A 1,300-foot-long boardwalk winds through the Grove of Titans and is accessible from the realigned Mill Creek Trail. Interpretive signs, exhibits, and interactive features accompany the route. This lets you encounter the redwoods not just as a landscape, but also through the information and hands-on activities along the boardwalk.
Redwoods and River Landscapes
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park protects 10,000 acres of old-growth redwood forest. Stout Grove is an old-growth coastal redwood forest within the park. The park is nine miles east of Crescent City on Highway 199. Redwood National and State Parks are a World Heritage Site and an international biosphere reserve. The Smith River offers a different natural highlight: it is California’s last major free-flowing river.
Tide Pools and Coastal Changes
The trail to Enderts Beach is one mile long and provides access to colorful tide pools; access depends on the tides. The Damnation Creek Trail descends from fern-covered redwood forests to rocky tide pools and crashing waves. The two experiences offer different highlights: at Enderts Beach, the trail length provides a sense of direction; at Damnation Creek, the transition from forest to coast shapes the route.
Museum, City Walk, and Lighthouses
The Main Museum of the Del Norte County Historical Society houses a collection of Tolowa and Yurok basketry. The museum also displays original photographs of the damage caused by the 1964 tsunami. In Crescent City, the Tsunami Walking Tour takes you to nine exhibit stations. History comes to life in different ways: through artifacts and photographs in the museum, and at the stops along the walking tour.
Lighthouses also tell the story of the region. Construction of the St. George Reef Lighthouse took almost ten years, from 1881 to 1890. The St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society offers tours there intermittently from October to May; confirm before your trip whether a tour is being offered. Battery Point Lighthouse and its island are accessible only at low tide, and conditions can be dangerous. Public tours also include a climb up the lighthouse. Check the tide-dependent schedule before you arrive.
Guided Tours and Activities on the Water
A fully guided tour at Ocean World lasts about 45 minutes and includes a touch-and-explore tide pool. Check before your trip whether the tour is being offered. Swimming, steelhead fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking are possible in the Smith River National Recreation Area. Little Bald Hills Backcountry Camp is a destination for hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, and travelers with pack animals. An overnight stay requires a backcountry permit.
When looking for hotels in Del Norte, the focus of your trip can be a helpful guide: redwoods, tide pools, cultural history, or activities on the river. This helps you plan around the discoveries that interest you most, without requiring a set route.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Crescent City, Klamath, Nevada, San Benito, Alpine County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Siskiyou.
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