North Coast (California)
The North Coast of California has beautiful redwoods and small coastal towns. It stretches along the Pacific from the Bay Area to the Oregon border. The inland valleys of Mendocino County are a significant wine-growing area, and the region is noted for organic produce and its art community. Recreation opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, boating, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding and simple sightseeing abound. For those with more urban tastes, art galleries, winetasting, and upscale restaurants are plentiful. Working harbors at Fort Bragg and Eureka offer opportunities for whale-watching, crabbing tours, ocean fishing and the chance to buy fresh salmon right from the boat. Even a simple drive along any road in this region is a refreshing experience.
Counties
| Del Norte County |
| Humboldt County |
| Lake County Rural Lake County is named after Clear Lake, a body of water that is believed to be 2.5 million years old and thus the oldest lake in North America. The lake is sometimes called the "Bass Capital of the West", and its 100 miles of shoreline offer ample opportunity for fishing, boating, swimming and birdwatching. The county is also home to the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, a region that includes lava domes, cinder cones, the 4,305 foot tall volcano Mount Konocti, and the world's largest geothermal field with more than twenty geothermal power plants. |
| Mendocino County Redwood forests, wineries, and remote, untouched coastline. |
| Sonoma County Although its wineries may not be as famous as those in the Napa Valley, Sonoma County is actually the largest wine producer in California Wine Country and home to over 250 wineries. More than seven million visitors each year explore the county's open spaces and beautiful coastline, including the big trees at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and the seaside town of Bodega Bay where Alfred Hitchcock's thriller The Birds was filmed. For those interested in early California history, Fort Ross is a state historic site that preserves a fur trading outpost that was operated by Russia from 1812-1841. |
Cities
Other destinations
- 🌍 Redwood National Park - Ancient coast redwood ecosystem preserved in the park contains some of the planet's most majestic forests
- 🌍 Fort Ross - Historic Russian Outpost located on Historic Highway 1
Understand
Talk
English is widely spoken and understood. Spanish is a minority language but not spoken as much as in the rest of the state.
Get in
United Express and Horizon Air fly into the Arcata-Eureka airport, near McKinleyville.
United Express flies into the airport in Crescent City, but keep in mind that flights are expensive and scarce at this particular airport.
There are various Amtrak terminals on the North Coast but none go north of the Eureka area.
Greyhound has terminals in Rio Dell, Arcata, and Eureka ( Note: the Eureka station is not a full-service station).
Horizon flies from Santa Rosa (STS) direct to Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Get around
There are taxi cab companies, shuttles, and buses that provide public transportation.
See
Crescent City is home to Ocean World. This is an aquarium similar to Sea World (but much smaller).
Klamath is where the Trees of Mystery park is located. In addition to the actual trees, there is a statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
There are three drive-thru redwood trees. One is the Chandlier Tree in Leggett. This is north of Laytonville, near the Highway 101 and Highway 1 junction.
The other two are located in Myers Flat (a town on the Avenue of the Giants)and Klamath (a town south of Crescent City).
There is a Redwoods National Park and a Redwoods State Park. Avenue of the Giants is a road that runs alongside of Highway 101. It takes you through or near the following towns: Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, and Pepperwood. Many of the businesses that cater to tourists close after the summer tourist season. Phone ahead to verify opening dates and times.
Confusion Hill is near Piercy. This is a tourist attraction similar to the many so-called, "Mystery Spots."
Goat Rock Beach on Highway 1 between Jenner and Bodega Bay is a particularly scenic spot on the Sonoma Coast. There are many public beaches in this area, but most are too treacherous for swimming.
Drink
The Alexander Valley, Anderson Valley, Napa Valley, Dry Creek, and Russian River wine regions are all a day trip from Santa Rosa. There are hundreds of wineries, with tasting fees ranging anywhere from free to $20 and up. While most of the tourist-heavy wineries in Napa charge for a taste, many of the smaller operations in Sonoma and Mendocino counties do not.
Stay safe
Violent crime is low because the population is small on the North Coast. The usual safety precautions should be exercised.
Go next
Head north to the Oregon Coast or south to the Bay Area.