My wife and I are going to be in California for most of the month of September. One of the things we will be doing is driving hwy 1 from Point Reyes north to the Redwoods. I would appreciate any advice of places to photograph and explore along the coast. We will not be on any schedule. I have wanted to do this for a long time, so we are going to pack our tent and go from Yosemite, Sequoia, Point Reyes, Hwy 1, Redwoods, and Crater Lake before we head home. I would appreciate any advice I can get of places to see and photograph along the way. Thanks
Posted by Ed Williams on August 21, 2012 at 2:30 AM
Hi Richard:
Welcome to California. Watch for Elk at Point Reyes, and along the Redwoods Highway 101/1 near Layton, Orick and Prairie Creek. Fort Ross is very picturesque as are the redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants. Sorry to say California State Park camping is exorbitant at $35 per night, sometimes you can get a hardscrabble site for $20. There are several lighthouses along the way, Point Arena, Point Cabrillo, Trinidad, and Crescent City. Trinidad and Bodega Bay harbors are really nice. You need to eat at the Samoa Cookhouse if you stay in the Eureka area. It is an old logging camp out on the north jetty of Humboldt Bay. Patrick's Point is our favorite camping spot on the North Coast. McArthur/Burney Falls State Park, the McCloud Falls (3), and Mount Shasta are worth a trip inland if you have time. Fall colors should start coming out late in September in the higher elevation Aspen such as in Hope Valley or Lakes Basin (Plumas Co). It may be a bit early for the fall colors in Ashland, but Lithia Park and the Oregon Shakespearean Festival is well worth while if you get a chance. http://www.osfashland.org/?gclid=CKGX4Y-L-LECFcKDQgodtmYACw. Pearsony falls near Prospect Oregon are also nice while you are on your way to or from Crater Lake.
Hope this helps. The list is too long, but those are some of my favorite spots.
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on August 24, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Richard,
If you're in Yosemite then I would also recommend a short trip to Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass. Saddlebag Lake has a great hike of about five miles through some beautiful high-country. There's a boat that takes you across the lake to the trail head (for a fee). Mono Lake is just on the other side of the pass and is worth a trip. There are a lot of camp sites near Mammoth Lakes and some great hikes as well. The Eastern Sierra is definitely worth some time checking out. I went to the north coast a few weeks ago and spent some time in Redwood N.P. and there are a lot great hikes in that area too. I would recommend stopping at the visitor’s center, as they had a lot of good suggestions for us. There are some very nice little beaches just south of Trinidad (Luffenhotz and Houda Point) that are great at low tide and sunset. Patrick's Point is also a nice place to camp and has some beautiful scenery. As Ed suggested, Samoa Cookhouse is a great place for breakfast. Also, the historic town of Ferndale is worth checking out.
Sounds like a great trip and have fun.
Discussion
3 repliesWelcome to California. Watch for Elk at Point Reyes, and along the Redwoods Highway 101/1 near Layton, Orick and Prairie Creek. Fort Ross is very picturesque as are the redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants. Sorry to say California State Park camping is exorbitant at $35 per night, sometimes you can get a hardscrabble site for $20. There are several lighthouses along the way, Point Arena, Point Cabrillo, Trinidad, and Crescent City. Trinidad and Bodega Bay harbors are really nice. You need to eat at the Samoa Cookhouse if you stay in the Eureka area. It is an old logging camp out on the north jetty of Humboldt Bay. Patrick's Point is our favorite camping spot on the North Coast. McArthur/Burney Falls State Park, the McCloud Falls (3), and Mount Shasta are worth a trip inland if you have time. Fall colors should start coming out late in September in the higher elevation Aspen such as in Hope Valley or Lakes Basin (Plumas Co). It may be a bit early for the fall colors in Ashland, but Lithia Park and the Oregon Shakespearean Festival is well worth while if you get a chance. http://www.osfashland.org/?gclid=CKGX4Y-L-LECFcKDQgodtmYACw. Pearsony falls near Prospect Oregon are also nice while you are on your way to or from Crater Lake.
Hope this helps. The list is too long, but those are some of my favorite spots.
If you're in Yosemite then I would also recommend a short trip to Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass. Saddlebag Lake has a great hike of about five miles through some beautiful high-country. There's a boat that takes you across the lake to the trail head (for a fee). Mono Lake is just on the other side of the pass and is worth a trip. There are a lot of camp sites near Mammoth Lakes and some great hikes as well. The Eastern Sierra is definitely worth some time checking out. I went to the north coast a few weeks ago and spent some time in Redwood N.P. and there are a lot great hikes in that area too. I would recommend stopping at the visitor’s center, as they had a lot of good suggestions for us. There are some very nice little beaches just south of Trinidad (Luffenhotz and Houda Point) that are great at low tide and sunset. Patrick's Point is also a nice place to camp and has some beautiful scenery. As Ed suggested, Samoa Cookhouse is a great place for breakfast. Also, the historic town of Ferndale is worth checking out.
Sounds like a great trip and have fun.