California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

(Dana P.) #1
to strolling connoisseurs
of art and wine, and
Mendocino buzzes
with life. Of course, the
natural setting here is
a work of art itself. The
spectacular Mendocino
Headlands State Park
surrounds the village,
with trails crisscrossing
the bluffs and rocky
coves. Ask at the visitor
center about guided
weekend walks, including
spring wildflower walks
and whale-watching.

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The Drive » Just south of
town, turn inland at Comptche
Ukiah Rd. It will make a loop
taking you back toward the trip’s
beginning. All the turns make
the next 30 miles slow going,
but the views are impressive.

7 Montgomery
Woods State Reserve
Two miles west of Orr,
this 13,250-acre reserve
(Orr Springs Rd) protects
five old-growth redwood
groves, and some of
the best groves within
a day’s drive from San
Francisco. A 2-mile loop
trail crosses the creek,
winding through the
serene groves, starting
near the picnic tables
and toilets. It’s out of
the way, so visitors are
likely to have it mostly
to themselves. The trees
here are impressive –
some are up to 14ft in
diameter – but remember
to admire them from the
trail, both to protect the

tree’s root systems and
to protect yourself from
poison oak, which is all
over the park.

The Drive » From the park’s
parking area, continue 2 miles
more on Comptche Ukiah
Rd (which may be called Orr
Springs Rd on some maps) to
reach Orr Hot Springs.

8 Orr Hot Springs
After all the hiking,
canoeing and
beachcombing, a soak
in the thermal waters
of this rustic resort is
heavenly, the ultimate
zen-out to end the
journey. While it’s not
for the bashful, the
clothing-optional resort
is beloved by locals,
back-to-the-land hipsters,
backpackers and liberal-
minded tourists. Still,
you don’t have to let it all
hang out to enjoy Orr Hot
Springs (h10am-10pm).
The place has private
tubs, a sauna, a spring-
fed, rock-bottomed
swimming pool, steam
room, massage and
lovely, slightly shaggy
gardens. Day use costs
$25, or $20 on Mondays.
Soaking in the rooftop
pools on a clear night is
magical.

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TRIP HIGHLIGHT

Start: 6 Mendocino
Go north to Mendocino’s humble sister city, Fort
Bragg, to board the Skunk Train (www.skunktrain.com;
adult/child $49/24). The vintage narrow-gauge track
got its nickname in 1925 for its stinky gas-powered
steam engines, but today the historic steam and
diesel locomotives are odorless. Passing through
redwood-forested mountains, along rivers, over
bridges and through deep mountain tunnels, the
trains run from both Fort Bragg and Willits to the
midway point of Northspur, where they turn around
(if you want to go to Willits, plan to spend the night).
The depot is downtown at the foot of Laurel St, one
block west of Main St.

SKUNK TRAIN


DETOUR:


NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA

8


(^) MENDOCINO & ANDERSON VALLEY

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