The Klamath Basin covers a large swath of northern California and southern Oregon. A relatively undiscovered area, it is among the best birding destinations in the United States. Or so I’m told. 

I’m not a birder. Nor do I pretend to be. In fact, during our ‘birding’ trip to the Klamath Basin, Dan and I mostly referred to species with vague descriptive names. We pointed out ‘spindly white birds’ and ‘scoop-beaked birds’ and ‘yellow-headed birds.’

In other words, we had no idea what we were talking about.

But still, as we looked through our binoculars and botched the bird species, we couldn’t help but be entranced by the array of wildlife in the Klamath Basin. 

KLAMATH BASIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

The Klamath Basin is a remarkable wildlife-viewing destination. During certain times of year, millions of birds pass through the area as they migrate along the Pacific Flyway.

In order to preserve the unique habitat, President Roosevelt established the first National Wildlife Refuge at Lower Klamath Lake in 1908. The refuge encompasses 81,000 acres of marsh and open water along the Oregon/California border. 

Following the establishment of its first wildlife refuge, the Klamath Basin began receiving increased attention for its remarkable avian habitats. 

Now, the area is home to six wildlife refuges that span a large swath of northern California and southern Oregon:  Klamath Marsh, Upper Klamath, Bear Valley, Clear Lake, Lower Klamath, and Tule Lake. 

TULE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 

Dan and I began our Klamath Basin tour with a visit to the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge—established in 1928 by President Calvin Coolidge—covers 39,116 acres in the Tule Lake basin. 

Tule Lake is part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and is a crucial part of the Pacific Flyway corridor for migratory birds. It is home to pelicans, grebes, swallows, and a wide variety of geese. 

To best experience the area’s bird life, Dan and I embarked on a short driving tour through the refuge. The Tule Lake Auto Route is a self-guided drive that begins near the refuge’s visitor center, on Hill Road. A 9.6 mile unpaved scenic road, it cuts past marshes and lakes as it showcases some of the area’s best avian habitats.

LOWER KLAMATH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 

The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge lies on the border between California and Oregon. The refuge includes shallow freshwater marshes, open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that are intensively managed to provide foraging and breeding habitat for waterfowl and other animals.

A 10.2 mile driving route—accessible from Highway 126—leads to some of the area’s best bird-viewing areas. Along the way, wildlife observation decks overlook a combination of permanent and seasonal marshes.

During our visit to the Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge, we found fields of golden grasses that had shriveled under the sun. A few small birds chirped around us, but the numbers didn’t even come close to those at Tule Lake.

Due to the absence of water, we chose to press onward and skip the auto tour of Lower Klamath Lake. 

On my next trip to the area, I plan to visit the refuge in winter—when water levels are higher and flocks of eagles descend into the Klamath Basin. 

UPPER KLAMATH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

The Upper Klamath Wildlife Refuge lies along the northwestern edge of Klamath Lake in Oregon. It boasts 15,000 acres of freshwater marsh and open water. 

Instead of a driving route, a 9.5 mile canoe trail meanders through the area. Dan and I brought our paddle boards in order to best explore the refuge. 

The Upper Klamath Wildlife Refuge provides an opportunity to paddle through marshlands that are ripe with migrating birds. It is a popular nesting and brood rearing area for grebes, terns, herons, bald eagles, and osprey. 

Aside from spotting a few bald eagles and a handful of Red Winged Blackbirds, however, our journey did not result in many bird sightings. 

Still, it was a lovely place to spend the afternoon. 

We meandered gently through the reed channels and soaked in views of Mount McLaughlin in the background. The marked canoe trail quickly became one of my favorite paddle boarding destinations in Oregon—comparable to some of the best stops along the Cascade Lakes Highway. 

OTHER WILDLIFE REFUGES IN THE KLAMATH BASIN

Our trip to the Klamath Basin brought us to three of the area’s six wildlife refuges. The remaining three—Klamath Marsh, Clear Lake, and the Bear Valley—are likewise critical habitats for migrating birds. 

Klamath Marsh Refuge: The Klamath Marsh consists of 40,000 acres of meadows and wetlands in Oregon. A large natural marsh, it provides important nesting and feeding habitats for waterfowl. 

Clear Lake Refuge: The Clear Lake Refuge in northeastern California contains open water surrounded by over 26,000 acres of upland bunchgrass, low sagebrush, and juniper. Rocky islands in the lake host nesting birds, while the uplands provide habitat for pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and sage grouse. 

