[Jenny]

wow..i know this place, is this crescent city california right? i'm from there...

[Lee]

That's it. We drove through Crescent City and took this short road just South of CC to Enderts Beach. We hiked the Coastal trail a bit from there and actually went down to the beach at one point. Just so different from anything we have o
n the East coast. This is a lovely and unique part of our country.Thanks for the comment on the picture.

[MAN?O]

HORIZON IS'NT HORIZONTAL !