Home >Travel Guides > Redwood and Mendocino Scenic Drive Introduction > Arcata to Redwood National Park Scenic Drive
Arcata to Redwood National Park
A Scenic Drive Along the Redwood Coast
During this exciting day, you’ll enjoy
- Gorgeous Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway,
- Splendid California coastline
- Redwood National Park, and
- Prairie Creek Redwood State Park.
Here you'll find easy-to-follow directions and sightseeing suggestions. You’ll also gain insight into the founding of the redwood parks along this very scenic drive.
(If you haven't read directions to this area, please see Part 1: Redwood and Mendocino scenic drive introduction.
North from Arcata
From the Arcata Plaza, drive north on G Street.
Follow the overhead signs that say northbound U.S. 101.
Then travel north on the U.S. 101 freeway toward Crescent City.
Beaches, beaches, beaches
Several minutes north of Arcata and the bridge over the Mad River, U.S. Hghway 101 rejoins the wild California coastline for the first time since its brief encounter at the Golden Gate Bridge. (Its brief running along the calm waters of Humboldt Bay doesn't count.)
Highway 101 reaches the Pacific with a vengeance to make up for lost time—it hasn’t seen this much coastline for over 600 miles.
Beaches come in quick succession.
First, elongated Clam Beach County Park, with camping, pops up on the left. Dunes partially block views of this fine beach from the highway, but you can easily pull into the park.
Next comes Little River State Beach, another pleasantly wide beach, adjacent to Clam Beach.
Huge waves during the winter, spawned by intense storms in the North Pacific and exacerbated by seasonal high tides, hammer these beaches. These waves can be heard inland for miles. Be careful when walking along the beach and don't get too near the water at that time of year, as unusually large waves can strike at any time.
Trinidad – an optional stop
When U.S. 101 turns inland for a bit, you’ll bypass Luffenholtz Beach County Park and Trinidad State Beach.
However, you can easily access Trinidad State Beach via the pleasant little town of Trinidad known for its sea views and 2 lighthouses.
From 101, take the Trinidad exit.
At the end of the off ramp, turn left and duck under the freeway.
You’re now on Main Street.
Follow Main through the village and then as it veers left to become Trinity Street.
Turn right onto Edwards.
Follow Edwards and then Lighthouse Road to the shore.
The most easily accessible portion of Trinidad State Beach runs north from the parking lot here.
The most picturesque Trinidad State Beach coves are accessible only by sometimes steep trails and stairs from north of Trinidad village. If you do visit these beaches, always have in mind your exit. Don’t let a rising tide trap you against high bluffs.
Trinidad Head Lighthouse
If you wish, continue along Lighthouse Road to Trinidad Head, that big rock formation you'll see to the south. A short trail leads you to the still active lighthouse on the promontory.
On New Years Eve in 1914, a tsunami-type wave extinguished the lighthouse light.
How far above the Pacific was this light? One hundred and ninety-six feet above sea level. That's nearly 60 meters. Enjoy your hike!
The second lighthouse in Trinidad, at Trinity and Edwards streets, is no longer active. However, its bell rings at 12 Noon daily.
Before leaving Trinidad, be sure you have ample fuel. Stations come less frequently north of here.
Return to 101 the way you came.
Continue north on 101.
Patrick’s Point State Park
Next, you'll reach Patrick’s Point State Park, well worth a stop when not shrouded by heavy fog. (Remember to access the brochures when available in these state park links.)
Patrick’s Point features an easy-to-walk trail along lofty cliffs that overlook the Pacific. The views are outstanding.
Most travelers don’t come here for a beach, but the park has a terrific one called Agate Beach in the northwestern portion of the park.
You can admire Agate from above, or take a rather steep, but short trail down to the shoreline.
Because this entire coast has such a cool summer climate, we feel a bit guilty mentioning these beaches, although you could encounter warm beach weather during the summer. However, your chances are better during the spring and fall.
North toward Redwood National Park
North from Patrick’s Point, U.S. 101 goes along
- Big Lagoon County Park, which has a nice beach,
- Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area, and
- Humboldt Lagoons State Park, which also has a nice beach.