Except for limited waterfowl and antelope hunting, the refuge is closed to all public access.

Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge: The Bear Valley Refuge is a small patch of land in southwestern Oregon’s Klamath County. It was established in 1978 as an important nesting spot for bald eagles. 

To reduce disturbance to the birds, Bear Valley Refuge is mostly closed to the public.

LAVA BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

The Lava Beds National Monument on the California/Oregon border is an important stop along the Klamath Birding Trail. The monument lies along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Route—an all-American road that link’s Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park with California’s Lassen Peak. 

Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on Medicine Lake’s shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. American rock art sites and historic battlefields litter the area.

California’s Lava Beds National Monument is an exciting place to explore. Geologically, the area reminded us of the Newberry Crater National Monument in Central Oregon. 

Its most popular attractions are underground lava tubes that provide ample opportunity for adventuring. 

WHERE TO STAY IN THE KLAMATH BASIN

Klamath Falls is the undeniable hub of the Klamath Basin. A town of over 20,000 residents, it contains an assortment of hotels that range from budget to boutique. 

Dan and I didn’t personally stay the night near Klamath Falls, since we visited as a day trip from Eugene. When we researched the area, however, we found a handful of good places to stay. Highly-rated options included the Running Y Ranch Resort and the Worldmark Running Y. 

For travelers coming from Crater Lake, a few additional options can be found in Chiloquin. 

WATER RIGHTS IN THE KLAMATH BASIN

The Klamath Basin is a largely agricultural region. More than 1,200 family farms rely on water from the area’s federally-operated system of dams, canals, and reservoirs.

Yet farmers are far from the only ones who rely on the area’s diminishing water supply.

Members of the Klamath Tribes need water to protect two species of endangered and culturally-important sucker fish. With record low inflows, water can’t be released without risking extinction for the struggling fish.

Access to water is a continual point of contention between the Klamath Basin’s farmers, conservationists, and Native tribes. The years-long drought in the region has exacerbated tensions surrounding water rights that have long simmered under the surface. 

The Klamath Water Crisis presents no easy answers. Until drought-like conditions subside, resolution will be difficult to find. 

****

The Klamath Basin is a year-round destination for bird-lovers. And each season brings new opportunities for discovery.

In spring and fall, millions of waterfowl populate the basin as they make their way along the Pacific Flyway. In winter, the basin boasts the largest population of eagles in the continental United States. 

With ever-changing wildlife-viewing opportunities, Dan and I know that we’ll return.

And next time, we’ll hopefully be more equipped to decipher what we’re seeing through our binoculars. 

_________________________________________________

Did You Enjoy this Guide to the Klamath Basin? Pin It! 

The post Discovering the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges appeared first on Erika's Travels .

Joshua Tree National Park is one of Southern California’s most enticing outdoor destinations. Famed for its namesake trees that resemble props in a Dr Seuss story, the national park attracts rock climbers, hikers, solitude-seekers, and influencer-wannabes. It is one of the West Coast’s premier desert playgrounds—filled with jaw-dropping vistas, palm-sheltered oases, and grippy rock perfect for scrambling. 

Yet despite its proximity to Los Angeles and its hoards of yearly visitors, Joshua Tree is a quiet and peaceful retreat from the stresses of urban America.  With its clear night skies and lonely desert landscapes, it feels worlds away from the endless sprawl and heavy traffic that defines much of Southern California’s landscapes. 

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

Joshua Tree National Park gets its name from the eponymous trees that lie scattered about its landscape. Mormon settlers in the area thought the oversized yucca trees—with their branches reaching toward the heavens—resembled the biblical prophet Joshua pointing the way to the promised land. 

The name stuck. And today, ‘Joshua Tree’ describes both the yucca plants and the federally protected area in which they grow. 

Though the park’s iconic trees are what most people associate with the California park, they are far from the area’s only special feature. Joshua Tree National Park is a transition zone between two deserts: the low and dry Colorado, and the higher and slightly cooler Mojave. Where the two ecosystems collide, the landscape is filled with a wide array of curious animals and unusual plants.

• MOJAVE DESERT SECTION

• COLORADO DESERT SECTION

The Colorado Desert section of Joshua Tree National Park is defined less by its massive boulders and more by its sweeping and barren desert landscapes. As the deserts converge, spindly Joshua Trees give way to palm oases. Gargantuan jenga-like boulders disappear into sage-covered valleys. 

