Posted by Laurie Wendt on January 16, 2013 at 12:16 AM
I posted a portion of this on the CA Forum. I only got a few views and no replies. I'm hoping someone here can help.
I'm just starting to plan a trip to Northern CA in April or May. My tentative plans are to work the coast from Point Arena to Trinidad, then spent 2 days around Mt. Shasta.
I'll have 4-5 days on the coast. Any suggestions on how to split my time? I need to be based out of a city since I'll be staying in motels. I'm mainly interested in the Point Arena Lighthouse and scenic coastal areas that have views of sea stacks. I'd like to visit one area to see some redwoods. Which one would you suggest for a 1st timer to the area?
I'd like to visit Bowling Ball Beach. I recently purchased Gary Crabble's new book on Photographing Northern CA. Very Highly recommended by the way! I see the direct trail to the beach is closed due to erosion. Gary's book mentions that you can reach that area by a northern access point and a mile hike down the beach. Has anyone done this? I was wondering if the beach was wide so if I did this I wouldn't have to worry about being cut off by a rising tide. If I didn't want water around the rocks what number should I be looking for on a tide chart?
Thanks for your help!
Posted by John Williams on January 17, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Sorry Laurie; that's beyond the reach of areas I'm familiar with. Maybe other members can comment?
Posted by Greg Vaughn on January 18, 2013 at 4:26 PM
If you have Gary Crabbe's book, you've got some of the best advice available. I don't know a whole lot about the area from Point Arena to Trinidad, but can offer a few suggestions about the Redwoods.
My first recommendation is to continue north beyond Trinidad. IMO, some of the best areas for photography in the Redwoods are at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Redwoods St Pk, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods St Pk.
There are incredible, huge redwoods immediately north of the Prairie Creek Redwoods campground, along an old section of highway where there is now a bypass for through traffic. You can also get out to coast at Gold Bluff Beach here, and to Fern Canyon - a narrow canyon with vertical walls covered in ferns. There is a resident herd of Roosevelt Elk at Prairie Creek as well.
Damnation Creek Trail in Del Norte Redwoods is a favorite location for shooting the big trees, as is Stout Grove at Jed Smith State Park. Also, on the north side of Hwy 199, just west of the entrance to Jed Smith, is the Simpson Grove where a short loop trail goes through magnificent forest. A recent storm demolished the trail next to the highway, and access is now via a trailhead on Walker Road.
Late May is one of the best times to photograph in the Redwoods, because that's when the rhododendrons are in bloom - peak is usually around Memorial Day. If you're there at that time, also drive up Bald Hills Road past the Lady Bird Johnson Grove (just outside of the town of Orick) - there are expansive meadows full of lupine along that road.
Discussion
2 repliesI'm just starting to plan a trip to Northern CA in April or May. My tentative plans are to work the coast from Point Arena to Trinidad, then spent 2 days around Mt. Shasta.
I'll have 4-5 days on the coast. Any suggestions on how to split my time? I need to be based out of a city since I'll be staying in motels. I'm mainly interested in the Point Arena Lighthouse and scenic coastal areas that have views of sea stacks. I'd like to visit one area to see some redwoods. Which one would you suggest for a 1st timer to the area?
I'd like to visit Bowling Ball Beach. I recently purchased Gary Crabble's new book on Photographing Northern CA. Very Highly recommended by the way! I see the direct trail to the beach is closed due to erosion. Gary's book mentions that you can reach that area by a northern access point and a mile hike down the beach. Has anyone done this? I was wondering if the beach was wide so if I did this I wouldn't have to worry about being cut off by a rising tide. If I didn't want water around the rocks what number should I be looking for on a tide chart?
Thanks for your help!
My first recommendation is to continue north beyond Trinidad. IMO, some of the best areas for photography in the Redwoods are at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Redwoods St Pk, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods St Pk.
There are incredible, huge redwoods immediately north of the Prairie Creek Redwoods campground, along an old section of highway where there is now a bypass for through traffic. You can also get out to coast at Gold Bluff Beach here, and to Fern Canyon - a narrow canyon with vertical walls covered in ferns. There is a resident herd of Roosevelt Elk at Prairie Creek as well.
Damnation Creek Trail in Del Norte Redwoods is a favorite location for shooting the big trees, as is Stout Grove at Jed Smith State Park. Also, on the north side of Hwy 199, just west of the entrance to Jed Smith, is the Simpson Grove where a short loop trail goes through magnificent forest. A recent storm demolished the trail next to the highway, and access is now via a trailhead on Walker Road.
Late May is one of the best times to photograph in the Redwoods, because that's when the rhododendrons are in bloom - peak is usually around Memorial Day. If you're there at that time, also drive up Bald Hills Road past the Lady Bird Johnson Grove (just outside of the town of Orick) - there are expansive meadows full of lupine along that road.