This is a particularly scenic and enjoyable portion of 101.
Redwood National and State Parks Visitor Center
Just past the north end of Humboldt Lagoons State Park, watch for the exit to the Redwood National and State Parks Visitor Center on your left.
This is a must stop.
The main building at the center features 3 information kiosks. One is for the national park, 1 for the adjoining state parks, and 1 for the commercial interests in the area, such as motels.
At the national park kiosk, be sure to ask for a visitor brochure and map. The U.S. park rangers give excellent advice regarding trails that match your fitness level.
Talk with state park rangers
Besides the U.S. rangers, chat with the state park rangers. Much of the beautiful scenery in this area has been preserved in the adjacent redwood state parks, not in the national park.
Remember that the state parks came first here. Not only are they more accessible than much of Redwood National Park, they may be even more beautiful.
North into Redwood National Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods
From the Redwood National and State Parks Visitor Center, continue north on U.S. 101.
U.S. 101 dips in and out of parkland before it hits the main southern portion of the redwood park complex.
You’ll pass through the small town of Orick.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Just past Orick, watch for the exit to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove on your right.
The Lady Bird exit pops up before you actually reenter Redwood National Park.
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove has an easy 1-mile loop trail.
This short but pleasant trail winds through giant trees, and provides a fitting memorial to a woman who loved and nurtured the natural world throughout her life.
Although a first lady, a leader in establishing the Head Start program, and a University of Texas Trustee, Lady Bird’s most admired accomplishments were environmental ones.
These include her programs to reestablish wildflower areas, found the National Wildflower Research Center and the U.S. Highway Beautification Program (still going strong), and establish parks like Redwood National Park.
Establishing Redwood National Park
Lady Bird Johnson, who died in 2007 at age 94 (the link, which gives a hint of her warm and lighthearted nature, opens with music), fought hard for establishing Redwood National Park in 1968. The idea of a park had been shunted aside for decades due to World War II, the post-war housing boom’s need for lumber, and other reasons.
The Save the Redwoods League, Sierra Club, and others had met continued resistance, but Mrs. Johnson spirited the legislation through via personal contacts with decision makers and via activities that garnered national publicity.
In appreciation, Lady Bird Johnson Grove was named for her.
You'll notice these heroes throughout your visits to the redwood parks, as you pass plaques in their honor in front of the various groves that they sponsored.
When virgin redwoods were quickly moving toward extinction, nearly no government funds were made available to establish these parks. Instead, individual donors and small clubs purchased state park lands, one grove at a time, for the benefit of all future generations. May God bless them.
Redwood National Park "The bodyguard"
By the 1960’s, a large amount of land next to what was to become Redwood National Park was already preserved in 3 state parks, but these were being severely threatened by logging on adjacent lands.
With logging comes flooding and erosion, and with little lightning in the area to start fires, the main enemies of these trees are erosion and high winds. In spite of their great height, redwood trees have remarkably shallow root systems and topple over easily.
Establishing Redwood National Park saved adjacent lands from logging and protected not only magnificent virgin groves in the new park, but also the ones in the state parks.
Tallest trees
After the founding of Redwood National Park, what was thought to be the tallest tree in the world was discovered there. Its location was kept secret to protect its root system from trampling.
However, during 2006, an even taller tree was found in the park, whose location is also being kept secret to keep it from falling over due to destruction of its extraordinarily shallow root system.
Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
Continue north on U.S. 101.
Watch for elk when you pass the large meadows on the left. They sometimes cluster toward the back near the trees.
Also, watch for the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway exit, also marked “Scenic Alternative.”
Scenic, indeed. Do NOT miss this exit!
As with the Avenue of the Giants, the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway runs along a former portion of U.S. 101 that has been bypassed a freeway.
The awesome beauty of the Drury parkway rivals the Avenue of the Giants in every way. It is simply magnificent in every sense of the word—one of the most scenic highways in the world.
Pity unlucky travelers who don’t take this route.
Although the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway lacks the length and sheer number of possible stops of the Avenue of the Giants, you’ll often want to stop for photos and for the peace that comes from being among these wonderful trees.
