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Northern California Region
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
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DEL NORTE COAST REDWOODS STATE PARK
DEL NORTE COAST REDWOODS STATE PARK
1111 2nd Street
Crescent City, California   95531

Phone: 707-464-6101
Reservations: 707-464-6101
The park, established in 1927, has approximately 50% old growth coast redwood and eight miles of wild coastline.

The mixed understory includes tanoak, madrone, red alder, big leaf maple, and California bay. Ground cover is dense with a wide range of species. Vegetation is predominately red alder which will eventually give way to fir and second growth redwood.

The topography is fairly steep with elevations from sea level to 1277?. The predominant mountain range is oriented in a north-south direction with steep cliffs adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, making the bulk of the rocky sea coast generally inaccessible except by Damnation Trail and Footsteps Rock Trail.

Wilson Beach or False Klamath CoveThis 1/2-mile of sandy beach is meant for strolling and provides excellent tidepool viewing at low tide. It is not safe for swimming due to the steep beach slope, rocky conditions, frequent rough seas and cold water.

Redwood National and State Parks

This park, along with Prairie Creek, Jedediah Smith, and the National Park Service's Redwood National Park, are managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. These parks make up 45 percent of all the old-growth redwood forest remaining in California.

Seasons/Climate Recommended Clothing

Summer 40-80. Cooler along the coast. Morning & evening fog is common. Winter 30-55. Dress for rain November to May with up to 100" annually.

History of the Area
Established in 1927, the park is located on California's northern coast. It spans over 31,000 acres and features old-growth redwood forests.

The Save-the-Redwoods League played a significant role in its establishment to protect these ancient trees from logging activities.

During World War II, it was used as a military training ground for beach landings due to its rugged coastline.

In 2000, it became part of Redwood National and State Parks which were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseHiking Trailyes
 Swimming Beachyes
Camping
- Mill Creek Campground: Offers 145 family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring.

- Backcountry Camping: Requires permits; offers solitude.

- RV Camping: Available at the Mill Creek campground but no hookups are provided.


Location
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is located near Crescent City

Trails
Damnation Creek Trail

From Highway 101 to Damnation Cove is 5 miles round trip with 1,000-foot elevation gain

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park delivers the scenery in its name: an impressive coastline, as well as magnificent old-growth redwoods. The combination of redwoods?and a mixed forest of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and red alder?along with the coast, adds up to some terrific hiking.

The majority of the state park is located on the ocean side of Highway 101; in fact, what is now a splendid hiking trail used to be the Redwood Highway (101). The old highway was abandoned in 1935 for its present route.

Steep Damnation Creek Trail plunges through a virgin redwood forest to a hidden rocky beach. Giant ferns, and the pink and purple rhododendron blossoms climbing 30 feet overhead, contribute to the impression that one has strayed into a tropical rain forest.

The creek name, as the story goes, was proffered by early settlers who had a devil of a time making their way through the thick forest near the creek banks. Even trailblazer Jedediah Smith, whose expedition camped alongside Damnation Creek in June of 1828, found it very rough going.

No, this isn?t your basic mellow walk in a redwood park, on level trails. However, if you hike here, you?re sure to find a measure of solitude.

Allow extra time for this hike; it?s a strenuous journey back to the highway from Damnation Cove. An additional precautionary note: the final length of trail down to the beach is a tricky descent from the sometimes muddy and slippery bluffs and should only be undertaken by those confident in their abilities. Also, rocky Damnation Cove is best explored at low tide when you can view the tidepools.

Directions to trailhead: From Highway 101 in Crescent City, head 8 miles south to the signed turnout on the coast side of the highway at mile-marker 16.

The hike: The trail soon leaves the sights and sounds of the highway behind as it climbs through redwood forest for 0.25 mile, crests a ridge, and begins its oceanward descent. Joining the redwoods on the wet and wild coastal slope are other big trees?Sitka spruce and Douglas fir?as well as a carpet of oxalis.

As you descend, you?ll walk in the footsteps of the native Yurok, who used this trail to reach the beach, where they gathered seaweed and shellfish. At 0.6 mile, you?ll junction a stretch of pavement-a retired length of the old Coast Highway, now part of Coastal Trail that connects the redwood parks.

Steep switchbacks carry you ever downward. About halfway to the beach, you?ll be treated to tree-framed views of the Pacific as the trail angles along with Damnation Creek. Wooden bridges facilitate crossing of two branches of Damnation Creek.

Near trail?s end you?ll reach a clifftop perch above the mouth of Damnation Creek. It?s an inspiring view: the creek flowing into the surging Pacific, sea stacks and rocky Damnation Cove.

You be the judge of the sketchy trail and the level of the tide as you decide whether or not to descend to the shore.

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Area Campgrounds
Hiouchi RV Resort
2000 US Highway 199
Crescent City, CA
707-458-3321
Village Camper Inn
1543 Parkway Drive
Crescent City, CA
707-464-3544
Camper Corral
Hwy 101 Box 729
Klamath, CA
Kamp Klamath RV Park
1661 Klamath Beach Road
Klamath, CA
Klamath River RV Park
700 West Klamath Beach Road
Klamath, CA
707-482-2091
Mystic Forest RV Park
15875 Highway 101
Klamath, CA
707-482-4901
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
7 miles south of Crescent City, CA turn east on the campground road. The camp is 2 miles east of the highway.
Latitude/Longitude: 41.6708 / -124.1172

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California
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California State Parks

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