Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

It's the Redwoods , by the Ocean. A slice of heaven . Postcards are beautiful, but actually being there is breathtaking

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is one of three state parks that make up Redwood National and State Parks. It doesn't get as many visitors as the other parks, but still has lots to offer. Del Norte is 31,000 acres and includes an old-growth forest of coast redwoods and 8 miles of Pacific coastline. It was very foggy at the coast when I visited here. But it made for some great photos. Highlights here are Mill Creek Campground, Damnation Creek Trail, and a stretch of California's 1,200-mile-long Coastal Trail that you can hike or bike on.

Beautiful park. Amazing scenery. Well maintained trails. Coolest feature is campground. Sites are among the trees. Infrastructure is well maintained and clean. This is a great place to camp.

Mill Creek Campground is nestled in a beautiful redwood forest. Most of the campsites are very lush and private. Some are large enough to accommodate an RV (maximum of 31 feet for a motorhome; maximum of 27 feet for a trailer, and there are no hook ups). If your RV is tall, however, you will have issues with overhanging trees on the 2-1/2 mile road into the campground. Not too bad, but be aware.

We had no cell service at all, but there is a camp host on site and the rangers drive through periodically. There are bears in the area, so it is a crumb clean campground. The rangers will issue citations for food improperly stored.

The restrooms and showers were clean; bring quarters if you plan to shower. There are no electric plugs in the restrooms so leave your hair dryer at home. The camp host sells firewood; it was $8.00 a bundle.

A couple of rain storms came through while we were there in June. We had much of the campground to ourselves, although almost all of the sites seemed to be reserved. I think many campers bailed when the rain came. The campground filled up pretty quickly, though, when the weather improved.

This is a very peaceful, magical place. There is an easy, and beautiful, 1-1/2 mile hike around the campground. For those who like a challenge, there is the Damnation Trail, a 2-mile hike that steeply descends to the ocean. However, at the time we were there (June 2018) the trail bridge located 1.75 miles in from the parking lot on Damnation Creek trail was closed. You could hike the trail down to the bridge but not be able to go beyond the bridge to reach the beach.

If you love lush forests filled with redwoods and ferns; quiet, peaceful surroundings; and private sites, then you should spend some time at this campground.

Love Coast Redwoods
Tall and enchanting
Fresh and appealing
Mighty coastal trees
Make sure you visit
Take your family
Come Explore the redwoods

Utter bliss.

At some portions, the west is the ocean or humongous trees, and to the east is a cliff and trees. Trees high as the eyes can see and behind the dense forest are mountains, cliffs or the ocean. Amazing drive through.

The Redwoods are segmented and this is for the section that is north of Eureka, and South of Crescent City. The famous Paul Bunyan and Blue Ox statue is located within the trees known as the "Trees of Mystery."

There are limited services and food so be ready.

There is also a ton of construction for 2016-2018 so keep that in mind.

Everyone wants to drive or hike here but no one knows where it is or was.
Well... Now you know.

Cell phone doesn't work here at all so learn to navigate. It gets cloudy/foggy/misty at night and dusk so reading the stars and moon will not be possible if you get lost. On a general note, fog travels away from large bodies of water so in this case, travel opposite of the fog if you get lost because the ocean is the closest border. The east goes all the way to the 5 freeway reaching Yreka or Redding.

More images can be found on my IG: cigarcpa

I love the Redwoods so I will give everything pertaining to them a 5-star review but this park is the least impressive of the bunch. There is no old growth and the trail system is limited in comparison to the others. With that said, Damnation is interesting as it has both Redwoods and coast, Hobbs Wall has an interesting history to it (Redwoods logs are the foundation of Highway 101), and Mill Creek campground is always a fun time. Again, like everything in life it is what you make of it.

4 stars only because-

Pros:

1. Beautiful scenery, green, Redwoods of course!
2. Clean... super clean.
3. Quiet.
4. Men's restroom had hot showers.
5. Ranger and camp hosts are friendly and helpful.
6. Firewood available if needed.
7. Table, fire ring, and bear lockers available at every campsite.


Cons:

1. Women's showers didn't have hot water for our entire 3 night stay. That was fun for me :) (not)

2. Hiking trails were closed for restoration purposes so we had to drive a bit to get to other available trails.

3. Got there late and paid for our night using the deposit box available for late check-ins. Next morning we were asked to pay for our campsite for the night. Went back and checked the deposit box and found our envelope with our money and someone else's at the bottom of the box. They had slipped thru a hole and missed by the camp host. CHECK YOUR DEPOSIT ENVELOPE DOESN'T FALL THROUGH THE HOLE AT THE BACK OF THE DEPOSIT BOX.

This park is the least visited and most underused of the California State Parks in the redwoods Of Northern California. This park has been the setting for some of my most memorable personal experiences in the outdoors. Access is restricted to just a few points, but it is fairly common to see only a couple cars in the lot at trailheads and many times none at all. I have gone for many a trail run, hike, or bike ride and never had to see anyone else. The original portion of the park holds a lot of Old Growth Redwoods, while the Mill Creek Campground and somewhat newly acquired acquisition area is mostly 2nd growth, but still incredibly beautiful.

The best places to access Old Growth Redwood is along the 101 headed south from Crescent City. You will be driving through them once you ascend in elevation away from the coastline. There are a handful of places to pull off the highway and just look around and take pictures. Additionally, if you're looking to meander a little farther I would recommend pulling off at the entry to Mill Creek Campground just off the highway. Trails take off from either side of the road, and if your savvy you can make a 7 mile loop down and around the campground and back. There is also the Damnation Creek Trail (head the name) which drops about 900' elevation in approximately a mile, meaning you have to come all the way back up. From the same parking lot you can access portions of the coastal trail that encompass some awesome Old Growth and also runs along sections of the old coast highway. You'll find old road markers, pieces of asphalt under the duff, and the occasional centerline stripe if you are paying attention and not solely focused up on the emended trees.

The "acquisition" of Del Norte Coast Redwoods is an animal all within itself. Although there are portions and access to old growth the acquisition is primarily second growth with an abundance of old logging roads and trails to explore. The area is approximate to a retired lumber mill and the area which it tapped for production. As with many of the wild places in Del Norte County there is a high potential to encounter wildlife at all bends of the trails out here... from grouse and deer to the occasional Mt Lion.

For the most up-to-date conditions on trails and whether or not the areas are open (as well as when) please contact the local visitor centers of Redwood National and State Parks... Crescent City, Hiouchi, Orick, Jed Smith, and Prairie Creek. They are able to provide maps of the park and provide additional information. I also would recommend the website redwoodhikes.com.

Awesome state park just outside of Crescent City (formerly Mill Creek). Great grounds with nice over sized spaces which makes for room around your camp site along with a little more privacy.

Nice facilities, quite and very well maintained, this state park has lots to offer families looking to get outdoors that has everything you expect in a developed campground. Clean and close restrooms and showers, nice spaces many of them under tree canopies providing cool shady spaces. Lots of space and privacy between the various campgrounds. Large oversized spaces for even huge RVs along with a dump station and water tank fill area.

This hosted state park is monitored day and night and has lots of wildlife around, as well it is also a dog friendly park. Firewood is also available for purchase.

4 Stars - A great state park in Del Norte - well worth a trip and stay over at least once if not more often.

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