Klamath and Trinity Forests plus Redwoods

larrie · 05-30-2023, 09:54 PM

My delightful wife and I are planning a to Northern California and then driving up the coast back to Oregon. Our plan is to exit I5 on to CA route 96 and the wind our way down to Happy Camp, Hoopa, and Willow Creek and then over to the coast. Does anyone have any information on this route? From the maps I have been looking at it is very scenic. Thanks for the help.

N147JK · 05-31-2023, 07:15 AM

Don't miss Howland Hill Road and Grove of Titans Trail. This is in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. This area is better than the National Park further south, IMHO.

https://www.nps.gov/places/got.htm

Steve C · 05-31-2023, 09:13 AM

That section of Hwy 96 you're gonna be traveling down is definitely pretty. You'll find yourselves following the Klamath River in the bottom of deep canyons the entire way. With that in mind, you won't have grand vistas. Expect a very curvy road so plan extra travel time. The few towns along the way are definitely "rustic" and somewhat depressed with the end of the logging boom. If it was my trip... I'd plan on driving through and spending the bulk of my time on the coast. As N147JK said, Howland Hill Road shouldn't be missed and the Smith River is spectacular.

YoTerryh · 06-04-2023, 04:10 PM

Beware of potential criminal activity around Crescent City. Theft is a possibility anywhere, but this was an especially flagrant attempt to steal my mountain bike off the rear rack as my daughter and I slept inside the van with my head literally inches away from the bike while camping at Florence Keller County Park. Fortunately my lock withstood the thief, but it marred an otherwise great trip! I won't camp, or possibly even slow down there again!

larrie · 06-04-2023, 10:07 PM

Bummer. Am glad that you had a good lock. Unfortunately we had to cancel the trip.

**daveb** · 06-08-2023, 09:17 AM

Too bad you had to cancel. For those interested in the area or if you plan to return:
A side trip to Gold Bluffs Beach to check out Fern Canyon used to be nice. Looks like these days you need to register for parking. Probably a plus. When I was there about 10 years ago the beach had a lot of...well lets just say I wasn't going to camp there. The Canyon was nice though. I thought Coastal Park drive (Klamath Beach rd IIRC) was a nice one way route. Bald Hills rd was OK.

https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvis...CP_JUMP_394257