Though fewer people make it to the southern section of the park, it is by no means less worthy of visitors. Highlights of the park’s Colorado Desert section include the Cottonwood Spring and Lost Palms Oasis. 

THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN JOSHUA TREE 

For outdoor-lovers, there are tons of things to do in Joshua Tree National Park. The marriage of two ecosystems gives the park a varied landscape with diverse flora and fauna. 

Whether you’re visiting Joshua tree as a day trip, a weekend trip, or part of an extended retreat into nature, the area offers a plethora of tourist attractions and some of the most alluring desertscapes in the American West.

1. CLIMB (OR SIMPLY ADMIRE) THE PARK’S ROCK FORMATIONS 

Like clouds, Joshua Tree’s rocks resemble shapes both familiar and unfamiliar. Some merely look like huge amorphous boulders. Others take on characteristics of animals or human faces. 

The rock boulders scattered about the Mojave Desert section of Joshua Tree National Park are among the area’s most popular draws. They have turned the park into a haven for rock climbers and scramblers.

Even travelers with little to no rock climbing abilities will find that the area’s boulders are exceptionally easy to walk on, thanks to their grippy surfaces. 

• ARCH ROCK

Arch Rock is one of the most famous boulder formations in Joshua Tree National park. A half-mile out and back trail to the iconic rock formation leaves from the White Tank Campground, at the northern end of the park. 

Arch Rock sits in a boulder-strewn area that is perfect for scrambling. Though the bridge-like rock formation is the primary reason many choose to hike the well-marked trail, its entire surroundings are worth exploring. 

• SKULL ROCK

Of all the formations in Joshua Tree, Skull Rock is perhaps the most photographed and visited. Some allege that it looks like a skull—complete with a smooth rounded forehead and sunken eye sockets. I’m not so sure I see the resemblance. 

Skull Rock lies just off the main road.

• JUMBO ROCKS

In my opinion, the boulder piles near the Jumbo Rocks Campground are some of the most interesting in the park. The stack of delicately-placed rocks contains spherical marble-like boulders that balance on diamond-shaped crisscrossing blocks. 

With components that fit together like a giant game of Tetris, the area makes for a far more interesting subject than Skull Rock.

2. SOAK IN THE PANORAMA FROM KEYS VIEW

Keys View is the most popular panoramic point in Joshua Tree National Park. Located at an elevation of over 1500 meters, its vantage point provides 360 degree view of the Salton Sea, San Andreas Fault, Coachella Valley and Santa Rosa Mountains. On clear days, it is possible to see all the way to Mexico.

The panoramic point offers views that are quite different from those in Joshua Tree’s northern reaches. For Dan and I, it was the first instance in which we realized that the park was about more than the boulders and yucca trees that made it famous. 

The turnout road for Keys View lies just beyond Hidden Valley, between the park’s northern and western entrances. 

3. WANDER AROUND THE CHOLLA CACTUA GARDEN

After exploring the popular areas around Joshua Tree’s northern reaches, Dan and I drove toward the southern entrance of the park. As we did, the landscape began to transform. The boulder-clad valleys of the Mojave gave way to the sweeping barren hillsides of the Colorado. And so too, the flora changed. 

The Cholla Cactus Garden—one of the top attractions in Joshua Tree National Park—lies at the meeting point of the two ecosystems. Its desertscape contains an abundance of plants that have been nicknamed Teddybear Cacti due to their fuzzy-looking branches.

Don’t be fooled by their nickname or appearance, however. The seemingly cuddly plants have dagger-like spines that seem to have a magnetic attraction to human skin. 

The Cholla Cactus Garden lies just south of the park’s otherworldly rock formations, along Pinto Basin Road. A quarter-mile trail loops through the area.

Hiking the short, yet worthwhile trail is one of the top things to do in Joshua Tree. 

        
4. STOP BY THE OCOTILLO PATCH 

The Ocotillo Patch lies just beyond the Cholla Cactus Garden, along Pinto Basin Road. The roadside stand of spindly plants is another example of the varied flora in Joshua Tree’s transition zone .

Though ocotillo look like tall spindly cacti, they are actually deciduous shrubs that grow tiny green leaves around their tentacles. The plants can reach heights of 15 feet. Their red flowers put on dramatic displays after desert rainstorms.

Though the Ocotillo Patch in Joshua Tree National park is small and can be easily appreciated in about 5 minutes, it is a wonderful testament to the landscape’s diversity. 

