North Coast State Park |
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North Coast State Park Overview
The state park system is responsible for almost a third of California's scenic coastline. State parks include underwater preserves, parks, redwood forests, plant and wildlife reserves, state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, reservoirs, historic parks & homes, Spanish buildings, lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. Below you'll find a list of the more popular North Coast state parks and ones we personally recommmend from multiple old-growth Coast Redwood State Parks to the calm waters of Tomales Bay. State Park camping is a popular activity with most State Park campgrounds offering extra conveniences like flush toilets, running water and firewood. |
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North Coast State ParkJedediah Smith State Park is located nine miles east of Crescent City on Highway 199. Named after the famous explorer that led the first expedition from the Great Salt Lake to the California coast. This is one of three Redwood State Parks in the region that are part of Redwood National Park. This park features 10,000 acres of old-growth Coast Redwood. A dense canopy of ferns, moss and lichens fill the forest floor. Black bear, river otter, beaver and fox still roam these lands. King salmon and steelhead trout spawn in the Smith River and Mill Creek. Activities include State Park camping, biking, hiking, swimming and horseback riding. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is located 7 miles south of Crescent City off Highway 101. This is one of three Redwood State Parks in the region that are part of Redwood National Park. This park features 6400 acres with approximately 50% old-growth Coast Redwood and eight miles of wild coastline. Hiking trails throughout but two traverse the steep cliffs to the sea. A sand beach awaits with tidepool exploration at low tide. Activities include State Park camping, hiking and biking. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is located 50 miles north of Eureka off Highway 101. This is one of three Redwood State Parks in the region that are part of Redwood National Park. Activities include State Park camping, fishing, tidepool exploration, hiking and horseback riding. This park is known for its nature trails through lush fern canopy beneath towering redwoods. Fern Canyon and Rhododendron Trail are two popular trails in the park. Fern Canyon follows a creek bed to the ocean and features several species of fern protruding from the canyon walls. Every year in May, Rhododendron Trail features blooming rhododendrons and azaleas that grow wild in the park. Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park is located 20 miles southeast of Eureka on Highway 101 and 17 miles east on Highway 36. A more 'off the beaten path' redwood forest. Park features campsites, horse shoe pits, group camp, picnic areas and more. Activities include State Park camping, swimming, picnicking, kayaking, fishing, and hiking. Humboldt Redwoods State Park is located 45 miles south of Eureka along the Avenue of the Giants and 20 miles north of Garberville. Enjoy 52,000 acres of pristine redwood forest, 17,000 acres of which is old growth trees thousands of years old. Avenue of the Giants is a 32-mile auto tour through some of the tallest trees in the world. This is California's largest redwood forest. Activities include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, State Park camping, canoeing and swimming in the Eel River. Patrick's Point State Park is located just a few miles north of Trinidad off Highway 101. This park offers a dense forest where trails can be traversed through wildflower meadows and lush forest to the headland cliffs leading to the ocean below. Activities include beach camping, fishing, tidepool exploration, whale watching, diving, surfing and hiking. Reconstructed Yurok Village onsite. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Richardson Grove State Park is located 7 miles south of Garberville on Highway 101. The park is located along the south fork Eel River and offers State Park camping, hiking, swimming and fishing within an old-growth Coast Redwood forest. A historic lodge houses a Visitor Center and gift shop. Standish-Hickey State Park is located just north of Leggett off Highway 101. This park is considered the 'Gateway to Tall Trees Country' and offers the Grove Trail through Giant Redwoods. Situated along the south fork Eel River, Standish-Hickey offers activities including State Park camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming and fishing. MacKerricher State Park is located three miles north of Fort Bragg on PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway), near the town of Cleone. This park is a tidal lagoon with tidepools, a bike trail that's also popular with joggers, sand dunes, freshwater lakes and beach camping. Campsites are nestled in a redwood forest and offer shelter from the sometimes brisk ocean breezes. Other activities include horseback riding, swimming, hiking, and abalone diving. This park is a great choice for camping at the beach. Russian Gulch State Park is located 2 miles north of Mendocino on Highway 1. Russian Gulch Creek Canyon is known for its picturesque waterfall, bridge and Devil's Punch Bowl (collapsed sea cave in which the ocean churns). Activities include tidepool exploration, State Park camping, hiking, biking, abalone diving and fishing. Russian Gulch was historically a regular stop for lumber ships heading to San Francisco. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Van Damme State Park is located 3 miles south of Mendocino on Highway 1. The park is known for its Fern Canyon, Cabbage Patch and Pigmy Forest. Activities include tidepool exploration, State Park camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, abalone diving and fishing. A paved trail is popular with joggers and bicyclists. Kayak tours are available on the beach, which give access to several sea caves. Van Damme was historically a regular stop for lumber ships heading to San Francisco. This park is a good option for camping by the beach. Manchester State Park is located on the north end of Manchester off Highway 1. Park is known for its 760 acres of beaches, sand dunes and flat grasslands. Activities include beach camping, swimming, hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing and horseback riding. Point Arena Lighthouse is located on the southern edge of the park and offers accommodations in former light keepers cabins. This park is a great choice for camping at the beach. Mendocino Headlands State Park is located south of Mendocino on PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway). This park features grassy headlands filled with wildflowers in the Spring, rocky outcroppings with some forming arches and beaches where the Big River meets the ocean. Activities include fishing, surfing, kayaking, diving, whale watching and other wildlife viewing. Armstrong Redwoods State Park is located off Highway 116 (River Road) north of Guerneville. Armstrong features an old-growth Coast Redwood forest. The park features a Visitor Center, amphitheater, nature trails and horseback riding stables. Picnic areas feature grills, tables and restrooms. Sonoma Coast State Beach is located between Jenner and Bodega Bays on PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway). The beach can be accessed from several points along PCH and features sand beach coves separated by rock outcroppings. Natural arches and secluded coves are abundant. One cove features a colony of harbor seals. Activities include beach camping, fishing, boating, surfing, tide pool exploration, horseback riding, whale watching and other wildlife viewing. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Tomales Bay State Park is located off Highway 1 forty miles north of San Francisco. This huge bay is formed by the San Andreas Fault. The waters are protected from wind and waves by the pine tree blanketed Inverness Ridge. Visitors enjoy hiking trails, picnicking, swimming, clamming and boating. The landscape includes beaches, meadows, forests and marshlands. |
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