What a (Road) Trip!

Humboldt County Road Trip to the Redwoods

10.19.2017
Humboldt County coast

You’ve gotta love a road trip: it’s spontaneous and gives you the freedom for loads of explorations. The hardest part is figuring out where to go. Humboldt County is a road-tripping mecca perfect for an autumn getaway. All you have to do is drive north! First stop: the Lost Coast, a picture-perfect paradise with 80 miles of secluded, wild coastline.

Wander the remote Black Sands Beach, a 3.5-mile stretch of quiet beachcombing and whale sightings. Cut over to Highway 101 and the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park for a 32-mile scenic route with options to pull over and explore. Make sure to stop at Humboldt Bay for some of the best oysters in the world.

Nearby Eureka is ideal for lodging, dining, and strolling through Old Town. Continuing north, the sweet coastal town of Trinidad has a namesake state beach (dog-friendly!) with dramatic sea stacks—a photographer’s dream. Cap off the northern exposure magic at Fern Canyon (aka The Jurassic Park hike) right off of Gold Bluffs Beach and a gateway to Redwoods National Park, where trails travel through the tallest trees in the world. Are we there yet?

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Talk of the Town

    We're spilling the tea on this bountiful 5.5-mile loop to Gossip Rock in Hayward’s Garin Regional Park (currently whispering all the right springtime notes).

    View

  2. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

    View

  3. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

    View
  4. woman kneeling and signing peak book at Mount Olympia in Mount Diablo State Park

    Double Up on Diablo

    Set the tone for 2024 with this twofer summit hike at Mount Diablo State Park. Embark on a 7-mile out-and-back up Mount Olympia and Diablo’s lesser-known summit, North Peak.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Hiker overlooking Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park near Monterey

    Pinnacles of Spring

    Why hike at Pinnacles National Park? Spring's a beautiful time of year here. And you might spy the magnificent California condor soaring while you gain soaring views from the High Peaks Trail.

    View

  2. Caves in Mojave

    No one expects to see caves when they visit the desert, and that’s part of what makes Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert such an interesting place. Go on a two-hour guided adventure tour through Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.

    View
  3. Hikers by the reservoir at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks

    Triumphant in Triunfo

    Go on a hike with a peaceful reservoir, charming meadows, and beautiful spring blooms at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks.

    View

  4. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

    View