5. VISIT THE COTTONWOOD SPRINGS AND THE LOST PALM OASIS

The Cottonwood Spring Oasis is one of the top things to see in Joshua Tree. Surprisingly, however, it is also one of the park’s most overlooked attractions. 

The oasis lies in the Colorado Desert section of the park. Because of its water source, the area attracts large clusters of cottonwood trees and fan palms.

Cottonwood Spring was once an important water stop for gold prospectors and miners. The remains of a primitive gold mill can be found near the spring, alongside concrete ruins that mark the sites of two later gold mills.

From the Cottonwood Spring, a seven mile trail leads to the Lost Palm Oasis—an area with the highest concentration of California fan palms in Joshua Tree National Park. The trail then continues to Mastodon Peak. 

The Lost Palms Oasis is one of the top hikes in Joshua Tree. Though Dan and I didn’t have the chance to explore the trail during our trip, we imagine that the area is a worthwhile destination for travelers in search of the park’s off-the-beaten-path treasures. 

6. HIKE TO THE FORTYNINE PALMS OASIS

After driving the length of the national park and stopping by all the top tourist attractions along Pinto Basin Road, Dan and I returned toward Joshua Tree’s North Entrance. We wanted to explore one last area before catching our flight back to Seattle, so we exited the park, turned right on Twentynine Palms Road, and made our way to the Fortynine Palms Canyon Trailhead. 

The Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail offers a three-mile round-trip hike to a fan palm oasis. The comparatively  lightly-trafficked trail climbs to a ridge where large numbers of barrel cacti dot the landscape. After climbing up over the ridge, it descends to a small oasis located in a remote rocky canyon. 

If you don’t have time to make it all the way to Cottonwood, the Fortynine Palms Trail provides a fantastic alternative. 

7. ADMIRE JOSHUA TREE’S STARRY NIGHT SKY

Before visiting Joshua Tree, Dan and I wondered if the park’s famed dark skies might not live up to their hype. Compared to remote locations like the Alvord Desert and Oregon Outback, the national park is pretty close to major population centers.

We needn’t have worried, however. Joshua Tree is one of the best stargazing locations in the United States. The park’s Dark Sky status and high elevation, ensure that it remains a magical destination for lovers of photography and the night sky. 

Though I imagine the entire area is a wonderland for stargazers, the park’s Joshua-tree laden section offers particularly photo-worthy views. 

Admiring the stars behind a silhouette of curiously-shaped trees is one of the top things to do in Joshua Tree National Park, and an experience that I’m unlikely to forget. 

WHERE TO STAY IN AND NEAR JOSHUA TREE

Camping is undoubtedly the best way to experience Joshua Tree’s magic. There are nine campgrounds in the park. Most are located near its northern section. From October through May, advanced reservations can be made at Black Rock and Indian Cove Campgrounds. The rest of the campsites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For travelers who prefer a little more luxury, the towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms have a host of accommodation options. Of the places to stay near the park’s main entrance, the Joshua Tree Backyard Retreat, the Eclectic Joshua Tree Holiday Home, and the Castle House Estate have particularly good reviews. 

Alternatively, travelers who wish to surround themselves with more amenities and restaurants will find a plethora of hotels and AirBnbs in Palm Springs (less than an hour away).

WHEN TO VISIT JOSHUA TREE

While visitors cruise Joshua Tree’s barren roads year-round, spring and fall months are undoubtedly the best times to visit the national park. 

Between October and May, temperatures dip below their triple-digit summer highs. Come springtime, the desert bursts to life with splashes of color. 

We visited Joshua Tree National Park in April and found the weather to be perfect. 

The more moderate temperatures in spring and fall come at a price, however. When the temperatures dip below the 100s, visitors begin to pour in. During the peak seasons, you’ll likely have to jockey for parking and pre-book your campsite. 

WILDLIFE IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

While Joshua Tree National Park appears to be an inhospitable desert, it is not a lonely swath of sand by any means. The whole place is riddled with a host of animals that have adapted to its rugged land. Joshua Tree’s animals including bobcats, coyotes, jackrabbits, and the threatened Mojave desert tortoise.

During our visit, Dan and I saw a variety of lizards and a massive rattlesnake that was curled up and sunbathing in the middle of the road. 

As always, please respect the wildlife habitat and do not feed or approach animals.

****

Joshua Tree’s diverse landscapes and plethora of things to do make the park a favorite among California locals and visitors alike. 

