Mountain Bike Humboldt County
trip to northern California redwoods?
For the past few years i have become increasingly interested about going on a northern California hiking/ camping trip to the great redwoods. However i have done alot of research and would still like to get the perspective of someone who’s been or hopefully even lives in nor. cal. What i am looking to do is find out what the best places in northern California are for hiking in the mountainous redwoods, overlooking beautiful lakes and breathtaking natural wonders and scenery, (natural dirt paths, not paved) . My main research on the trip has been mostly looking into Humboldt county and the surrounding cities and have heard about the amazing redwood hikes, bikes and walks that the small towns offer. I would ultimately like to go up there for at-least a few days and really get a wholesome experience of nature at it’s finest. Lush redwood trails that lead to mountain view and lake views, any help would be much appreciated, thank’s guys.
US HWY 101 There is the avenue of the giants. The old 101 was washed out and the new higher hwy built. There are a lot of trails in this complex of state parks. Also Redwood Nat. Pk Around Crescent City you can find a lot. Also out along US199. Places you have to find. They are too good to publish in detail. Fern Canyon, Gold Bluffs Beach, The old stagecoach road that hooks off of 199 and goes up and over toward Crescent City. Use care there are bears and mountain lions running around. I have had close encounters with both in the last few years. Make noise. These are coastal redwoods so you get few mt views or lakes. Just south of Crescent City on 101 there is a stand of redwoods over looking the sea. They don’t go to the beach too much salt and wind. Along the Ave of the Giants you get streams and river. This is California where you need more money than brains. Last summer they wanted 30 a night for state park campsite. I haven’t seen what it will be this year. Nat. Forests are usually lower. (Out on hwy 199 for camp sites) Near the Red Wood Nat. Park is the lost coast and and the town of Ferndale. Lost coast is too rough for road building. In the park is the Newton Dury(SP) old hwy 101 it runs down the valley with lot and lots of trails most OK for bikes if dry. Remember to a mountain lion a mountain biker looks like a deer (LUNCH) I only ride the wide trails and old logging roads. This gives us both a second or less to recognize each other. So far, they, lion or bear, haven’t wanted to make a meal of me. They are by far faster in reflexes than us. By the time you think BEAR they can do a 180 and be 100 ft away.
All I saw of the lion was its rear as it climbed the bank. Elk moving through the mist at Gold Bluffs is a sight to be worth the rush of a bear run in. I try to get my redwood fix a couple of times a year. Just the basic Nature trail 1 hour loop at Elk Prairie is a rush. that and the visitor’s cabin nearby is a good start. Of course it is in the middle of the redwood park. Ave of Giants, Rockefeller grove had the tallest tree. It might be the one across the creek or one nearby. It can easily be loved to death, so the one on the far side of the creek is the official tallest.
mountain Bike time trial
