California Redwoods

[Otis1]

I finally got to go see some of the big trees. Absolutely amazing. Wife and I attended a wedding last Saturday in Ukiah then drove north to Crescent City. We stopped and hiked several different redwood groves. Also did some whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River near Placerville. Pictures hardly do any justice to the beauty of these trees.

[dgdrls]

Otis 1,  they are stunning!!

did you make it to the Crescent city Light house?

D

[Magicman]

Congratulations !!  That is a sight that no one can imagine and everyone should see. 

[Otis1]

@dgdrls we did go to the Crescent city light house. Our Air BnB was right next door. It was closed for the day but we walked around the outside. 

[Ljohnsaw]

I think the San Luis Obispo school mascot is/was the banana slug. We have those big slugs here in Sacramento but they are dark green.

[Ianab]

Certainly impressive trees. We have younger ones here in NZ, but only about 130 years old. Even at that age they are impressive, and pushing 240 ft tall and 6ft dbh. Just babies compared to those. 

[Resonator]

Very impressive!

[RPF2509]

If you come to CA, the redwoods are a must see (coastal as well as Sierra).  After working on the redwood coast for 18 years, my favorite drive is the Howland Hill road in Jeddiah Smith State Park.  Its a one lane gravel road through the middle of the park.   It can be crowed at times as people are too busy looking to pay attention to driving but can be very quiet in the off season.  I like the slower pace compared to the Avenue of the Giants and there are plenty of turnouts and trailheads to stop and explore.  Don't forget that CA is home to more species of conifer than anywhere else in the world and many are the biggest of the type.

Wall of wood off Howland Hill Rd.

A big Douglas fir though I've seen much bigger


 A big sugar pine - the largest of the pines - This one was left because of conks in the first two logs.  

[Raider Bill]

We will be there in September.
Have the park on our list, thanks.
Any suggestions as to a good place the spend a night?
Have been thinking Klamath but Cresent city area is good too.

[RPF2509]

Klamath has limited options.  More options in Crescent city.

[Raider Bill]

Thanks!
Good info
How about Coos bay?

[RPF2509]

I'm not as familiar with Coos Bay. Its more a down on its luck industrial town though that may have changed as I last visited about a decade ago. Its the biggest town on the coast until you get to Newport.  North of town is a huge dune field where you can rent ATVs or go for a guided tour.  The drive north from Crescent City is a beautiful coastal route with many state parks, pullouts, beach walks and a few small towns.  Some areas are rocky cliffs, others sandy beaches.  There are many seastacks (hard rock parts of the old coastline  that are now off shore) which can make for great sunset photos.  If you are going in September, you will have a good chance for great weather as the summer fog has subsided.  I remember on a trip in July where I seldom saw the ocean as the fog was so thick.  If you are a golfer, the course at Bandon is world famous.  The southern Oregon coast is famous for its Myrtle wood (also known as California bay laurel if you are south of the border) and there are many souvenir shops selling items made from it.  Beautiful stuff though the tree is subject to infection by Sudden Oak Death so they have been cutting and burning it to slow the disease spread.  Lots of cranberries are grown on the coast due to the acidic soils and high rainfall to fill the bogs.  The big trees on the coast are Sitka spruce and western hemlock.  Doug- fir does not like salt spray so it only grows a few miles in from the coast.  I think around Reedsport there are old growth DF groves inland that would be worth a visit.  There is a prairie a few miles inland from Reedsport where you can watch the elk if they decide to show themselves.  Way more elk now on the coast than 30 years ago.