A SCENIC DRIVE THROUGH THE FOREST //
Being in the Redwoods for the first time is honestly a magical experience. It's hard to capture everything around you because suddenly you are looking up into the forest from an ant's perspective. Yes, I immediately thought of a movie from my childhood, Honey I Shrunk The Kids, ha! From the ground, the air is fresh and often chilly since there isn't a whole lot of light making it through the dense forest. These coastal redwoods appear as if they are distorted in each direction. The base of these beasts can be up to 22 feet in diameter, and they can grow up to 367 feet tall. For scale reference, that's about equivalent to a 33 story building. The coastal redwood region stretches 450 miles from San Fransico to Southern Oregon on a narrow strip of land. However, the largest concentration of redwoods can be found in Humboldt County.
ATTRACTIONS //
AVENUE OF THE GIANTS - A 31-mile scenic drive through Humboldt County you won't want to miss. I think this should be on everyone's bucket list. Pull over, get out and take it all in. I promise these pictures don't do it justice.
FOUNDERS GROVE TRAIL - Probably the most popular trail. From the parking lot you'll start at the Founders Tree. From there it's an easy, level, half-mile-long loop. Seeing the fallen trees and root systems help you appreciate their true size because from the ground you can't see the tops of the trees. You can stroll the trail in about a half hour, but I'd say we spent an hour and a half here climbing the trees, checking out the greenery and taking it all in. Highly recommend the stop!
ROCKEFELLER LOOP TRAIL - We didn't have the easiest time finding this trail because it's a little off the beaten path. From Avenue of the Giants, you'll look for Mattole Road (mile marker 20.6) and drive 1.5 miles to the parking area. Parking is limited, and there aren't any restrooms available. The trail itself is an easy 0.6 mile loop trail that is suitable for all ages. We visited around 4pm and were the only ones there. We could hear a river in the distance, so naturally we had to check it out. It's was dark and cool in the forest but when we got close to the river it was so much brighter. If you're traveling through, be sure to add this one to your list.
THE SHORT LIST OF EATS //
EEL RIVER BREWING - Fortuna, CA - A hidden gem between Humboldt and Eureka. Easily one of the best places we ate in Northern California. I've been here twice and both times our meals were delicious and the endless beer options left us feeling pretty good!
CHALET HOUSE OF OMELETTES - Eureka, CA - A good option for a diner like breakfast. Nothing too fancy but a nice place to fill you belly before a day of exploring.
LOST COAST BREWERY - Eureka, CA - Certainly one of the liveliest places in Eureka. Known for their beer that started it all, The Great White. Enjoy a nice cold beer and grab yourself something to eat. I'd recommend the Pesto Portabella Mushroom Sandwich. As far as beers go, I liked the Fogcutter and Indica IPA's.
BREWERIES ON THE LIST FOR NEXT TIME //
LAGUNITAS BREWING CO. - Petaluma, CA - One of my favorite IPA's!
MAD RIVER BREWING - Blue Lake, CA
NORTH COAST BREWING - Fort Bragg, CA
SIX RIVERS BREWERY - McKinleyville, CA
MENDOCINO BREWING CO. - Ukiah, CA
BEST TIME TO GO //
The busiest times to go are mid-June to early September. I visited Humboldt in January 2014 and March 2017 and didn't have any issues with the weather during those times. Sure, I wore a couple of layers, a jacket, and a beanie but it was nice not getting stuck behind lots of traffic or walking crowded trails.
I'd recommend giving yourself at least one or two full days to explore the Avenue of the Giants and the surrounding areas. It's nice to take your time hiking the trails, exploring the forests and not having to rush. We spent one full day in Humboldt then spent the following day north of Eureka in Redwoods National Park.
ACCOMMODATIONS //
Surprisingly hotel/motel options are pretty limited in this area. If you are traveling north to this area, I'd suggest finding a hotel in the Fortuna, Arcata or Eureka areas (north of the park). We stayed at the Best Western close to the Eel River Brewery. I would avoid staying south of Humboldt in the Garberville and Redway area. We passed through looking for food, and they were pretty run down and felt sketchy.
If you are looking to camp, there are a couple of options within the park; Burlington Campground and Hidden Springs Campground.
MY ADVICE //
Make sure you have food, water and a full tank of gas. There aren't many options for things along the way. We made the mistake of holding off on lunch and then found ourselves in desperate need of food. Thankfully we found Deb's Burgers
Know in advance when the sunset is so you can plan accordingly. It gets dark much quicker on the floor of the forest. It wouldn't hurt to have flashlights or headlamps with you.
Plan the logistics of this trip and allow yourself time for random stops.
Always pack layers as the temperature fluctuates widely.
Driving may be difficult early morning and late at night in the coastal lowlands because of the fog.
OTHER HELPFUL INFO //
The Ultimate NorCal Brewery Map
If you've been to the Redwoods, I'm curious to know what your first experience was like? For me, it was an overwhelming, humbling experience, one I'll never forget. xx ASH
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Read about next stops in Fern Canyon and Mt. Shasta
