Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are 28 mountain-biking and hiking trails through the park, from simple to strenuous.
Only a few of these will appeal to hard-core hikers, who should take on the
Del Norte
Coast Redwood State Park
. Those tight on time or with mobility impairments should stop
at
Big Tree
, an easy 100yd walk from the car park. Several other easy nature trails start
near the visitor center, including
Revelation Trail
and
Elk Prairie Trail
. Stroll the re-
cently reforested logging road on the
Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail
at the park's north end.
The most challenging hike in this corner of the park is the truly spectacular 11.5-mile
Coastal Trail
which goes through primordial redwoods.
Just past the
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
the road dead ends at
Fern Canyon
, the
second busiest spot in the parks, where 60ft fern-covered sheer-rock walls can be seen
from Steven Spielberg's
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World
. This is one of the most photo-
graphed spots on the North Coast - damp and lush, all emerald green - and
totally
worth
getting your toes wet to see.
Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway
DRIVING
Just north of Orick is the turn off for the 8-mile parkway, which runs parallel to Hwy 101
through untouched ancient redwood forests. This is a not-to-miss short detour off the free-
way where you can view the magnificence of these trees. Numerous trails branch off from
roadside pullouts, including family-friendly options and trails that fit ADA (American Dis-
abilities Act) requirements, including Big Tree and Revelation Trail.
Sleeping
Welcome to the great outdoors: without any motels or cabins, the only choice here is to
pitch a tent in the campgrounds at the southern end of the park.
Gold Bluffs Beach
CAMPGROUND
(tent sites $35)
This gorgeous campground sits between 100ft cliffs and wide-open ocean, but there are
some windbreaks and solar-heated showers. Look for sites up the cliff under the trees. No
reservations.
Elk Prairie Campground
CAMPGROUND
(
reservations 800-444-7275;
www.reserveamerica.com
;
tent & RV sites $35)