no turns; simply continue west
on Hwy 299.7 Willow Creek
Stay sharp as you
navigate the road to
Willow Creek – this
remote little community
was the sight of some
of the most convincing
homemade footage ever
captured of a Sasquatch.
This makes an obligatory
stop of the Willow Creek–
China Flat Museum
(www.bigfootcountry.net;
h10am-4pm Wed-Sun May-
Sep, noon-4pm Fri-Sun Oct,
closed winter) for the fun,
constantly changing
Big Foot Exhibit that
includes casts of very
large footprints and some
provocative (if blurry)
photos. The 25ft-tall
redwood sculpture ofthe hairy beast in the
parking lot is hard to
miss. Willow Creek is
also the beginning of the
Bigfoot Scenic Byway- a route that takes
you through the region
with the most Bigfoot
sightings in the country;
see http://byways.org/
explore/byways/62352 for
more information.
The Drive » About 10 miles
west of Willow Creek, you’ll
cross the Berry Summit Vista
Point (Mile 28.4) and then start
to drop in elevation toward the
Pacific. Continue 31 twisting
miles on Hwy 299 to Arcata.8 Arcata
Congratulations, road
warrior, you’ve finally
arrived in Arcata, an
idiosyncratic college
town on the sparklingshores of the Pacific and
smack dab in the middle
of California’s majestic
Redwood country. Park
the car at Arcata Plaza
and stroll around the
historic downtown to
find a bite to eat (the
restaurants in Arcata
are top-notch) or explore
the campus of Humboldt
State University,
home to a world-
class environmental
sustainability program.
Also try our self-guided
walking tour (p122).54 p139
TRINITY BYWAY BEVVIES
Something about hiking though pine-scented forests can really work up a thirst for
a hoppy IPA. Here are some favorite watering holes along the Trinity Scenic Byway.
Dunsmuir Brewery Works (www.dunsmuirbreweryworks.info; 5701 Dunsmuir Ave, Dunsmuir;
h11am-9pm Tue-Sun;W) The best microbrew in the Northern Mountains.
Goats Tavern (www.thegoatmountshasta.com; 107 Chestnut St, Mt Shasta City; h7am-6pm;
W) Twelve taps rotating some of the best microbrewed beer in the country.
Alehouse Pub (www.reddingalehouse.com; 2181 Hilltop Dr, Redding; h3pm-midnight Mon-
Thu, to 1:30am Fri & Sat) Get highly hopped beers on tap and T-shirts emblazoned with
‘No Crap on Tap.’
Six Rivers Brewery (www.sixriversbrewery.com; 1300 Central Ave, McKinleyville; mains $11-18;
h11:30am-midnight Tue-Sun, from 4pm Mon) End the byway trip with a sip at this ‘brew
with a view.’NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA11
(^) TRINITY SCENIC BYWAY