Less traveled than the Avenue, you’ll easily find solitude at waysides along the way. In some of these parking areas, yours may be the only vehicle.
Big Tree Wayside
Just beyond the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center early in your drive along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, the Big Tree Wayside pops up on your right.
You won't find solitude here, but Big Tree is well worth a stop.
This wayside has a very short, but very worthwhile trail that leads to a simply humongous tree. The Big Tree lives up to its name!
Beyond the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
When the parkway ends at the U.S. 101 freeway, take the onramp southbound toward Eureka if you just have 3 days roundtrip from San Francisco. Go on to Part 10: From Redwood National Park to San Francisco, and continue your redwoods and Mendocino scenic drive.
Or, with more than 3 days, you may take U.S. 101 northbound toward Crescent City for even more wonderful scenery.
Highway 101 passes through the northern portions of Redwood National Park and through Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park.
Most importantly, 101 and then U.S. 199 lead you to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which is described below.
Jedediah Smith State Park
Although you probably won’t have time to drive that far north unless you devote more than 3 days for your scenic drive from San Francisco, my favorite redwood park in this area is Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
Jedediah Smith adjoins Redwood National Park on the north. Because it’s not located along busier U.S. 101, far fewer people visit this park than the other redwood parks in the area—a plus.
Stout Memorial Grove and Howland Hill Road
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park contains a very special redwood grove, Stout Memorial Grove, adjacent to the Smith River. It's just awesome and one of my favorites.
Stout Memorial Grove has one of the most outstanding trails in all the redwood parks. Although this loop trail is very short and easy, even the most experienced hikers will love it.
Followed with a drive along very narrow, very unpaved, and very slow, but awesomely beautiful Howland Hill Road through giant redwoods back to Crescent City, a visit to Stout Memorial Grove and a picnic in the area provide a wonderful way to spend half of a day.
Note that large vehicles such as RVs should not try to use Howland Hill Road. They should exit Stout Grove the way they reached it, as described below.
Reaching Stout Memorial Grove
Access Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park via U.S. 199 from U.S. 101 just north of Crescent City.
From northbound 101, veer right onto U.S. 199.
Travel through the northern portion of Jedediah Smith park.
After exiting the east entrance of the park along U.S. 199, watch for County Highway 427 (South Fork Road) on your right.
Turn right onto County Highway 427 (South Fork Road).
You're now in the Smith River National Recreational Area.
After crossing two forks of the Smith River, turn right onto Douglas Park Drive.
You'll re-enter Jedediah Smith State Park.
Douglas Park Drive becomes Howland Hill Road, which is unpaved.
Soon, the lane leading to Stout Memorial Grove parking will be on your right.
From Stout, Howland Hill Road takes you back toward Crescent City. This is a slow, but extraordinarily beautiful drive.
After leaving the park, as you near Crescent City, veer left onto Elk Valley Road.
Then turn right on U.S. 101 to reach downtown Crescent City, or left onto 101 to return to Redwood National Park and the Bay Area.
If you wish, use this very clear online map to clarify the rather complicated directions above. Note that the map doesn’t show the new U.S. 101 freeway bypass around much of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park—around the Newton Drury Scenic Parkway.
Go on to Part 10: From Redwood National Park to San Francisco, and continue your redwoods and Mendocino scenic drive!
Part 1: Redwood and Mendocino scenic drive introduction,
Part 2: Directions from San Francisco to Mendocino,
Part 3: Mendocino scenic drive,
Part 4: Avenue of the Giants scenic drive,
Part 5: Avenue of the Giants scenic drive (continued),
Part 6: Scenic drive from Avenue of the Giants to Arcata,
Part 7: Arcata travel guide – what to do,
Part 8: Humboldt and Mendocino counties in depth,
Part 9: Scenic drive from Arcata to Redwood National Park,
Part 10: From Redwood National Park to San Francisco,
Part 11: Motels and hotels along your redwood scenic drive,
Part 12: Camping along your redwood scenic drive, and
Part 13: Mendocino and Redwood parks airport choices.
