Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [335]
If you're heading from the south, you'll want to stop in Orick. If you're heading from the north (Oregon), you'll want to stop in Crescent City. Both towns have excellent information centers crammed with useful (and
important) information about the parks, including free maps.
The Nearest Airports. Arcata-Eureka Airport (☎ 707/839-5401) is in McKinleyville, 28 miles south of the Redwood Information Center near Orick. Crescent City Municipal Airport (☎ 707/ 465-3804) is in Crescent City, at the north end of the park. Both are served by United; Arcata-Eureka is also served by Horizon and US Airways. Much farther south, San Francisco International Airport (☎ 650/821-8211; www.sfo airport.com) is 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco on U.S. 101. All major car-rental chains have offices at San Francisco International Airport; some rentals are available at the Arcata-Eureka and Crescent City airports. Airline and car-rental phone numbers appear in the appendix (p. 660–661).
INFORMATION
Contact Redwood National and State Parks, 1111 2nd St., Crescent City, CA 95531 (☎ 707/464-6101; www.nps.gov/ redw). The Visitor Guide published each summer describes activities in the parks plus information on the wildlife you're likely to see.
VISITOR CENTERS
The southern gateway to the Redwood National and State Parks is the town of Orick, on U.S. 101. You can't miss it: Just look for the dozens of burl stands alongside the road. Here you'll find the sleek Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, P.O. Box 7, Orick, CA 95555 (☎ 707/464-6101, ext. 5265), where you can get a free map and see a variety of exhibits. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm year-round. If you missed the Kuchel Visitor Center, don't worry: About 7 miles farther north on U.S. 101 is the Prairie Creek Visitor Center (☎ 707/464-6101, ext. 5300), which carries the same maps and information. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm in the summer, daily 10am to 2pm in winter.
The northern gateway to the Redwood National and State Parks is Crescent City. The town has its charms, but the face it presents along U.S. 101 isn't exactly alluring. (To combat this, a beautification project is ongoing.) Regardless, it's your best bet for a cheap motel, gas, fast food, and outdoor supplies. Before touring the park, pick up a free guide at the Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters and Information Center, 1111 2nd St. (at K St.), Crescent City, CA 95531 (☎ 707/464-6101, ext. 5064). It's open daily 9am to 5pm.
If you happen to be arriving on U.S. 199 from Oregon, the rangers at the Hiouchi Information Station (☎ 707/ 464-6101, ext. 5067) and Jedediah Smith Visitor Center (☎ 707/464-6101, ext. 5113) can supply the necessary maps and advice. Both are open daily in the summer 9am to 5pm and when staffing is available in spring and fall.
FEES & PERMITS
Admission to the national park is free, but to enter any of the three state parks (which contain some of the best redwood groves), you'll have to pay a $6 day-use fee, good at all three.
The camping fee is $20 for drive-in sites. Walk-in sites are free. Most do not require permits, but free permits, available in person at visitor centers, are required for backcountry camping along the Redwood Creek Trail.
To travel the Tall Trees Trail (see "If You Have Only 1 Day," below) you'll have to get a free permit from the Kuchel Visitor Center near Orick (see "Visitor Centers," above).
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Many of the best scenic drives in these parks are on roads not suitable for motor homes or trailers. If possible, those with RVs should consider towing a car; traveling with a friend who is driving a car, pickup, or SUV; or maybe even renting a car near the parks.
Don't disturb abandoned baby seals or sea