San Francisco to the Redwoods (Oakland, Irvine: motel, restaurant, safe)

[cohibaiii]

Hello!
I will be making my first ever trip to San Fran in June. While there, I'd love to take a couple days to drive and see the redwoods. After the redwoods, I'll be stopping at Napa/Sonoma for a few days also. Any ideas on a route and accommodations from San Fran to the redwoods for 2 days before I hit the wine country? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Nineties Flava]

The closest Redwoods to SF are in Oakland (Redwood Park). If you have a car, then its easy... take the Bay Bridge to Oakland, then take 580 East and get off on 35th Ave. Go up 35th ave towards the hills and it'll shortly turn into Redwood Rd. The park entrance is on Redwood Rd.

[humboldtrat]

North of San Francisco, there is Muir Woods, where all the tourists go. Further north, more or less heading to the wine country, there is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Samuel P. Taylor SP and nearby is Pt. Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) which is worth a trip. Drive all the way out to the lighthouse.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

North of San Francisco, there is Muir Woods, where all the tourists go. Further north, more or less heading to the wine country, there is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Samuel P. Taylor SP and nearby is Pt. Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) which is worth a trip. Drive all the way out to the lighthouse.

Second on the Taylor SP and Point Reyes. Make sure you have time to stop at one of the Oyster Companies selling fresh Oysters pulled out of Tomales bay and the Pacific Ocean Oyster farms. Hog Island is my favorite because it is literally right on the HWY 1. You will also want to visit the Sonoma/Marin coast line. From Bolinas North to Jenner at the confluence of the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean is a series of Beautiful state beaches. My favorite is Dillion Beach.

[80skeys]

There's also lots of Redwoods south of San Francisco in the Santa Cruz mountains. Check out Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Welcome to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Big.Basin.org

[mayorhaggar]

I went to Redwood Regional Park a few months ago. From what I remember, the main part of redwoods is in the middle of the trail and wasn't really that breathtaking or anything, and it takes a while to get to and would not be an easy hike if you aren't fit or full of energy. I enjoyed the park more for the views of the Oakland Hills and because it provides a decent workout.

Muir Woods is safe for tourists, it's right next to its big parking lot and doesn't take much effort to walk the whole thing, it's not really a very big park. Compared to parks with redwoods in Mendocino County or Santa Cruz County it's pretty underwhelming. But if you want redwoods that are easy to get to by car from SF, go for it.

[JohnHouston]

I think you might enjoy Muir Woods, which is on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Turn left at Sausalito. Huge trees, some over 600 years old still standing. Some trees you can actually stand inside and many that give information. We just completed our PCH roadtrip, including Muir Woods, which is on the way from SF to Napa if you take Golden Gate - It does not require an overnight, as you will have time to travel to Napa and stay there if you get a morning start. Redwood National Park is quite a bit further north in California and not nearly as visitor friendly as Muir Woods.

[cohibaiii]

Thanks everyone for the info. so far! I will have a car, and am prepared to spend 2-2 1/2 days. Kind of looking for a bit of the "wow" factor. It seems quite a few are suggesting Muir Woods. Guess I was wondering if it was worth a long drive to the National Park. Thanks again all for your input.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by cohibaiii

Thanks everyone for the info. so far! I will have a car, and am prepared to spend 2-2 1/2 days. Kind of looking for a bit of the "wow" factor. It seems quite a few are suggesting Muir Woods. Guess I was wondering if it was worth a long drive to the National Park. Thanks again all for your input.

Skip Muir Woods at the start, and treat yourself to a real coast redwood adventure. It's not very far to drive. I'd recommend Prairie Creek redwoods. The photos below are from that park. We heavy-duty redwood explorers refer to P.C. as the "Gemstone" of the coast redwood parks. Muir Woods can be a small night-cap when you get back.

I don't think you need to go up near Crescent City to Jedediah Smith redwoods. PCRSP should be far enough to go north. Redwood National Park has Lady Bird Johnson Grove, and that's about all I'd recommend in that park if you go there. Don't invest this trip into Tall Trees Grove. It will eat too much time getting a permit, and drive to the trail head. Prairie Creek would be great. Bring rain gear or an umbrella and boots, and rain won't mess you up. In fact, its awesome when raining too. The sound makes up for it.

Even if a tree fall shuts the north entrance to Drury Parkway, the south end is always open to the visitor center. That's where many of the best trails are too. Keep in mind James Irvine trail, Prairie Creek trail, and Brown Creek trail to name a couple. Don't miss those. You can do partials if any are too long entirely. Prairie Creek alone could keep you entertained for a full week. There are 70 miles of trails. You will just need to come back.

Then I'd suggest heading down to Avenue of the Giants.

Don't stay in Orick. There is a really clean small motel in Klamath called the Ravenwood, with every room custom decorated. The cafe and bar across the street have pretty good food. Trees of Mystery just up the highway has a good motel too and clean restaurant. No night-life in Klamath. Goes to sleep at about 10pm except for the big fuel station that is an all-nighter.

One photo below is the lower trunk of the new World's Tallest Hemlock. 272 feet tall. I just found that one two weeks ago at Prairie Creek redwoods. It's taller than any redwood tree at Muir Woods too. (I get around the forests quite a bit). BTW, to clarify the caption, it was found the weekend the Tsunami hit the redwood coast. So that Hemlock is now named "Tsunami".

[mayorhaggar]

It's in Humboldt County? That would be quite a drive.