But out in the middle of the desert—despite the 3 million visitors that flock to the park annually—it is easy to feel as though you’re the only person on the planet. 

With bulbous boulders, clear night skies, and iconic spindly trees that look right out of a Dr Seuss story, Joshua Tree national park is a serene escape from the unending traffic and unfettered development of urban California. 

_______________________________________

Like this Resource on Top Things to Do in Joshua Tree? Pin It! 

The post 7 Awesome Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park appeared first on Erika's Travels .

The redwoods in California’s Jedediah Smith State Park are among the most impressive and awe-inspiring trees in the world. Like giants of the forest, they pierce the skies overhead and tower above the lush sword ferns that carpet the ground at their feet.

These massive trees—tucked away in the coastal hills of northwestern California—have stood the test of time. Many of the Redwoods that still stand today date back more than 2,000 years. They are true examples of perseverance. Pinnacles of efficiency. A testament to nature’s resilience.

If you find yourself in northern California or southern Oregon, you’d be remiss not to visit them.

CALIFORNIA REDWOODS NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS

Jedediah Smith State Park (sometimes know simply as Jed Smith) is one of three state and national parks that make up the Redwoods International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. In addition to Jedediah Smith, the protected patches of forest near the Oregon border include Nel Norte Coast State Park, Prairie Creek State Park, and Redwoods National Park.

Together, the disjointed swathes of federal and state land protect almost half of California’s remaining old-growth redwoods. The other half is scattered about the northern half of the state, with some redwood groves viewable on hikes near San Francisco.

Dan and I stumbled across the Jedediah Redwoods by accident, while driving to our treehouse accommodation from the spectacular Samuel H Boardman State Park on the southern Oregon coast.

Our drive from Brookings to Cave Junction dipped into California for about 50 miles and took us along California’s scenic Highway 199. The road followed the course of the Smith River—passing through an impressive stand of red-barked trees along the way. 

Awestruck, I pulled up the map on my phone and realized that we were skirting the edge of Jedediah State Park. 

We didn’t have to think twice about tweaking our travel plans so that we could experience the park’s majestic forested wonderland. 

WHAT MAKES THE CALIFORNIA REDWOODS SPECIAL?

California’s giant redwoods are among the world’s most beloved trees. They have attracted millions of visitors from around the world—in part due to their size, in part due to their age, and in part due to the rich reddish-brown color of their bark.

The redwood trees in northern California frequently surpass 300 feet in height and 20 feet in diameter. They are so large that they make the towering evergreens of the Pacific Northwest look like mere mortals among giants.

Not only are these beloved red-barked trees the tallest in the world, but they are also among the oldest. Their resilience has made them shining examples of adaptation.

The redwood trees of Jedediah Smith State Park glean nutrients from the soil at their roots, and from the coastal moisture that blankets the air at their canopies. Their thick red bark can hold thousands of gallons of water, which has helped them repeal wildfires for centuries.

In a place so prone to wildfires, their ability to store water has allowed them to thrive amidst even the most daunting obstacles.

JEDEDIAH REDWOODS STATE PARK

Jedediah Smith is one of the most noteworthy state parks in California. It is the last in a long string of redwood forests that stretch from the Bay Area to the Oregon border.

The state park gets its name from Jedediah Smith—a pioneer who explored the untamed forests of northern California in the 1920s.

Jedediah Smith State Park does not contain California’s largest redwood trees. Nor does it contain its oldest. Yet still, it boasts over 7% of all of the world’s old-growth redwoods and is home to some of the most scenic groves in northern California.

Despite its impressive attractions, Jedediah Smith is the least visited park within California’s Redwoods State and National Park System. Its sublime scenery is blissfully underdeveloped and largely unexplored compared to that of the other redwood parks in the area.

As a result, it is possible to explore the forested wonderland without large crowds—making the experience of visiting Jedediah Smith all the more magical.

HOWLAND HILL DRIVE

Driving Howland Hill Road is the top thing to do in Jedediah Smith Park. The unpaved corridor traverses the center of the forest and passes by some of the area’s most impressive clusters of trees.

Beginning a few miles east of Crescent City, the scenic road offers motorists an intimate encounter with old-growth redwood trees. It follows Mill Creek through the heart of the park and terminates near the small settlement of Hiouchi.  The entire route is about ten miles long. It takes 45 minutes to complete without stopping.

