Romancing the Redwoods

Humboldt Redwoods Adventure for Valentines Day

02.09.2017
Humboldt redwoods

This Valentine’s Day, instead of a dozen red roses, give your better half the gift of thousands of redwoods. Just a few hours from the Bay Area, magical Humboldt County is home to the tallest ancient redwoods on earth. Before hitting the myriad trails that wind through these giants, get the ultimate photo op by driving through Shrine Drive-Thru Tree—created by Mother Nature herself!

Afterwards, head to Avenue of the Giants. Be sure to make regular stops along the way, as you’ll find hiking and biking trails that splinter off from the main road. Rockefeller Loop Trail/Bull Creek Flats is a particularly enchanting trail that leads you through the 7,000-acre Rockefeller Forest to the point where Bull Creek meets the South Fork Eel River.

Make time to see Humboldt County’s 10 most famous trees, including the Star Wars Tree.

Ready to go? Make your launch point Eureka, an ideal spot for lodging and dining. Turn the romance up a notch in Old Town Eureka, where charming Victorian architecture and horse-drawn carriages take you anywhere your heart desires.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View