Jedediah Smith State Park – MacKenzies on the Road

April 27, 2019April 24, 2019

Crescent City, California

Today we said goodbye to Crescent City, a place we thought to pass through and ended up staying for a while. If you only you drive through Crescent City on 101, you see a depressed town who’s main industries have moved on. But, if you venture down the side roads off 101 you find history, redwoods, beaches, bluffs, rocky overlooks, 2 amazing lighthouses, and seals and sea lions, oh my. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and recommend this gem to everyone.

The top of rocky Whaler Island in the middle of the outer harbor was our go to place to enjoy our afternoon coffee and tea.

All hail! These noisy, smelly utterly adorable creatures have stolen my heart.

Redwoods in the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park.

Lunch breaks with ocean views on St. George Point.

Tidbit: Visit the previous posts for more on our adventures around Crescent city.

April 26, 2019April 24, 2019

Grove of the Titans

The Grove of the Titans is the soul of the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. A circle of immense trees that embrace you with their energy and give you the feeling you have shifted to another plane or reality. After an hour in their presence, it was hard to break their trance. We returned somehow altered, changed, energized. A fitting end to our time in the redwoods.

April 24, 2019April 19, 2019

Stout Grove

I know…more trees. We just can’t get enough of them. They are magnificent! Stout Grove in the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, said to be the most scenic stand of redwoods, is on the northeast end of Howland Hill Road, just 1.5 miles in once you enter the redwoods. The trail through the grove sits on the bank of the Smith River, is only .7 miles around and is easily accessible to all levels of hikers.

April 23, 2019April 21, 2019

Howland Hill Road

Howland Hill Road in the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park is 6 miles of pure redwood bliss. The gravel, sometimes muddy and sometimes dusty, road is not for RVs or trailers. The sharp turns and narrow passages around potholes and trees is not for the faint of heart, but a must for anyone who wants to really experience redwoods. It takes you into the heart of the Jedediah Smith Park linking you with hiking trails like the Boy Scout Trail and the Mill River Trail that take you upclose and personal with redwoods that have witnessed hundreds of years of history. We highly recommend adding it to your “Bucket List”

April 22, 2019April 18, 2019

A place to spend eternity

The other day, while exploring the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, we stopped at tiny pullout and began, again, oohhing & aahhing over the grandeur of the trees. At the back of the pull out, we found a tiny trail heading down into the trees towards the Mill Creek below. There we found the most awesome little rocky beach tucked down in the grove. It was so nice we went back today armed with snacks, books, and something to sit on. I even gave a shot at the first swim of the season, but got turned back at knee level! While there, we noticed what we thought was a forest service boundary marker. Upon closer inspection, this is what we found. What a spot to spend eternity.