California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

(Dana P.) #1

Fri, to 5pm Sat). The Brown
family has run the place
for a couple generations
and has encyclopedic
knowledge of activities in
the area. The small-town
service is ideal: owner
Darren Brown delivers
supplies to hotels for
folks arriving late on
Friday night. Those with
extra time can spend the
day south at the Benbow
Lake State Recreation
Area (%summer 707-923-
3238, winter 707-923-3318; per
car $8). The Eel River cuts
through the park and is
excellent for swimming
and sunbathing.


54 p121


The Drive » Take it easy and
in a low gear on the steep and
twisting drive down Briceland
Thorn Rd (which becomes
Shelter Cove Rd eventually) –
getting to Shelter Cove can be a


challenge. Best to heed the ‘No
Trespassing’ signs on this part
of the drive. The weed farmers
who take shelter under this
misty canopy don’t take kindly
to strangers.

2 Shelter Cove
At the end of the road –
and what seems like the
end of the earth! – is the
isolated community of
Shelter Cove, the gateway
to the Lost Coast. The
tiny encampment of
restaurants and shops
sometimes seems equally
populated by humans
and Roosevelt elk.
Although primarily used
as a launching point
for the nearby wilds,
it makes a relaxing
destination in its own
right. From town, scan
the water for migrating
whales (look for mothers
and their calves in the
spring), and explore
tidepools teeming with
crabs, snails, sea stars
and sponges. (Locals
even spot an octopus on
occasion!).

54 p121


The Drive » There are
trailheads for exploring the Lost
Coast Trail both north and south
of town. That’s where the drive
pauses; the trail has to be done
on foot.

3 Lost Coast
The North Coast’s
superlative backpacking
destination is a rugged,
mystifying stretch
of coast with trails

crossing coastal peaks
and volcanic black-sand
beaches. The King Range
boldly rises 4000ft
within 3 miles of the
coast, which became
‘lost’ when the state’s
highway system deemed
the region impassable in
the early 20th century.
Made up of the
Sinkyone and Kings
Range Wilderness areas,
the best way to explore
is on a multiday hike.
Leaving from Shelter
Cove, a three-day hike
north on the Lost Coast
Trail ends at the mouth
of the Mattole River.
Equally challenging and
rewarding, it passes the
abandoned Punta Gorda
Lighthouse along the
way. You can arrange a
shuttle service back to
your car through Lost
Coast Shuttle (%707-223-
1547; http://www.lostcoastshuttle.
com). Those who don’t
have as much time can
take in a day hike at
Black Sand Beach, or
head to overnight at
Needle Rock, about 9
miles south of the Hidden
Valley Trailhead. The
visitor center (www.parks.
ca.gov; sites/Barn Room
$15/20; hstaffed 4 hr per day)
there affords gorgeous
views along the coast.

The Drive » Retrace
the twisting drive back to
Garberville, then continue
north on Hwy 101. Exit Hwy 101
when you see the ‘Avenue of
the Giants’ sign, 6 miles north
of Garberville, near Phillipsville.
This is the heart of the big tree
country.

TRIP HIGHLIGHT

1


Pacific Coast
Highways

See California’s other
iconic trees – swaying
palms – by riding along
the edge of California.


a


Northern
Redwood Coast

Still don’t have enough
of the giant trees? Link
this trip with a jaunt
to the forests of the
Redwood National Park
by continuing north past
Ferndale on Hwy 101.


LINK
YOUR
TRIP

NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA.

9
.LOST COAST & SOUTHERN REDWOODS
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