In this blog I
will describe my December 2023 3-days road trip, driving north on highway 1 from
Sun Francisco to Mendocino and Fort Brag and back.
I wrote my road trip description below and added many pictures I took during this trip.
I also provide below links to detailed blogs I wrote on each destination.
This segment of highway 1 is considered
to be the “less famous” section of highway 1 compared to Big Sur at central
California or to the north section of highway 1 passing through the Redwoods Parks.
I visit here many
times in the past exploring the large state parks along the road and the Mendocino
Ocean coastline.
Because this
was not my first time here, during this trip I tried to visit new locations combining
“mast see” attractions and parks with others less known.
If you plan to visit
here for the first time, I do recommend not to follow one by one my description
below.
For your first
time visit plan to visit other recommended locations, area highlights, parks,
and towns.
For more
information, planning tips, and few trips itinerary options see my detailed
blog covering all the locations and attractions that I visit along this highway
1 section.
High level Map of my road trip:
Link to my detailed blogs for the locations I visit in this 3 day trip (ordered from south to north):
Weather:
Mendocino
weather doesn't vary much during the year. The cool ocean breezes, keep the
average daily high in the 60's during the summer months. The winter daytime
temps are usually in the 50's.
It can be
stormy with heavy rain and windy as well as foggy specially during summer
months.
Weather can
impact and change your visit experience here, check it in advance and plan
accordingly.
It is not fun
to walk on the beaches or ocean cliffs during a stormy weather and you need to
have plan B, like hiking in forests or in other protected places.
My Trip:
I started my
drive up north early in the morning.
After several
hours of driving from San Jose north, I arrived at Salt Point State Park.
It was rainy
and windy all night and morning, and I thought it will not be so fun to hike
along the open ocean front.
I visit Salt
Point State Park several times in the past, it has an ocean front with unique
rock formations, open grasslands, sandy beach, large bay as well as marine preservation.
If you have time, I do recommend visit this park.
Because of the
stormy weather and the rain, I decided to visit instead the nearby Kruse
Rhododendron State Natural Reserve.
This was my
first visit here. I drove up the forest dirt road and park at the small parking
lot near the trailhead.
I did the short
hiking loop near the parking lot. After the short hike I drove up the road for
about 4 miles, enjoying the forest in the rain.
This is not a
must visit destination and you can find nicer redwood forest along your highway
1 drive.
From Kruse
Rhododendron State Natural Reserve, I kept driving north on highway 1.
I stop at the
unique Sea Ranch Chapel, just to take few pictures.
I pass Gualala
on my way north heading to one of my favorite places to visit in this area, Point
Arena Lighthouse.
When I arrived
at the lighthouse the rain stopped but it was still cloudy and windy.
This time I did
not hike here or visit the lighthouse small museum but rather a short stop, enjoy
the view from the viewing platform near the gate.
I kept driving
north on highway 1 in the direction of Van Damme State Park near Mendocino.
When I arrive to
the park, I saw that it was close, and you can’t hike into it.
I decided to
visit again Russian Gulch State Park that is located not so far north, just north
of Mendocino.
I started my visit at Russian Gulch State Park in Russian Gulch Bridge Viewpoint section. I did not hike to the cliff edge to see the sinkhole.
After a short visit I drove
down, and I hiked the Russian Gulch Fern Canyon and Waterfall Loop.
It was already
late, around 2pm, mid-week, and rainy so only 2 more cars where in the parking
lot.
I went to the
waterfalls and back, overall, 5 miles long hike.
It was fun hike,
and I enjoyed the “fresh and green” forest atmosphere after the rain.
The waterfall
was running high and after taking few pictures I turned around heading back to
my car.
It was just
before sunset when I arrive to my car at the parking lot below the bridge.
The clouds at
the west start to clear up and the setting sun glow the water and cliffs with
red orange light. I was having fun, taking sunset pictures of the arch bridge
and the bay.
I manage to get
perfect reflection pictures of the bridge and nice sunset colors.
I left the park
when it was already dark, I drove north in the direction of the nearby large
town Fort Brag.
See my blogs on
Fort Brag locations.
I went to Noyo
River harbor, located just below the highway 1 bridge. Here I stopped and eat
my dinner.
From here I
drove to the north exit of Fort Brag and park my car on the small parking lot
on the left side of the road, just at the Pudding Creek Trestle.
I went out,
cross the small dune, and took night pictures of the impressive old wooden
trestle.
It was low tide,
and the water were calm without ripples, so I manage to get nice long exposure reflection
pictures.
After spending
here almost 1.5 hour taking pictures of the bridge from both directions, I went
looking for my night parking spot.
I wake up very early
morning, it was before 6 am and it was still dark.
I organized and
after short time I start driving north on highway 1.
Along the drive
north the dark night start to transform into to early morning, I drove slowly
and stopped at few locations for taking pictures.
At some point
highway 1 stop following the ocean and turn inland northeast into the forested
mountains, heading in the direction of highway 101 and the small town of Leggett.
After additional
short drive I arrived at the dirt forest road leading to Usal Beach on the left
side of the road.
From here I
start my 6-mile drive north on this forest dirt road.
See my detailed blog on my visit to Usal Beach.
My destination
for today was the Enchanted Forest of Candelabra Redwoods near the beach.
After the muddy
drive through the woods (it was raining half day yesterday) I arrived at my
destination.
I was the only
one here, I went and hike into the Enchanted Forest and enjoy my time with the
trees.
