Day 7: Northern California Road Trip!
The next morning our first stops were to find the national park signs and to grab breakfast at the Historic Hiouchi Cafe! I really recommend the pancakes!
The first hike of the morning was the Historic Stout Grove. Stout Grove was the first dedicated grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. It was a short hike but absolutely worth the stop. The light in this grove was absolutely amazing.
The next stop was The Grove of the Titans. This was a mesmerizing trail filled with peace. At the trail head you learn about the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation and their history with this much revered land.
We checked out of our cabin and drove south. The thing that surprised me is how close the gorgeous west coast was to the park. The juxtaposition between the two sceneries was a little jarring to my mental model of the world.
Next on the list was Fern Canyon Loop Trail. This was an hour or so's drive south from Jedediah. Now this hike requires a permit for most of the year so make sure you look into it! The area is where they filmed portions of Jurassic Park. During parts of the year there is a board walk. But we went when the boardwalk had been pulled up for the season which made it a creek hike. Prepare to be in awe of the senary and to get your shoes wet! Oh also we were greeted by a Roosevelt Elk on the drive in!
The trail had so many interesting critters like banana slugs and the caterpillar form of this Spotted Tussock Moth
Also be ware of the Roosevelt Elk! The warning signs might be funny but the danger is real please respect the wild life !
On the way out of the park we stopped at Gold Bluffs Beach. This area is still part of the park that requires reservations most of the year so make sure you look into your permit! The sunset here was great and was the perfect way to end our evening of sight seeing. Our last stop was Roosevelt Base Camp. This inn was the perfect location for the night! I really recommend staying here on your redwoods journey. The beds were soft, and the shower was divine after staying in dry cabins for the past week.
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