Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [339]
Other Sports & Activities
Beaches. The park's beaches vary from long white-sand strands to cobblestone pocket coves. The water temperature is in the high 40s to low 50s year-round, and it's often rough out there. Swimmers and surfers should be prepared for adverse conditions.
Crescent Beach is a long, sandy beach just 2 miles south of Crescent City that's a popular destination for beachcombing, surf fishing, and surfing. Just south of Crescent Beach is Enderts Beach, a protected spot with a hike-in campground and tide pools at its southern end.
Bicycling. Most of the hiking trails throughout the Redwood National and State Parks are off limits to mountain bikers. However, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park has a fantastic 19-mile mountain-bike trail through dense forest, elk-filled meadows, and glorious mud holes. Parts of it are difficult, though, so beginners should sit this one out. Pick up a 25¢ trail map at the Elk Prairie Campground Ranger Station. Rentals are available at Crescent City Bikes & Trikes, 400 Front St. (☎ 707/ 954-5078).
A few other mountain-bike loops are about 20 miles long, but they are serious thigh burners and make the one above look easy. These loops are the Holter Ridge Trail and Little Bald Hills. Also, mountain biking is permitted on the old U.S. 101, now the Coastal Trail within Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park.
The park recently completed the Davison Trail, which connects the Prairie Creek bike trails and the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway with U.S. 101. Future plans call for it to connect with Holter Ridge.
Fishing. The Redwood Coast's streams are some of the best steelhead trout and salmon-breeding habitat in California. Park beaches are good for surfcasting, but you should be prepared for heavy wave action. A California fishing license (available at local sporting goods stores) is required. Be sure to check with rangers about closures or other restrictions, which seem to change frequently. Rivers West Outfitters (☎ 707/482-5822 or 707/465-5501; www.riverswest outfitters.com) offers guide service for around $150 per person per day.
Horseback Trail Rides. Equestrians can go on a variety of guided trail rides, including lunch and dinner trips, with Redwood Trails Horseback Riding (☎ 707/498-4837), at the Redwood Trails Campground, 5 miles south of Orick on U.S. 101. Riders should be less than 250 pounds. Rates range from $20 for a half-hour ride to $200 for a 6-hour ride with lunch.
Jet-Boat Tours. Tours aboard a jet boat take visitors 22 miles upriver from the Klamath River Estuary to view bear, deer, elk, osprey hawks, otters, and more along the riverbanks. It's about $25 for a 30-mile scenic trip, $45 for a 55-mile morning or evening cruise. Kids pay half-price, and children under 4 ride free. Meals are not included. Tours run May through October. Contact Klamath River Jet Boat Tours, Klamath (☎ 800/ 887-JETS or 707/482-5822; www.jetboat tours.com).
Whale-Watching & Bird-Watching. High coastal overlooks such as Klamath Overlook and Crescent Beach Overlook make great whale-watching outposts during the December–January southern migration and the March–April return migration. The northern sea cliffs also provide valuable nesting sites for marine birds such as auklets, puffins, murres, and cormorants. Birders will also love the park's coastal freshwater lagoons, which are some of the most pristine shorebird and waterfowl habitats left and are chock-full of hundreds of different species.
Wildlife Viewing. One of the most striking aspects of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is its herd of Roosevelt elk, usually found in the appropriately named Elk Prairie in the southern end of the park. These gigantic beasts can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. The bulls carry huge antlers from spring to fall. Elk are