In this forest the
redwood tree’s trunk were fracture by ocean winds, the tree keep growing and the
broken trunks continue to grow from the sides up towards the sky.
After many
years the growing branches created the unique candelabra shaped.
This is
probably the only place on earth you can see such redwood trees. The unique
tree shape saved them from logging.
After walking
back to my car, I cross the road deep muddy section without getting stuck,
cross over the bridge, and drove to the campsites near the beach.
After short hike
to the beach, I came back to my car.
I decided that
I want to keep driving north on the forest road to Shelter Cove but right at
the road entrance there was a sign that say that the road north is close during
the winter months.
I will do this
drive in another visit.
I turned around
and drove back the 6 miles forest road to highway 1. I started driving south on
highway 1, in the direction if Fort Brag.
Right after
crossing the long bridge, I parked my car on the right side of the road and
went to hike in Inglenook Fen & 10 Miles Dune.
I was here for
about 1.5 hours, walking over the large dunes, heading to the ocean front. I
hiked on the beach north, all the way to the river opening. Here I walk along
the river back to the direction of the road.
After the fun
hike and visit at the dunes I drove south and stop at MacKerricher State Park.
It was low tide time and I spend some time at the tide pools at the rocky
section.
There was a
group of seals resting and enjoying the warm sun on the rock.
From here I
drove south and visit Mendocino Headlands State Park.
I did a short
hike following the cliff edge, watching a large group of pelicans resting on
the rocks in front of me.
It started to
get late at the afternoon, it was the shortest day of the year and it get dark
early, and I wanted to visit Point Arena Lighthouse for sunset.
I drove south
on highway 1 and when I arrive to Point Arena, I saw I still have almost 1 hour
of light before sunset.
I decided to stop
on the roadside before the lighthouse and to hike into Point Arena-Stornetta
Public Lands.
I hiked south
along the cliffs; I saw the large sinkhole where ocean wave are crashing into
it. At sunset I walked buck to my car and drive to the lighthouse entrance
parking, just before the gate.
In my view, Point
Arena Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful lighthouses that I saw in the US
west coast. The tall white lighthouse tower and the small nearby cabin (today acting
as a museum), located on the open flat cliff edge, where the parallel rock in
the ocean creates a quite relaxing atmosphere. I visit here many times in the
past and always enjoy it.
I stied here
for about 30 minutes after sunset, taking long exposure pictures of the
lighthouse and the ocean.
It was well
after dark when I finish here, and I start to think about my destination options
for the following day. I can go and visit again Salt Point State Park, Bodega
Bay or see another location I already visit in previous trips.
I decided to visit
locations that I never visit before in Point Reyes.
With Point
Reyes I will also shorten the distance the following day beck home so I can be
early for family dinner.
From Point
Arena Lighthouse it was a long drive south to Point Reyes. It was dark and
highway 1 in this section is a narrow road winding over the cliffs above the
ocean, so I took it slow.
On my way south
I pass through Jenner and Bodega Bay, keep driving south on highway 1 in the direction
of Point Reyes Station.
On my way, just
before arriving to Point Reyes Station I stopped at Nick's Cove to take night
pictures of the Christmas light decorated pear. That night there was no wind,
and the bay water were flat like mirror. I took many pictures of the lighted
peir from different angles.
I spend some time
here and when I finished, I drove south, looking for a roadside location I can spend
the night (it was not allowed to park in most roadside turnouts).
After short
drive I found a good place and get organized for the night.
I woke up at 6 am, it was still dark, and I drove to Cypress Tree Tunnel at Point Reyes.
I arrived the
location before sunrise, so I kept driving south, looking for Tul Elks.
Indeed, I
spotted Tul Elks male herds not so far from the road.
The large males
were eating and playing/fighting checking who is the dominate male.
After some time
with the elks, I went back to Cypress Tree Tunnel and took some sunrise pictures.
To my surprise I was the only one there.
From here I drove north and after short drive I turn right into Drakes Estero Road, on my way to the Trailhead I saw Coyote not so far from the road. I parked at the trailhead parking lot and went to my hike. Overall, I hiked here for about 2 hours and did 5 miles.
My next
destination was Limantour Beach at Point Reyes.
I arrive to the
beach large parking lot, walk over the short dune section to the ocean beach
and decided to hike south along the sandy beach.
After about 2.5
miles where the beach is wide and sandy the cliffs get closer to the beach, and
you need to pass rocky sections. Make sure you are aware of tide times; you do
not want to get stack when the water are rising.
I remember that
I saw once that there is a unique crater hidden on the cliff edge, and I wanted
to see if I can hike to it. The tide was not low enough and I reach a section
where cliffs are blocking my ability to walk south.
In this bay I saw
unmaintained trail that climb the cliffs, the trail connect to the coast trail.
I kept walking south looking for places to hike back down to the beach but did
not find such. I try to approach the crater from above (no trail) but it was looking
VERY dangerous and un safe, the cliff can collapse any time. I reach out with
my hand and took a picture.
At some point I
turned around and hiked back north to the parking lot. Overall, I hiked here 9
miles, out and back.
It was about
3pm at the afternoon, this was the time to head back home, arriving just in
time before dinner.
Summery:
It was a fun
short road trip.
3 days packed
with activities, exploring locations I already visit and discovering new ones.
It was good
combination of driving, hiking, and enjoying the amazing views of this highway
1 section.
Quality time
with myself and nature.
Additional Pictures:
Comments
Post a Comment