Do you remember the Steve Martin album from 1977 ‘Let’s Get Small.”
Feel the way Steve did back then with no assistance from today’s cannabis products.
The Amazing Red Wood Forest
Redwood National and State Parks are a string of protected forests, beaches and grasslands along Northern California’s coast. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park has trails through dense old-growth woods.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is home to Fern Canyon, with its high, plant-covered walls.
Roosevelt elk frequent nearby Elk Prairie. Giant redwood clusters include Redwood National Park’s Lady Bird Johnson Grove.
Experience awe with a trip to Redwood National Park. The expansive area—which is actually a clustered network of national and state sites—is home to stunning giants that grow over 350 feet tall.
I PROMISE AFTER SKIMMING THROUGH THIS POST/REVIEW YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ONE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A GREAT TIME . THESE GUYS ARE ACTUALLY HERE AS WELL AND SO NICE AS WELL IF YOU NEED ANYTHING OR THE UNEXPECTED ARISES. KEEP IN MIND YOU WILL BE EXPOSED TO UNTAMED OUTDOORS.
ENJOY!
Go beyond the obligatory tree-hug photo with these bright ideas for exploring nature’s majesty.
Paul Bunyan in the Trees of Mystery
Kinda quirky but a must for a cheesy photo opt, snacks or a last minute restroom break.
Yes, there’s a hint of the American-road-trip cheese factor, but for a family on the stretch of road from Northern California to Oregon on Highway 101, this stop would be a home run. It’s 36 miles south of the Oregon border, amid the miles of coastal redwood forests;
Paul and Babe appear just at the right time for a restroom break and a chance to stretch your legs on some of the interpretive trails. Fight your skepticism and give it a chance. The park has been owned by the same family for the last 67 years and their genuine intent is to protect these magnificent trees and educate their visitors (with huge helpings of humor in the process). There is a good selection of trails, walks, and experiences to choose from while you’re there. If all you’re looking for is a quick photo op with Paul and Babe and a free public bathroom, then this is your spot as well. Have those cameras ready: Paul is just over 49 feet tall and his ox Babe is 35 feet.
Also Paul Bunyan’s is Home of Mystery of the Trees
– THIS IS A MUST –
Welcome to the Trees of Mystery!” bellows a 50-foot-tall Paul Bunyan statue as you arrive at this unique attraction. The Trees of Mystery features a 0.8-mile interpretive trail, more than 50 wooden chainsaw-carved sculptures, and the main attraction, the SkyTrail gondola ride, which provides a Bunyan-esque perspective of the forest from 130 feet above the ground.
About Trees of Mystery
Before the Italian Renaissance, before the The U.K. even existed, and long before Europeans even knew there was a whole other hemisphere, there were redwoods. Not just that they existed, but that the sameredwoods living today existed then.
They are some of the oldest living organisms, and they’ve got the majesty to prove it. That’s where Trees of Mystery comes in. They tell the story of the awe-inspiring trees over the course of nearly a mile. Along the way, the groomed interpretive path takes the time to pay homage to American mythology with its 49-foot-tall Paul Bunyan and a 35-foot-tall Babe the Blue Ox.
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WOULD YOU STAY HERE IN THE RED WOOD FOREST FOR $145 PER NIGHT. LETS – GoCheepNow…
If You Decide to fly to Red Wood National Park here is the cheapest way we found…
First Fly into San Francisco.
Then fly to one of the adjacent cities on either a United Express Airlines flight into Crescent City Airport or a Horizon Air flight into Eureka-Arcata Airport.
If you book 90 days in advance Southwest has great deals!
Use – AIRFAREWATCHDOG for the best prices. The Link is below
AIRFAIRWATCHDOG
UP TO 70% OFF CAR RENTALS
VRBO – REDWOODS NATIONAL PARK – VRBO
TRIPADVISOR – REDWOODS NATIONAL PARK – TRIPADVISOR
BOOKING.COM – REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK – BOOKING.COM
ABOUT REDWOOD FOREST HABITAT
Watch Out For The Local Residents, Remember, You Are In Their House
Redwood forests stretch along a thin belt on the Pacific coast of northern California and southern Oregon, occupying the southern end of the temperate rainforest zone of the Pacific Northwest.
Despite being in a rainforest zone, seasonal dryness has forced these forests to adapt, using a shallow root system to sop up moisture dripping from its needles as summer coastal fog blankets their canopy.
A variety of wildlife species call the redwoods their home. These include banana slugs, Pacific giant salamanders, and red-bellied newts, along with raccoons, bobcats, Pacific fishers, pine martens, black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, marbled murrelets, and northern spotted owls.
