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Camping at Patrick’s Point State Park
Camping at Patrick’s Point State Park
Sleep on the craggy Pacific shoreline close to redwoods
Thirty miles north of Eureka in Humboldt County, a square mile of verdant jungle with colourful patches of wildflowers juts out into the craggy Pacific shoreline. Patrick’s Point State Park is a spectacular section of California’s coastal Redwood country, with 120 campsites, and a robust and family-friendly interpretive program. Head to the Visitor Center and pick up the Redwood EdVentures Quest brochure, a “treasure map” that guides kids on an exploratory hike throughout the park.
There is so much to discover here: Agate Beach’s semi-precious stones polished by the surf; a Native American village re-created by members of the indigenous Yurok tribe; and the tidepools and network of trails connecting to the dramatic shoreline, dotted with massive rock formations. The wildlife is abundant, as this is a popular grey whale-watching spot and home to sea lions, seals, black bears, and numerous bird species. Patrick’s Point State Park is also close to Redwoods National and State Parks, a California must-see.
Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire pit, and offers nearby access to coin-op showers, water faucets, and bathrooms. Note that this park sees foggy conditions much of the year, and swimming is not advised at its beaches, due to rough and unpredictable surf conditions.
Tai Power Seeff
Northern California
Northern California
Discover the North Coast
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Romance finds a home in this idyllic coastal region, where ocean fog rolls in from the ocean to blanket hushed redwood forests, and whales spout offshore. Along the coast, artists set up their easels to paint scenes of crashing surf and whitewashed cottages wrapped in rose filled gardens.
Each year, from December to May, look to the sea to witness roughly 15,000 gray whales swimming south for the summer.
It’s also a place where a new generation of farmers and winemakers focus on preserving the land as well as producing amazing food and wine. Favourite escapes include the romantic hamlet of Mendocino, roughly a 3-hour drive up the coast from San Francisco, and Eureka, a former logging town 2 hours further north, and the gateway to breath-taking Redwoods National and State Parks.
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