{"id":3480,"date":"2020-01-26T19:38:12","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T02:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=3480"},"modified":"2024-04-04T07:00:50","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T14:00:50","slug":"highway-101-north-coast-redwood-trails-beaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/26\/highway-101-north-coast-redwood-trails-beaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Highway 101 North Redwood Coast Trails, Beaches, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

The stretch of Highway 101 between Arcata and Crescent City travels through the most beautiful coastline and redwoods of California, especially in Redwood National & State Parks. This post provides a Highway 101 road mileage guide to the wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities along the northern Redwood Coast, primarily the best places to hike, camp, explore beaches, and view the ocean (including great whale-watching spots).<\/p>\n

\"Highway
Highway 101 on the North Coast of California: beaches, redwoods, hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, campgrounds… so much to explore!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Highway 101: Redwood Coast Hiking, Beach Wandering, Camping, Exploring…<\/h2>\n

US Highway 101 runs through the heart of Redwood National and State Parks and is the main artery for your visit to the North Coast of California. This extensive article begins with Highway 101 in Arcata near the southern end the region covered in my book (see below) with coastal hikes in Trinidad and Patrick\u2019s Point State Park before continuing north past activities at beaches and lagoons to reach the hiking trails in the Orick region of Redwood National Park. Highway 101 then passes near Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park before crossing the broad Klamath River to reach more trails, beaches, and viewpoints in the northern portion of Redwoods National Park and Del Norte Redwoods State Park. From there it travels through Crescent City to meet Highway 199 near Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, home to the final hikes in my book and the end of this Highway 101 road mileage log.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>My Guidebook to Redwood National & State Parks<\/h2>\n

Mountaineers Books, one of the premier world publishers of outdoor books, recently released my latest guidebook, Hike the Parks: Redwood National & State Parks<\/em> (see it on Amazon<\/a>, and more info here on the NCHT website<\/a>). It’s a compact and lightweight all-color guide to the top 38 hiking trails in Redwood National & State Parks and nearby, plus everything else you’d want to do in the outdoors in the region: beach walks, whale watching<\/a>, tide pool exploration<\/a>, and camping.<\/p>\n

It covers Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Patricks Point State Park, and more along and near Highway 101.<\/p>\n

Highway 101 Road Mileages: Redwood National & State Parks and Nearby<\/h2>\n

Refer to the first number for the distance from the junction of\u00a0 Highway 101 and Highway 299 in Arcata. The second number lists the distance from the junction of\u00a0 Highway 101 and Highway 199 just north of Crescent City.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> If you are near Crescent City and driving south on Highway 101, scroll to the bottom of this post and then work your way up.<\/p>\n

0.0 78.3 Exit 716A Junction US Highway 101 and CA Highway 299, Arcata<\/h3>\n

This is the southern main highway junction. Reset your trip meter to zero here if you’re heading north on Highway 101! <\/strong><\/p>\n

0.5 77.8 Exit 716B Guintoli Lane and Janes Road, Arcata<\/h3>\n

The east side of the freeway in northern Arcata has just about everything you need to stock up for a trip. You’ll find a supermarket, gas stations, plus several restaurants and hotels.<\/p>\n

7.4 70.9 Exit 723: Clam Beach County Park<\/h3>\n

There are better beaches farther north (see below), but Clam Beach County Park is definitely worth a visit. There’s a first-come, first-served campground with 15 sites. No fee, and you can wander the beach for miles. The entrance for Clam Beach County Park (and the campground) is on the west side of Highway 101 near the off-ramp. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

12.7 65.6 Exit 728: Town of Trinidad, Trinidad Head Hike, Trinidad Beach<\/h3>\n

Now we get to Hike #1 in my book: Trinidad Head and Trinidad Beach. But there’s lots more to Trinidad, including several restaurants and cool places to spend the night, plus a harbor and some of the most gorgeous coastal\/beach scenery on the entire California coast, all a short drive from Highway 101.<\/p>\n

\"California's
Trinidad Beach viewed from the Trinidad Head Trail. Easy drive from Highway 101, plus good eats in Trinidad town!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

18.3 60.0 Exit 734: Sue-meg State Park Hiking Trails<\/h3>\n

Just a short hop from Highway 101, Sue-Meg State Park is a popular destination for campers, whale watchers<\/a>, beach combers, tide pool aficionados, and, of course, hikers. Two hikes here:<\/p>\n

Hike 2: Sue-Meg State Park Headlands Trails
\nHike 3: Agate Beach<\/p>\n

\"Patricks
Highlight of any drive along Highway 101 and the North Coast: Sue-Meg State Park. This is the view from the Wedding Rock Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

20.0 58.3 West Side: Big Lagoon County Park Beach<\/h3>\n

The beach at Big Lagoon County Park stretches for miles in both directions: south to Agate Beach in Patricks Point State Park (Hike 3) and north into Humboldt Lagoons State Park. Take Big Lagoon Park Road from the west side of US 101 for 0.8 mile to the park, which has a campground and a picnic area.<\/p>\n

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Explore Redwood National & State Parks!<\/h4>\n

\"HikeMy compact, all-color guidebook has it all:<\/strong><\/p>\n