Streams passing through redwood forests often contain coho salmon, steelhead, and trout.
The stately and awe-inspiring nature of the redwoods are an economic driver thanks to the millions of tourists who flock to visit the numerous redwood parks in California.
Yet redwood forests also produce timber that is among the most valuable on the market, owing largely to its durability and warm hues, as well as the ability of redwoods to regrow rapidly.
As a result, many redwood forests have been cut over at least once, if not twice, in the past century. In fact, less than five percent of the original old-growth redwood forest remains from pre-settlement times.
Redwood National Park stretches for about 50 miles along the far northwest California coast. This is where the majority of the largest redwoods grow. There are also numerous smaller groves of good sized redwoods located in various places throughout NW California, as far south as the San Francisco area.
BEST TOWNS SURROUNDING THE RED WOODS
There are six towns that are near Redwood National Park. They all have their own character, charm or ways of expressing themselves.
Population about 10,000. Crescent City offers all services. It was destroyed in the mid 1960’s, experiencing an earthquake, tsunami and a devastating “1,000 year flood”. Rebuilt in the boxy style of that time, it is a rather plain town that is not cute. It has a rich history in logging and fishing industries. There is a beautiful clean easy to reach beach, a unique lighthouse as well as a good variety of things to see and do. Crescent City has a fairly wide range of lodging (including one motel right on the ocean) and a variety of restaurants; however there is nothing particularly upscale or fancy.
Klamath –
Population about 800. Klamath is a very small town located on the Yurok reservation. Services are limited to a small grocery store, one gas station and not much else. There are a couple of motels (including a 2014 Holiday Inn Express) and a quirky B&B. Restaurants are limited to a few cafes and delis, plus there is upscale dining in the casino. Klamath is located slightly inland, next to the Klamath River. There are jet boat rides upriver in the summer.
Trinidad –
Population about 380. Trinidad is a picturesque seaside village, surrounded by forests. Services include a small grocery store, gas station, and other basic businesses. Lodging includes three high-end B&Bs and a few older motels, plus there are several restaurants. Trinidad is quiet and very scenic, with nearby short beaches, parks and great ocean views.
McKinleyville –
Population about 15,000. McKinleyville is a slightly inland community with one motel, a Holiday Inn Express. It offers all services and has about 15 mid-range and fast food restaurants. It is quieter, smaller and cleaner than nearby Arcata & Eureka. The small regional airport is located in McKinleyville.
Arcata –
Population about 18,000. Arcata includes bay marshes, empty ocean beaches, pastures and forest covered hills. Part of the town is located on 101; the older downtown is a separate distinct area. Arcata offers all services and a variety of lodging in all price ranges. It is a lively, ultra liberal university town with a substantial population of aging hippies.
Eureka –
Population about 30,000. Eureka is the largest town by far in all of far NW California, is the “hub” of the entire area and offers all services. Eureka is busy, congested and noisy with a noticeably high vagrant population. It has a beautiful setting next to Humboldt Bay, but lodgings do not take advantage of it. Eureka offers a wide range of lodging and dining in all price ranges. There are many tourist attractions in and around town and long wild beaches on nearby Samoa Island. Eureka is home to the Carson Mansion, considered to be the finest example of Victorian architecture in existence (interior closed to the public).
When visiting the Redwood National Park area, you will be doing some back-and-forth driving wherever you stay. Nearly all of the driving is on pleasant, scenic two lane roads.
LET”S GO SWIMMING
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
VRBO – REDWOODS NATIONAL PARK – VRBO
TRIPADVISOR – REDWOODS NATIONAL PARK – TRIPADVISOR
BOOKING.COM – REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK – BOOKING.COM
TRAVELOCITY – REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK – TRAVELOCITY
HIGH DOLLAR CABINS 5 STAR IN THE RED WOODS – TRIP ADVISOR
DID YOU ENJOY GETTING HIGH ON THE SKY TRAIL?
THEN LET’S GET HIGH AGAIN…
Sequoia Aerial Adventure
Nestled off the coast of Northern California and deep in the Redwood forest, Sonoma Canopy Tours is high adventure and completely unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
With two unique courses, each a two-and-a-half hour Guided eco tour that include multiple zip lines, sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase, a rappel to the forest floor, you will be immersed in the unparalleled beauty of the world famous California Coastal Redwoods.
Have an exhilarating adventure while exploring the redwood forest! Select your level of challenge on three aerial trails and over 40 elements, including swinging logs, cargo nets, and cables set 30 to 80 feet in the air! Multiple self-guided options combine solo and partner balance elements, focusing on challenge, fun, and group interaction.
