THURSDAY - Another short travel day of just 29-miles will put us at the Panther Flat Campground in the Six Rivers National Forest.
The campground is open year round for those who like to do winter camping, however they don't start taking reservations until May 18th this year, which means all the sites are First-Come-First-Serve right now. For that reason we plan to arrive early, around 10AM, to try and find that sweet spot between "after people are vacating their campsites" and "before those who are arriving" to pick a new site like we are.
That will give us the best chance to find two sites next to each other, because our friend David, the one we just explored Cabrillo National Monument with in San Diego, back in February, is driving his new camper van up from Napa, CA to join us for a few days in the forest.
This time his wife Barb won't be joining us, but we'll get to once again visit with Axle, his dog, that we first met back in New Mexico in February of 2023.
At 9:00AM the higher elevations of US-101 were still shrouded in fog.
This is US-199 northeast of Cresent City, CA in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
US-199 roughly follows along the path of the Smith River all the way to our campground.
By 1:00PM we were all settled into our new campsite.
We've got just enough clear sky for a little bit of solar and Starlink is working at about 75%.
2-hours later David and Axle arrived and occupied the site we saved for them across the street.
FRIDAY - Day 1 of our sightseeing in the northern third of Redwoods National Park outside of Cresent City, CA has us taking a couple of hikes and a backroads scenic drive.
Unfortunately, Axle is not permited on any of the hiking trails in Redwood National and State Parks, but he's real good about waiting for us to return and by bringing David's van he's in familiar surroundings.
DAY 1 SIGHTSEEING
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By 8:30AM we had already arrived at our first trailhead for the day. I'm still in awe each time we see one of these downed tree's rootball.
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Here I am with our Californian friend, David (since April 2021).
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Redwoods develop burls at the base when they get old (2000 years), damaged or stressed. New redwoods sprout out of these burls like you see on the right side of this photo.
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If you wish, this bridge will take you on the Peterson Memorial Trail.
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This tree grew upon a downed redwood, which later decomposed out from under it.
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Here's 5'1" Tricia standing amoung the 250-300' tall trees.
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Look how the bark on this tree twists around it like a candy cane.
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Howland Hill Road is a 2-way traffic roadway, but many areas are only 1-lane wide.
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David and Axle are following behind us as we travel down the road.
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Here comes the first of many oncoming vehicles, at least here there's room to pass.
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I glad we didn't encounter oncoming traffic at this spot...
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...or here either. There wouldn't be room to pass at either location.
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Look at the size of that stump over there. It's bigger than the minivan!
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That tree up ahead must have been blocking the road at some point.
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No wonder it cracked and fell, it's hollow inside.
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The Grove of Titans Trail starts out fairly level, but soon begins to climb upwards.
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Here's another tree growing on top of a downed tree.
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Up ahead is the first of several bridges along this 1.7-mile long trail.
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This banana slug might want to reconsider hanging out on the bridge.
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Not only were there bridges, there were several sets or stairs too.
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I like it whe the trail goes between two trees...
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...because you get this wonderful view when you look straight up.
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Stairs and a bridge, they must be offering a 2-for-1 special on this trail.
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This giant tree fell across the trail. What to do now?
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Reroute the trail down and around the fallen giant.
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At the end of the downed tree we turned left...
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...only to be confronted by another redwood obstacle.
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Yet another tree growning over a downed tree.
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At one point along the trail it is within sight of the slow-moving Mill Creek.
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The end of the trail has you standing in the Grove of the Titans.
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That's enough sightseeing for one day. Let's head back to the campsite.
After we completed Howland Hill Road, but before we reached US-199, we passed under this wooden bridge...
...and just before we reached US-199 we passed over the Smith River.
SATURDAY - We accomplished a lot of sightseeing yesterday, but there's still plenty to see in this area.
Some of today's sightseeing will be outside of Redwood National Park and in the Six Rivers National Forest. There's also a historic lighthouse in Cresent City that we want to make sure we get over too see.
Our first stop today has us passing back over the Smith River and out onto Howland Hill Road.
DAY 2 SIGHTSEEING
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We skipped doing this trail yesterday, but we're back today at 8:30AM to check it out.
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At this time of day the sun shines at just the right angle through the trees.
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This huge tree splintered when it hit the ground.
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You can see these trees have been in a fire and sprouted burls at the base.
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With no ground cover, these trees stand a better chance of surviving the next fire.
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There are many tall trees in this grove...
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...but this one appears to be the tallest.
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This loop trail has a side trail that heads down to the water.
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The Smith River flows right passed here on it's way to the Pacific Ocean.
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This trail is not inside of Redwood National Park, it's in the Six Rivers National Forest. That's important because it means Axle is permitted to join us on the trail.
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Along the trail were many of these Longtube Irises.
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There were also many Bridges' Broadiaea flowers.
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This flower identified as Tolmie's Pussy Ears?
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Is that even a real name?
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At the end of the trial is this view of the South Fork of the Smith River.
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The water here is crystal clear.
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Axle is paying attention to Tricia's camera, but David is mezmerized by the river.
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That rocky point down there is where the South Fork and the Main Channel of the Smith converge.
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Tricia climbed down to the rocky point and soon after a float tour emerged from behind.
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They look like they're having a good time out on the water today.
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The view of the convergence from the rocky point.
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Axle got a chance to show off some of his Black Labrador's natural water skills.