When we visited Jedediah Smith Park, road closures on the western portion of Howland Hill Road meant that we couldn’t access the drive from Crescent City. Instead, we entered the park at Hiouchi and traveled the portion between the Visitor Center and Boy Scout Tree Trail.

For visitors hoping to explore Jedediah Smith State Park on two feet, the scenic drive is a launching point for some of the area’s most famous and well-loved hiking trails—including the Boy Scout Tree Trail and Stout Grove.

THE STOUT GROVE TRAIL

Stout Grove lies along Howland Hill Road, near Mill Creek’s confluence with the Smith River. It is a particularly stunning portion of the Jedediah State Park. Some even go as far as claiming that it contains the world’s most scenic stand of redwoods.

With its dappled light and soaring canopies, Stout Grove has an otherworldly, cathedral-like majesty. The grove’s densely-packed trees conceal a plush lawn-like carpet of ferns and sorrel.

Stout Grove isn’t particularly large. Nor does it have the biggest trees. But its photogenic appeal is second to none.

Stout Grove is the quintessential Jedediah Redwoods attraction. A walk around the area’s .5 mile loop trail reveals colossal redwoods that have thrived for centuries thanks to periodic flooding of the Smith River.

Aside from waist-high sword ferns, there aren’t many other plants that inhabit the area around Stout Grove. Floodwaters inhibit the growth of understory trees, making the 300 foot giants appear even more colossal in contrast to the low-lying ferns.

BOY SCOUT TRAIL

Though it lies just a few miles down the road from Stout Grove, the Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith State Park feels wonderfully remote.  Along with Stout Grove, it showcases one of the most pristine old-growth forests in existence.

The 6.3 mile out and back trail meanders pleasantly up a gently-sloped hillside. The trail’s elevated vantage point offers superb views of the trees all around. A plush carpet of ferns covers the ground, unbroken except for the redwoods.

Boy Scout Tree Trail ends at Fern Falls, a small cascade at the edge of the Jedediah State Park.

Dan and I didn’t make it all the way to Fern Falls because of time constraints. Nonetheless, our two mile stroll along the Boy Scout Trail gave us a taste of some of the most beautiful redwood groves in the world.

And to top it all off, we seemed to have the entire place to ourselves.

THE SMITH RIVER

The Smith River flows right beside Hwy 199, along the edge of the Jedediah Redwoods. Its serpentine course begins in the high Siskiyou Mountains and winds through dense verdant forests.

As the crystal-clear waterway meanders through the seldom-trodden reaches of northern California, it acts as a centerpiece for a smorgasbord of recreational activities—including rafting, fishing, and swimming.

For travelers who are tired of craning their necks toward the treetops, a dip in the Smith River can offer a refreshing change of pace.

WHERE TO STAY IN AND AROUND JEDEDIAH STATE PARK

Jedediah Smith State Park is home to a drive-in campground that offers RV hookups, tent spaces, and four rustic cabins.

Near the park information center in Hiouchi, visitors can stay at the Redwood Meadows RV Resort or the Hiouchi Motel. A wider selection of cabins, guesthouses, and hotels can be found ten miles down the road, in Crescent City.

Since Dan and I stumbled across the redwoods by accident, we didn’t have an opportunity to stay at any of the campsites or hotels located within close proximity of the Jedediah redwoods.

Instead, we enjoyed a tree-themed stay at the Vertical Horizons Treehouse Resort near Cave Junction, Oregon.

Though the treehouse resort is not located within a redwood grove, it is nonetheless a peaceful and quiet refuge among towering coniferous trees. It lies less than an hour from the Hiouchi Visitor’s Center, near the Oregon Caves National Monument.

For redwood-bound travelers seeking a romantic forested retreat, the Treehouse Resort is a fantastic choice of accommodation.

****

If there’s any plant on earth that is the poster child for nature’s resilience and strength, it is primeval  redwoods that pierce the skies near California’s border with Oregon.

The park’s redwood groves are ethereal and otherworldly. They are a wonder like no other; a magnet for lovers of nature and a must-see attraction for travelers visiting northern California.

Walking along the forested trails in Jedediah Smith State Park is like stepping into the pages of a fairy tale.

In fact, the park’s redwood groves are so majestic and regal, that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were sprinkled with a bit of magic, too.

___________________________________

Like This Guide to the Jedediah Smith Redwoods in Northern California? Pin It! 

The post Visiting the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park appeared first on Erika's Travels .