Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Crescent City, California

Leaving Brookings, Oregon, we headed south on Highway 101 into California to Crescent City.

On the far east side of Crescent City is Howland Hill Road.  It was on this one lane, dirt road, that we entered Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Entering the park via Howland Hill Road

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the last in a long string of redwood parks that stretch up Northern California's coast. A few miles inland from the ocean, the park is densely forested with huge ancient trees. In fact, it contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. No roads or trails mark "Jed Smith's" core—just pure, primeval majesty.

Our rental car for perspective 

Tree hugger

Gman for perspective

The park was named for Jedediah Strong Smith, who in the 1820s became the first white man to explore the interior of northern California. The park was established in 1929 with a small parcel donated to Save the Redwoods League by the family of lumberman Frank Stout. 

Today, you can fish, snorkel, or kayak in the Smith River, the longest major free-flowing river in California; take a historic drive on Howland Hill Road; enjoy a campfire program at Jedediah Smith Campground; or hike through a lush rainforest on 20 miles of trails. The 1936 film The Last of the Mohicans was filmed just upstream, in the Smith River National Recreation area.

Smith River from bridge on S. Fork Road before connecting to Highway 199

TK talked Gman into hiking down to the river...

...so she could wade in the cold clear water

Leaving Jedediah Smith Redwood Park we connected back on Highway 199 which took us towards Cave Junction, our next stop.

Brooking, Oregon

With several sightseeing stops along the way, we finally made it to Brookings, Oregon.  Brookings would be the last destination of our Oregon Coast tour as the next day we moved inland.

Beach at Brookings, Oregon

Because the climate in the Brookings area is a little warmer than other areas of the Oregon Coast, it is well known as a center for the nursery industry. Nearly all of the lilies marketed in the U.S. are cultivated in the Brookings area. An example of its floral beauty is Azalea Park, which has 33 acres of native azaleas, some growing here when Lewis and Clark wintered on the Oregon Coast in 1805 and 1806.  Brookings has a nice revitalized downtown area and an impressive harbor on the Chetco River.

Brookings Harbor

Beachfront Inn, Brookings, Oregon

We stayed one night in Brookings at the Beach Front Inn located on the Chetco Cove. This newly remodeled motel was clean and comfortable and our room had a balcony that overlooked the beach which was completely different from the other beaches we had visited along the coast.  This beach had dark sand, many rocks, and driftwood that had washed ashore.  Another view from our room's balcony was the Pelican Bay Lighthouse.

Pelican Bay Lighthouse

The Pelican Bay Light(or Port of Brookings Light) is a small, privately owned lighthouse. It overlooks the Port of Brookings Harbor and the mouth of the Chetco River. Built as an addition to an existing house, Pelican Bay Light is maintained by the Cady family of Brookings.

Fat Irish Kitchen & Pub

Because we spent so much time sightseeing on our way to Brookings we didn't arrive in town until around 8:00 p.m.  After checking in we decide it was time to find some dinner but we had a hard time finding a restaurant that stayed open after 9:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night.  We ended up at the Fat Irish Kitchen & Pub about 20 minutes before they closed. That didn't matter to the friendly waitresses and bartenders who served us a delicious fish and chip meal with a cold pint!

After a good night's sleep we were off to our next destination....Crescent City, California, where we would enter Jedediah Smith Redwood State Forest!

Natural Bridges at North Island Viewpoint, Oregon

Just outside of Brookings, Oregon, where we would stay for the night, we made one last stop at the Natural Bridges Cove at the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor along Highway 101.

Memorial plaque for Samuel H. Boardman

Hidden beach in the area

Sea stacks/possible fallen arches

This hidden gem is tucked away in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor and a viewing platform is a short, easy stroll just off Highway 101. This unique natural wonder was formed over thousands of years by the gradual shifting of sea and stone, resulting in beautiful natural arches nestled into a secluded cove.

One of several arches in the area

Huge sea arches stand amid the blue swirling water of the Pacific Ocean.

Another arch in the area

Natural Bridges Cove is truly a magical place and we wished we had more time to explore the area or even hike down to the beaches.  Unfortunately, exhaustion from travel and the need to check in to our accommodations at Brookings kept us from exploring further.