Mount Hermon’s highly trained staff offer instruction and monitor your progress through the course. Each two hour session gives you access to the entire aerial adventure course of 30 elements plus two zip lines and the quick jump.
FISHING THE RED WOOD FOREST
All that fresh and sea water provides habitat for at least 188 fish species, according to parks records. Obviously, fish are some of the most difficult wildlife to observe, but with determination and good timing, some of the more spectacular or interesting native fish species can be added to your park wildlife
The most famous and showiest native fish are the salmon and trout that glide through park streams. Most parks salmon and trout species spend the majority of their lives at sea. But, during November through February, streams fill with the run of spawning fish. Some of the best places to watch are along Prairie Creek, accessed via the Prairie Creek Trail or Elk Prairie Campground; Lost Man Creek, accessed via the Lost Man Creek Road and Trail; and Mill Creek, accessed via the Mill Creek Trail.
Unfortunately Redwood Creek and the Smith River usually have too much water flowing through them during the spawning season for safe and easy salmon and trout viewing.
During the summer, however, both the Smith River (using a mask and snorkel) and Redwood Creek (just walk along the bank) are excellent places to look for juvenile salmon and trout as well as other native freshwater fish.
The ocean provides habitat for many fish species, but the only place to easily see marine fish is in the parks’ tidepools. Unfortunately, two species of native fish, the eulachon and tidewater goby, can no longer be seen in the parks because they have gone locally extinct.
Of course, many visitors like to enjoy catching fish. The most popular recreational fishing in the parks includes salmon and trout fishing in the Smith and Klamath Rivers, limited trout fishing in portions of Redwood Creek as well as surf and night smelt and surfperch fishing along park beaches. Regulations vary widely for open seasons, daily bag and possession limits as well as allowable hours for fishing depending on the target species and location.
Please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to obtain a copy of the the most up to date fishing regulations (www.dfg.ca.gov or 707 445 6493) or ask at any park visitor center. All recreational anglers must possess a valid California state fishing license while fishing within the parks. Remember, before and after fishing, please remove all aquatic plants and invertebrates and decontaminate your gear, boat and trailer to prevent the spread of harmful exotic and invasive species.
THE MUST VISIT PARKS DURING YOUR STAY
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is known for its epic old-growth redwoods. But did you know about the park’s swimming beach located on Smith River? After a day spent hiking under the redwoods, it might be nice to cool down. Smith River is prime for fishing, kayaking, and snorkeling (with a wetsuit, since the water is usually cold). If you happen to be at the park early in the morning or at dusk, listen for a bird that goes “keer, keer” — it could be the elusive marbled murrelet.
Richardson Grove State Park
If your backyard swimming pool feels confined, try the swimming hole at Richardson Grove State Park — it’s huge (and deep)! The water is placid and a deep bluish-green — and it couldn’t be any more inviting. A pebbly bank lines one side of the water, creating a perfect spot for visitors to relax in the sun. If you’d rather wade ankle-deep instead of swim, walk south of the visitor center. There, you’ll find more shallow water. Many visitors bring tubes to float down the river, which is not a bad way to spend the day.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park
To better understand Navarro River Redwoods State Park, look at it on Google Maps. The park is shaped like a snake and follows the course of North Fork Navarro River. This, of course, makes it perfect for many aquatic activities. Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming — they’re all options. Here’s a League tip: Check out the swimming hole at milepost marker 3.66. For those who are less enthusiastic about getting in the water, the park is still a great place to go for a scenic drive and a picnic.
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Mendocino Headlands State Park is where primeval redwood forest and rugged California coastline meet. Not surprisingly, it’s a magical place. Visitors are welcome to wade or swim in the Big River — a respite from rugged ocean surf. Another alluring feature is the sea caves, which are embedded in the coastline and accessible by kayak. For anyone inclined to stay out of the water, several trails run along the bluff. No matter what activity you choose, spectacular views lie ahead.
Van Duzen County Park
Although Van Duzen County Park is off the beaten path, it’s well worth the visit. The park is known for Swimmers Delight, an excellent place to wade or swim on a hot summer day. At this spot, the water has carved out a steep sandstone bluff on one side of the river. On the other side, the water washes onto a flat, pebbly beach. The river is wide, gently flowing, and wildly picturesque — it’s the kind of place where childhood memories are made.
Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
This 10-mile road cuts through the heart of an old-growth forest in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Herds of Roosevelt elk roam the woods and are easy to spot right from your car’s windows. If you want a more immersive experience, hop out and go for a hike at one of the many trailheads, including Big Tree Wayside and Ah-Pah.
