What a (Road) Trip!

Humboldt County Road Trip to the Redwoods

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?

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