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From this little beach you could see the rope swing hanging from the bridge.
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Our visit to Battery Point Lighthouse had to be timed perfectly...
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...because it has to be "low tide" in order to walk out to it.
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The 1856 Battery Point Light was one of the first lighthouses on the California coast.
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There is a small museum inside the lighthouse, but there's also a $10 fee to enter.
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As you can see the island was covered with these brightly colored flowers.
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There were several very interesting "tree stump" carvings.
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The lighthouse was automated in 1953 and no longer required a lightkeeper on the island.
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Someone hung a replica ligthhouse bird feedeer in a tree.
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Many items seem to wash up on the shoreline of the island.
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Looking north from the island you can probably see Oregon.
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From the rear you can see the restoration efforts are in progress.
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Outside the south side of Cresent City is this overlook.
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Looking south from the overlook you can see the rugged California coatline.
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Looking down I expected we might see some seals, but none were to be found.
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Looking north you can see the cresent shape of Cresent Beach.
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Inside of the Six Rivers National Forest is the Smith River National Recreation Area.
Smith River National Recreation Area is over 300,000 acres in size
In case anyone is interested, the Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Mad, Van Duzen, and Eel Rivers are what make up the 6 rivers of Six Rivers National Forest.
You'd think that after 18 days of exploring in and around Redwood National and State Parks we would have seen it all. The truth is there is so much more to see and half the things we did see we'd do again on a future visit.
For now we are done with our visit to California. We will continue heading north into Oregon and Washington before passing back south through California later this summer.
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
By 8:30AM we had already arrived at our first trailhead for the day.
Here I am with our Californian friend, David (since April 2021).
Redwoods develop burls at the base when they get old (2000 years), damaged or stressed.
If you wish, this bridge will take you on the Peterson Memorial Trail.
This tree grew upon a downed redwood, which later decomposed out from under it.
Here's 5'1" Tricia standing amoung the 250-300' tall trees.
Look how the bark on this tree twists around it like a candy cane.
Howland Hill Road is a 2-way traffic roadway, but many areas are only 1-lane wide.
David and Axle are following behind us as we travel down the road.
Here comes the first of many oncoming vehicles, at least here there's room to pass.
I glad we didn't encounter oncoming traffic at this spot...
...or here either. There wouldn't be room to pass at either location.
Look at the size of that stump over there. It's bigger than the minivan!
That tree up ahead must have been blocking the road at some point.
No wonder it cracked and fell, it's hollow inside.
The Grove of Titans Trail starts out fairly level, but soon begins to climb upwards.
Here's another tree growing on top of a downed tree.
Up ahead is the first of several bridges along this 1.7-mile long trail.
This banana slug might want to reconsider hanging out on the bridge.
Not only were there bridges, there were several sets or stairs too.
I like it whe the trail goes between two trees...
...because you get this wonderful view when you look straight up.
Stairs and a bridge, they must be offering a 2-for-1 special on this trail.
This giant tree fell across the trail. What to do now?
Reroute the trail down and around the fallen giant.
At the end of the downed tree we turned left...
...only to be confronted by another redwood obstacle.
Yet another tree growning over a downed tree.
At one point along the trail it is within sight of the slow-moving Mill Creek.
That's enough sightseeing for one day. Let's head back to the campsite.
We skipped doing this trail yesterday, but we're back today at 8:30AM to check it out.
At this time of day the sun shines at just the right angle through the trees.
This huge tree splintered when it hit the ground.
You can see these trees have been in a fire and sprouted burls at the base.
With no ground cover, these trees stand a better chance of surviving the next fire.
There are many tall trees in this grove...
...but this one appears to be the tallest.
This loop trail has a side trail that heads down to the water.
The Smith River flows right passed here on it's way to the Pacific Ocean.
This trail is not inside of Redwood National Park, it's in the Six Rivers National Forest.
Along the trail were many of these Longtube Irises.
There were also many Bridges' Broadiaea flowers.
This flower identified as Tolmie's Pussy Ears?
Is that even a real name?
At the end of the trial is this view of the South Fork of the Smith River.
The water here is crystal clear.
Axle is paying attention to Tricia's camera, but David is mezmerized by the river.
That rocky point down there is where the South Fork and the Main Channel of the Smith converge.
Tricia climbed down to the rocky point and soon after a float tour emerged from behind.
They look like they're having a good time out on the water today.
The view of the convergence from the rocky point.
From this little beach you could see the rope swing hanging from the bridge.
Our visit to Battery Point Lighthouse had to be timed perfectly...
...because it has to be "low tide" in order to walk out to it.
The 1856 Battery Point Light was one of the first lighthouses on the California coast.
There is a small museum inside the lighthouse, but there's also a $10 fee to enter.
As you can see the island was covered with these brightly colored flowers.
There were several very interesting "tree stump" carvings.
The lighthouse was automated in 1953 and no longer required a lightkeeper on the island.
Someone hung a replica ligthhouse bird feedeer in a tree.
Many items seem to wash up on the shoreline of the island.
Looking north from the island you can probably see Oregon.
From the rear you can see the restoration efforts are in progress.
Outside the south side of Cresent City is this overlook.
Looking south from the overlook you can see the rugged California coatline.
Looking down I expected we might see some seals, but none were to be found.
Looking north you can see the cresent shape of Cresent Beach.
