Going to Nor Cal - Redwoods - Need recommendations please

[jasxn]

I know there's a Nor-Cal section but I don't think it's as active as the main.

I'm heading up to Nor Cal from LA. Need some advice on some must do's such as hikes, eats, campgrounds, etc.

I'll be doing a 6 day/5 nights camping trip just me and my dog. dude is old so I can leave him in the car for a couple hours while I go for a hike.
Ill be driving straight to Fort Bragg the first night then Gold Bluffs Beach the second night and that's as far as I got planned. I will be stopping at Usal (lost coast) beach to hang and cook up some lunch.
The last night, at least, I'm going to camp out Prewitt Ridge in Big Sur and then go home.
All your recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

 

[BobsTrail]

South of Monterey - Pismo/Oceano Dunes. You can camp on the beach, food and gas very close. Good sand dunes for a T4. Rental quads and dirt bikes available on the beach or near an entrance.

 

[Lexington]

How far north are you going? If you as far as where HWY 101 & 1 meet there is a town called Legget where you can drive through a giant Redwood Tree called the Chandler Tree. Further north in the town of Weott there is the avenue of the Giants.

Between Halfmoon Bay and Santa Cruz there I’d a state park on HWY1 called Año Nuevo State Park. In the winter time there are a lot of Elephant seal there.

 

[jasxn]

thanks. i've been here plenty. sad theyre going to shut it down in a couple years

 

[jasxn]

How far north are you going? If you as far as where HWY 101 & 1 meet there is a town called Legget where you can drive through a giant Redwood Tree called the Chandler Tree. Further north in the town of Weott there is the avenue of the Giants.

Between Halfmoon Bay and Santa Cruz there I’d a state park on HWY1 called Año Nuevo State Park. In the winter time there are a lot of Elephant seal there.

i'll be going as far as cresent city, so border oregon. but this will be a day trip from eureka.
there's a lot of logging roads all around far north cali but most are closed during the winter season.

 

[JoeBand]

I know there's a Nor-Cal section but I don't think it's as active as the main.

I'm heading up to Nor Cal from LA. Need some advice on some must do's such as hikes, eats, campgrounds, etc.

I'll be doing a 6 day/5 nights camping trip just me and my dog. dude is old so I can leave him in the car for a couple hours while I go for a hike.
Ill be driving straight to Fort Bragg the first night then Gold Bluffs Beach the second night and that's as far as I got planned. I will be stopping at Usal (lost coast) beach to hang and cook up some lunch.
The last night, at least, I'm going to camp out Prewitt Ridge in Big Sur and then go home.
All your recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

much of big sur is closed from last year's fire and now the new colorado fire... prewitt ridge area burned last year, i'd check before planning there.

 

[BobsTrail]

The Bixby Bridge in Big Sur has a dirt road just north of the bridge. Went part way up that for a good view.

For some off road time, the coast road a few miles south of the bridge takes you around the canyon and comes out at the bridge. Looks like a good scenic trip if the fires did not mess it up.

 

[Mark Linkous]

The drive from Eureka to Crescent is amazing . Used to live in Brookings(well worth the 20 min drive from Crescent) which is just over the border in Oregon and now live in Humboldt. Speaking, there is a OHV in Eureka on Samoa.
Would highly recommend checking out Avenue of the Giants on the way to Eureka. Just amazing and barely adds any time on the way up.

Eureka is pretty cool all in all and there are plenty of dining options. Arcata is more of a college town and ditto offers many decent places to eat and whatnot and McKinleyville/Trinidad offer some great beach spots.

There is so much to see around here that it really is one of those throw things at the wall deals as there are almost endless options. Fern Canyon is pretty rad as well…

 

[jasxn]

The drive from Eureka to Crescent is amazing . Used to live in Brookings(well worth the 20 min drive from Crescent) which is just over the border in Oregon and now live in Humboldt. Speaking, there is a OHV in Eureka on Samoa.
Would highly recommend checking out Avenue of the Giants on the way to Eureka. Just amazing and barely adds any time on the way up.

Eureka is pretty cool all in all and there are plenty of dining options. Arcata is more of a college town and ditto offers many decent places to eat and whatnot and McKinleyville/Trinidad offer some great beach spots.

There is so much to see around here that it really is one of those throw things at the wall deals as there are almost endless options. Fern Canyon is pretty rad as well…

Hey Mark!,
Thanks for the info. I recently found out about Samoa and the ohv area.
After all this research I feel like I need to come back and explore as theres so much to see and do especially during the warmer months when they open up the back/logging roads.
The last time I was in Eureka was back in 2007. I'm sure a lot has changed and pretty excited to go back and check it out.

 

[jasxn]

much of big sur is closed from last year's fire and now the new colorado fire... prewitt ridge area burned last year, i'd check before planning there.

Hey Joe,
man i'm glad you mentioned that.
Ive read the colorado fire should be 100% contained soon.
I didn't know about Prewitt ridge being closed because of the fire.
man what a shame.
i looked it up and it's still closed. thank you again for warning me.

 

[jasxn]

The Bixby Bridge in Big Sur has a dirt road just north of the bridge. Went part way up that for a good view.

For some off road time, the coast road a few miles south of the bridge takes you around the canyon and comes out at the bridge. Looks like a good scenic trip if the fires did not mess it up.

hey Bob.
thanks for the tip. I've done that trail (old coast road) with the family. everyone enjoyed it and its really beautiful back there.