Driving from San Francisco to Humboldt Redwoods

13 years ago

Some day soon (hopefully later this year), I am hoping to make the pilgrimage to Humboldt County and as there are several people on here familiar with the area, I wondered if I could ask some advice?

I am aiming to drive up from San Francisco so for a redwood lover, which would be the best route between SF and Leggett? Highway 101 would be the convential route I expect but I am looking at highway 1 along the Pacific coast, turning off 101 just after Marin City and rejoining at Leggett in Mendocino. I have several 1980's copies of the 'Redwood Empire Visitors Guide' and it says that the great redwood groves begin at Laytonville if you travel up 101. Does this mean that you do not encounter any redwood groves south of Laytonville whilst driving 101? This would be a long drive if so with comparatively little to see. I really like the look and idea of driving up highway 1 on the Pacific Coast, would I see more redwood groves up that route? I must admit I also fancy a voyage on the Skunk railway between Fort Bragg and Willits, would any of you recommend it or would it be better to do the drive on highway 20? Would I see huge redwood forests either way, is Jackson State Forest a huge redwood forest?

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years ago
From the south, Ukiah is generally considered the "gateway" to the redwoods. I guess how you get there from SF is up to you :-) Both routes have their features - the coast drive is stunning - and you will see some redwoods along either highway but the focus in this area is definitely wine and beer, either Sonoma OR Mendocino counties (although Mendocino adds marijuana production to its list as well :-))

I would just say that the most famous stands of both coast and giant redwoods are located in Humboldt county so depending on your schedule and what other interests you may have, both routes to that destination have options worth considering.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
I'd say 20 to Willits, then up 101.
That's the route that I drive.

You could also start lower, Santa Rosa to Guerneville.
Not sure, but I think there are redwoods ;-)

Either way, you're in for a fantastic voyage.

Josh
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missingtheobvious
13 years ago
In the olden days (I won't say how long ago), you needed reservations for the Skunk. I assume demand must have increased in the intervening *cough* decades.

It was a lovely experience in ... um ... the year we rode the Skunk. Two years later, we were too late to get tickets. You wouldn't want to be disappointed.

We used to ride horses to one of the redwood groves from the Tumbling McD guest ranch; probably multi-million-dollar homes now.
naturegirl_2007 5B SW Michigan
13 years ago
Robert, awhile back people here gave me great advice before I visited San Francisco. Your plans are a bit different than mine, but the advice given may help some in your planning, also.

The trees are awesome and amazing. Spruce encourage us to spend time in among the trees. Excellent advice for us to hear. Hopefully you can spend time out of the car among the giants, also.

Here is a link that might be useful: Redwood advice
Robert_Redwood
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for all the advice, appreciated and noted.
Robert_Redwood
Original Author
13 years ago
Initial post, howler of a typo 'convential', big fingers typed that but iit was conventional of course.

If nothing else, I am really quite enjoying plannning this hypothetical journey, I am already driving down the roads. For some reason, Mendocino County and it's redwoods seem to grab my imagination even more that Humboldt. It may be because of Jeremy Joan Hewe's book and his photos of loggers standing on immense fallen trees around Fort Bragg. I really fancy doing the drive on the 'Tunnel to the sea' along Highway 128 on the Navarro River. It sounds so evocative. This site below is very interesting, Hendy Woods also look very nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tunnel to the sea
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
You really can't go wrong anywhere along the coast...

Fort Ross, Mendocino, Russian Gulch, Fort Bragg. I love the little town of Mendocino proper.

Josh
botann
13 years ago
Arcata is my favorite town. Real funky. Lotsa big Redwood burls and chainsaw carvings for sale.
Mike
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
Arcata's cool ;-)
My dad used to make bamboo flutes to sell at the farmer's market in the square...
he once made a pig-jaw harp (with teeth still connected), and sold it to a music student
from the college.

Lotta good memories of Arcata. And if you happen to be into the "green" scene,
you'd be hard pressed to find a better town.

Josh
pineresin
13 years ago
"Arcata's cool ;-)"

It was quite hot when I was there! (late summer, the one time there's no fog)

;-)

Driving from San Francisco to Humboldt Redwoods

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Driving from San Francisco to Humboldt Redwoods

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